The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is set to open new international field offices in Doha, Qatar, and Ankara, Türkiye. These additions aim to boost capabilities for handling refugee applications, enhance collaborations with global partners, and improve coordination among agencies.
On May 7, 2024, the Doha Field Office will be inaugurated, followed by the Ankara Field Office on May 9, 2024, bringing the total number of USCIS international field offices to 11, VisaGuide.World reports.
The existing offices are located in Beijing, Guangzhou (China), Guatemala City, Havana, Mexico City, Nairobi (Kenya), New Delhi, San Salvador (El Salvador), and Tegucigalpa (Honduras).
USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou emphasized the significance of these moves, highlighting that the establishment of these offices reflects the agency’s dedication to supporting the Biden-Harris administration’s goals of promoting safe, legal, and organized migration as well as family reunification.
Our presence in Qatar and Türkiye expands USCIS’ footprint outside the United States, supports our humanitarian mission, and strengthens the integrity of the US immigration system.
Biden-Harris Sets 125,000 Refugee Target for 2024
The Biden-Harris administration has set an ambitious refugee admissions target of 125,000 for fiscal year 2024. To bolster the US Refugee Admissions Program’s presence in the region and support its infrastructure, USCIS is launching new field offices in Qatar and Türkiye. These offices will also facilitate the growing USCIS refugee processing initiatives.
According to USCIS, Qatar is a pivotal regional hub for refugee processing. Currently, the US Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) has refugee coordinators and a suboffice for Qatar’s Resettlement Support Center for the Middle East and North Africa.
USCIS Enhances Operations in Qatar & Türkiye with New Embassy-Based Field Offices
The Doha Field Office will operate from the US embassy facility at Camp As Sayliyah, with staff available for scheduled appointments at the US Embassy.
Similarly, Türkiye plays a crucial role as a regional refugee hub, hosting the headquarters for the Resettlement Support Center for Türkiye and the Middle East, PRM refugee coordinators, and a UN High Commissioner for Refugees regional office. The Ankara Field Office will be situated within the US Embassy in Ankara.
The USCIS staff at these new offices will take charge of processing Form I-730, the Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition, formerly handled by State Department consular staff.
They will also assist in fraud detection activities and offer selected services. Services at both locations will be strictly by appointment. At the same time, USCIS plans to update its International Immigration Offices webpage with detailed information about these field offices, available services, and appointment procedures.