[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 4 (Wednesday, January 7, 1998)] [Notices] [Page 891] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-363] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Immigration and Naturalization Service [INS No. 1839-97] Expansion of the Direct Mail Program for the Cleveland and Omaha District Offices; and the Cincinnati, Columbus, Des Moines, Sioux Falls, and Toledo Suboffices; Form N-400 AGENCY: Immigration and Naturalization Service, Justice. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice announces the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS or Service) is expanding its Direct Mail Program to include the Cleveland and Omaha District Offices and the Cincinnati, Columbus, Des Moines, Sioux Falls, and Toledo Suboffices on the current list of direct mail sites for filing Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. Applicants residing within these districts and suboffices will mail their Form N-400 directly to the designated INS service center for processing. This expansion is intended to improve INS service to the public by reducing processing times for Form N-400, limiting in-person visits to local offices, and improving the quality of case status information provided to the public. DATES: This notice is effective January 7, 1998. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Arroyo, Adjudications Officer, Immigration and Naturalization Service, Office of Naturalization Operations, 801 I Street, NW., Room 935E, Washington, DC 20536, telephone, (202) 514-8247. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Under the INS Direct Mail Program, certain applicants and petitioners for immigration benefits mail their applications or petitions directly to an INS service center for processing instead of submitting them to a local INS office. The purposes and strategy of the Direct Mail Program have been discussed in detail in previous rulemaking and notices (see, e.g., 59 FR 33903 and 59 FR 33985). The Service is continuing expansion of the Direct Mail Program as applied to Form N-400 by adding the Cleveland and Omaha District Offices and the Cincinnati, Columbus, Des Moines, Sioux Falls, and Toledo Suboffices, as Direct Mail sites. Where to File Effective January 7, 1998, applicants for naturalization residing within the jurisdiction of the Cleveland and Omaha District Offices and the Cincinnati, Columbus, Des Moines, Sioux Falls and Toledo Suboffices must mail the Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, directly to the Nebraska Service Center at the following address: USINS Nebraska Service Center, Attention: N-400 Unit, P.O. Box 87400, Lincoln, Nebraska 68508-7400. Transition During the first 60 days following the effective date of this notice, the Cleveland and Omaha District Offices and the Cincinnati, Columbus, Des Moines, Sioux Falls, and Toledo Suboffices will forward in a timely fashion to the Nebraska Service Center any Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, which has been inadvertently filed with the respective district or suboffice. Applicants will be provided a notice at the time of filing at the district or suboffice advising them that their application is being forwarded to the service center for initial processing. The applicant will receive written notification from their respective district or suboffice of the date, place, and time of their interview for naturalization. When applications are forwarded from the district or suboffices, they will be receipted and filed when they arrive at the service center. After the 60-day transition period, applicants attempting to file Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, at the offices listed above will be directed to mail their application directly to the appropriate service center for processing. Dated: December 31, 1997. Doris Meissner, Commissioner, Immigration and Naturalization Service. [FR Doc. 98-363 Filed 1-6-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4410-10-M