OMBUDSMAN ESSENTIALS CIS OMBUDSMAN Office - Washington, D.C. 1.
-
Upload
darrell-chandler -
Category
Documents
-
view
237 -
download
3
Transcript of OMBUDSMAN ESSENTIALS CIS OMBUDSMAN Office - Washington, D.C. 1.
CIS OMBUDSMAN
Created by Homeland Security Act §452 Mission: assist individuals and employers in
resolving problems with USCIS (Case Unit); Identify systemic problems with access to
immigration services and make recommendations.
Recommendations: see www.dhs.gov/cisombudsman
Teleconferences, updates, negotiations, conferences, liaison to problem solve
2
Ombuds Essentials -- Toolbox Ombuds use a toolbox of resources to
resolve individual and systemic issues: Facilitation Mediation (use of mediation skills w/o
mediation) Training Outreach Oral and written reporting
3
Ombuds Tenets -- Independence We do not report to USCIS, they do not
report to us Separate component, at HQ level – CIS Ombudsman answers directly to
Congress and the Deputy Secretary of DHS
5
Ombuds Tenets -- Impartiality Provides confidence to public/USCIS in
our work “Advocate for a fair process” Look at all sides
Individual cases Systemic Issues
Attorney/representative is not always right, agency is not always right
6
Ombuds Tenets -- Confidentiality Gives confidence to share with the
ombuds Enables us to look at trends others might
not see No repercussions to sharing information
with ombuds
7
Ombuds Tenets -- Confidentiality Individual Cases
Approaching the ombuds is confidential Form 7001/G-28– permission to share with
USCIS CISOMB must request additional permission
to share with media, other agencies, other components the public, other family members
Public materials (Annual Report, newsletters, etc.) -- no identifying information unless have permission of individual
8
Ombuds Tenets -- Confidentiality Stakeholders
An ombuds does not attach a specific viewpoint or observation to a specific stakeholder in the ombuds’ written or oral reporting
Permission is required to share the above
9
Ombuds Tenets -- Informality Resolve informally, before litigation If in litigation, we do not participate
publicly Ombuds does not replace formal
channels – parallel tracks
10
Ombuds Essentials -- What else? Ombuds serves as early warning system
for entity Ombuds recommends systemic changes,
can’t require them Contacting ombuds does not stay
statutory, regulatory, or other agency timeframes
11
CIS OMBUDSMAN – Contacts [email protected] Form 7001 for individual cases at
www.dhs.gov/cisombudsman, or can use on – line
Peggy Gleason, Senior Advisor on Family Based Immigration [email protected]
Humanitarian Sr. Advisor [email protected]
Employment Sr. Advisor [email protected]
12
Ombudsman Office Recommendations Read at www.dhs.gov/cisombudsman Employment Authorization for Asylum
applicants Deferred Action Customer Complaints to USCIS Special Immigrant Juvenile Adjudications I-601 Waivers Future Topics: your suggestions
here_________
13
Ombudsman Annual Conference October 18, 2012 – DC National
Archives Six panels with government and
stakeholder representatives on employment, family-based and humanitarian immigration issues
14
Ombudsman Teleconferences Asylum Process for Unaccompanied Minors U Visas: USCIS/DOS Coordination Small Business Immigration Issues Status Verification Systems at USCIS: SAVE Survivor Benefits under new INA Sec. 204(l) Family-Based Visa Retrogression: DOS/NVC Nov: Change of Address and Mailing Issues Infopass and Access to Local Offices
15