New Nashville USCIS Field Office Opening in 2017

We learned at a Tennessee Bar Association immigration committee liaison meeting this April that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is planning to open a full-fledged Field Office in Nashville by June 2017.  According to the Field Office Director of the USCIS in Memphis, Nashville will not be a sub-office of the Memphis Field Office, but rather the new office is expected to be bigger than Memphis and will be the seat of adjudications for much of Tennessee.

Current Nashville Office

For the location of the current Nashville Application Support Center, click here.  This office is staffed by contractors and one lone USCIS officer, who is a part time adjudicator.  Primarily the office handles fingerprint appointments for people who live in middle or east Tennessee and are applying for immigration benefits.

Current Memphis Office

Today, Tennesseans must drive to Memphis for the final interview in any type of immigration case that requires an interview or exam at the end.  For example, an applicant for adjustment of status to lawful permanent residence must attend a final interview in Memphis, as well as applicants for U.S. citizenship.  Memphis is also where immigration officials attend to the public’s questions at InfoPass appointments.  Obtaining an expedited travel permit also necessitates a drive to Memphis.

New Nashville Office

Establishing a center of adjudications in Nashville acknowledges the shift in population toward middle Tennessee and the growing numbers of immigrants in our city.  At the new Nashville office, officials will hold final interviews, investigate fraud, approve and deny cases, and meet with immigration applicants and their attorneys.  People who hire Nashville immigration attorneys to represent them in applying for permanent residence or citizenship will be more likely to be able to afford to have their attorneys present with them at interviews.  The quality of representation will be bolstered and our community will be better for the improved access.  This is great news for everyone but the car rental companies!

More details to come

We will certainly be listening for information about the exact location of the new office, opening day, and leadership.  We will let you know here when more is known.