Q: How will filing N-400 applications directly with a Lockbox improve business processes or streamline the application process?

A:  In the past, these processing steps occurred at a Service Center or Field Office.  USCIS has studied its model of using numerous locations for various processes and has found that, in many instances, a more centralized approach will improve efficiency for the government and the paying customer.  USCIS has learned that having any process completed at numerous locations can lead to inconsistencies, which include, but are not limited to, variance in processing times and different handling procedures evolving at various sites.  By centralizing key functions relative to N-400 case processing, USCIS customers will deal with only one entity for this application type.  Customers filing an N-400 application will experience little visible affect due to this centralization.  

Q: How is this change beneficial to the applicant?
A:  As stated above, the centralization of N-400 staging and distribution will have numerous positive effects for USCIS customers.  Eventual decreases in customer waiting time and increased productivity in overall N-400 case processing are the ultimate goals of USCIS.  These results, coupled with overall sustained quality and adherence to all tenants of national security, will be the final measure of success for this transitional effort.

Q:  What steps did USCIS go through to determine centralized processing would result in faster case adjudication?
A:  USCIS has spent the last several months planning every aspect of this centralization.  Legacy procedures, practices and systems have been reviewed, tested and modified to make this proposal a success.  USCIS has worked in conjunction with Service Centers, Field Offices, legal counsel, information technology and numerous other divisions to ensure that every aspect of this process has been scrutinized.  This collaboration has helped to ensure that customer applications will not be delayed following newly implemented procedures.  The overall goals, as stated in the various responses above, are to increase quality, decrease processing times, and decrease customer inquiry response times.

Q:  What types of N-400 cases will be filed at the Lockbox and processed by the NBC?
A:  All N-400 cases will be filed at the Lockbox except for N-400s filed by two categories of applicants:

1.N-400 filed by a veteran, or an active member of the US Armed Forces, who is filing under section 328 or 329 of the INA

2N-400 filed by the spouse of an active member of the US Armed Forces.

The two categories of applicants listed above will file at the Nebraska Service Center. The NBC will not accept N-400 filings mailed directly from the public to their location.  Any N-400 application that is mailed to the NBC from the public will be returned.

Q:  What will the N-400 process be at the NBC?
A:  The NBC will perform pre-interview processing in much the same manner as the Service Centers have done for the last several years.  Background checks will be initiated and completed, and applicant A-files will be requested and received.  A complete file review will be performed on cases and NBC will issue a notice to the applicant if the applicant needs to bring additional evidence to the interview at the local USCIS Field Office.  Further improvements of the N-400 process will be implemented as the NBC process is refined to provide, to the extent possible, decision-ready cases for Field Offices at the time of interview and to reduce the number of continuances at the time of interview.

Source: USCIS