If you’ve ever applied for a U.S. visa, you know that getting to the U.S. USCIS is tricky. In recent years, the agency has had a large backlog of visa applications, which increased with office closures and shortfalls during the COVID-19 pandemic.
USCIS is responding to that with over 4,400 open positions, including at Contact Centers, according to a memo from the Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) Ombudsman. The memo even offers tips for contacting USCIS and getting your immigration questions resolved faster.
These are three quick and easy ways to call USCIS and get an answer that saves you from hours of waiting or confusion:
1. Faster Answers with the help of USCIS Online Tools
Getting your questions answered by USCIS is easily accessible through their website. On the USCIS website, you will find a lot of FAQs ranging from application to case status and general immigration requirements. Please check this section to make sure if it already has an answer before you call or hold.
If you cannot locate what you are seeking in the FAQs, you can try an e-Request. With this, you can message USCIS directly asking questions regarding your case. It’s available all day and night, so you can contact us and answer your question without having to wait for a working day. If you have an online USCIS account, you can even leave a secure message for a USCIS employee who will pick up when they’re available.
2. Ask Emma – Virtual Assistant of USCIS.
Also, USCIS has an online virtual assistant called Emma. Emma is designed to cover a lot of the general questions related to USCIS services. Whether it’s how to keep track of your case, how to apply for a visa or anything in particular regarding your application, Emma will respond to you in real time.
If Emma is unable to answer your question, don’t despair. She will refer you to a live chat agent who can help you directly. Or if your concern needs to be addressed more, Emma can also assist you in booking an in-person meeting with USCIS to get your case settled.
3. Call the USCIS Contact Center
If you would rather talk to a representative personally, you can always call the USCIS Contact Center. But be ready to walk through their interactive voice response (IVR) system, where you’ll be asked a series of questions about your situation. Your answers determine whether the IVR connects you directly with a live agent or tells you that you will be on hold due to high volume.
This can take some time, but it’s still an easy way to get a personal immigration lawyer for your questions.
USCIS is a large agency and as many other agencies it’s been struggling in the past few years particularly with the increase in immigration applications during the pandemic. Staff shortages and a higher volume of applications and inquiries resulted in longer lines and more challenges to contact a representative. But with the recent steps to ramp up staffing and digital services, things are getting better.
Even though you may not always make it through to USCIS, there are websites that can help — the FAQs, e-Requests, Emma — which will save you time and frustration. If you need direct help, you can still reach out to the USCIS Contact Center but you will have to wait. Remember that USCIS is making every effort to eliminate these delays and provide applicants with an easier experience.
