In March 2003, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) ceased operations, as those functions of the U.S. government moved to the newly created Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  Initially, the responsibility for adjudicating petitions in the U.S. was allocated to the DHS office known as the “Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services” or BCIS.  However, in September 2003, the BCIS noted that it has dropped the “bureau” from its name and wishes to be known as “U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services” or USCIS.

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