U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Los Angeles District Offices Continue to Provide In-Person Services as Counties Shut Down

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Los Angeles, Los Angeles County and San Fernando Valley Field Offices and application support centers remain open for business as the governor’s shelter-in-place order goes into effect. Since USCIS is considered an essential business, it is open to handle scheduled interview and customer service appointments, taking precautions against the spread of the coronavirus (COVID 19.)

Getting the certificate of naturalization that results from a successful naturalization interview is vital to being eligible for a host of benefits, from applying for Social Security benefits to voting. Permanent resident cards, known as green cards, confer benefits on the holder as well. Law dictates in-person interviews must be conducted for applicants to be eligible for these benefits. To ensure the safety and protection of applicants and employees, USCIS has implemented a number of engineering and administrative controls at all offices. 

Applicants and visitors are prohibited from entering USCIS offices if any of the following situations apply to them.

• They have any symptoms of COVID-19, including cough, fever or difficulty breathing;
• They have been in close contact with anyone known or suspected to have COVID-19 in the last 14 days; or
• They have been individually directed to self-quarantine or self-isolate by a health care provider or public health official within the last 14 days;
• They are currently awaiting results of a COVID-19 test.

Visitors may not enter the facility more than 15 minutes prior to their appointment (30 minutes for naturalization ceremonies). Hand sanitizer is provided for visitors at entry points. Members of the public must wear facial coverings that cover both the mouth and nose when entering facilities. If they do not have one, USCIS may provide one, or the visitor will be asked to make a new appointment.

Visitors should pay close attention to markings and physical barriers in the facility to ensure they follow social distancing guidelines. They may also have to answer health screening questions before entering a facility. All who enter are encouraged to bring their own black or blue ink pens. Those who must travel through several counties to arrive at a field office should seriously consider rescheduling their appointments.

To reschedule an appointment, please call 800-375-5283. Those who have created an online account at www.myaccount.uscis.gov, can request to reschedule an appointment online. Applicants are welcome to reschedule their appointments to a later date for any reason without penalty.  

All appointment notices include further instructions for visiting USCIS facilities. For more information, see USCIS Visitor Guidelines. Please also visit USCIS.gov/coronavirus for agency response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter (@uscis), Instagram (/uscis), YouTube (/uscis), Facebook (/uscis) and LinkedIn (/uscis).