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WASHINGTON—On July 1, 2010, the Vital Statistics Office of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico began issuing new, more secure certified copies of birth certificates to U.S. citizens born in Puerto Rico, because of a new Puerto Rico birth certificate law.  After September 30, 2010, all certified copies of birth certificates issued prior to July 1, 2010, will become invalid.   After September 30, 2010, USCIS will not accept any certified copies of Puerto Rico birth certificates (PRBC) issued before July 1, 2010 for the purpose of establishing eligibility for immigration benefit petitions and applications.

Petitioners and applicants may continue to submit PRBCs issued before July 1, 2010, to establish United States citizenship or a familial relationship through September 30, 2010.  USCIS will honor PRBCs in support of immigration filings if received on or before September 30, 2010, even if the adjudication takes place after the PRBC becomes invalid.

If an invalid PRBC is submitted in support of a petition or application, USCIS will notify the appropriate individual and give that individual the opportunity to submit a new, valid birth certificate. 

Does an invalid birth certificate affect my citizenship status?

No, this law invalidates only the birth certificate.  It does not change a person’s citizenship status.

What if I already submitted a Puerto Rico birth certificate and my case has not been decided?

If you have already submitted a Puerto Rico birth certificate, the new Puerto Rico law will not affect the adjudication of your case.

How do I get a new Puerto Rico Birth Certificate?

Individuals who were born in Puerto Rico and are now living elsewhere can apply for a new birth certificate on-line or by mail.  Mailed applications will not be accepted until after July 1, 2010.  Instructions on how to apply by mail can be found at: www.prfaa.com/birthcertificates and www.prfaa.com/certificadosdenacimiento

WASHINGTON — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reminds Hondurans and Nicaraguans, who are eligible for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), to file their re-registration applications for TPS before the end of the re-registration period on July 6, 2010.

The 18-month extension of TPS for nationals of Honduras and Nicaragua will remain in effect through Jan. 5, 2012.  Individuals who have received TPS previously must re-register for the 18-month extension during the re-registration period. Failure to file a TPS re-registration application during the re-registration period without good cause will result in withdrawal of TPS benefits, including employment authorization and protection from removal from the United States.

Additional Filing Tips:

To re-register for TPS, you must:

• File an Application for Temporary Protected Status (Form I-821) and an Application for Employment Authorization (Form I-765) with appropriate supporting documentation.
• File Form I-765, even if you are not requesting an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). If you are not requesting an EAD, you do not need to submit a fee for Form I-765.
• Submit the correct versions of the forms (use Form I-821 dated Oct. 17, 2007 or later, and Form I-765 dated May 27, 2008 or later). USCIS will reject applications if the incorrect version of the form is submitted.
• Fill out the forms completely and mark all appropriate boxes. In Part 1, of Form I-821, re-registrants should mark the box for re-registration or renewal of temporary benefits.
• Submit the appropriate fee(s) with the applications. Make the check or money order payable to the Department of Homeland Security. TPS-related fee information is available on USCIS’s Web site by visiting the TPS pages for Honduras and Nicaragua and in the Federal Register notices published on May 5, 2010 at 75 FR 24734 (Honduras) and 75 FR 24737 (Nicaragua). To request a fee waiver, you must submit a properly documented request demonstrating your inability to pay. Guidance about fee waivers is also on the USCIS’s Web site, click here. 

If your address changes after you file your application for re-registration, you must complete and submit a change of address form (Form AR-11) by mail or electronically. To file Form AR-11 electronically, follow the directions at Online Change of Address. To file Form AR-11 by mail, send to: 

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Change of Address
P.O. Box 7134
London, KY  40742-7134

In addition to filing Form AR-11, update your information online at Online Change of Address or call 1-800-375-5283.  This will ensure the new address is recorded on the TPS application immediately.

Further details on the extension of TPS for Honduras and Nicaragua, including the application requirements, fees and procedures, are available at www.uscis.gov on the TPS page for each country and in the Federal Register notices. TPS forms are available online or by calling the toll-free USCIS Forms line at 1-800-870-3676.  For additional information, applicants may also contact USCIS at 1-800-375-5283.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will commemorate America’s 234th birthday by naturalizing more than 3,800 citizenship candidates in approximately 55 special ceremonies held across the United States and abroad. Nine of these ceremonies are specifically for members of the U.S. armed forces and military spouses. This year’s ceremonies will celebrate the theme, “A Spirit of Independence.”

“Independence Day reminds us all what it means to be an American,” said USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas. “Today let us celebrate our newest Americans who, in taking the Oath of Allegiance  and becoming United States citizens, will truly cherish this right, and will renew our highest aspirations to be the best that we can be as a nation of immigrants.”

This year, USCIS’s weeklong celebration of citizenship is highlighted by various special events, including a ceremony on July 1 at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pa., where 25 candidates will take the Oath of Allegiance only steps from the location where the Declaration of Independence was adopted in 1776. On July 2, a special ceremony will be held aboard the USS Midway in San Diego, Calif. for approximately 300 military candidates who pledged to protect our nation’s independence even before becoming American citizens.

Special ceremonies will also be held at Ellis Island, N.Y., for approximately 150 candidates; the Seattle Center, Wash., where approximately 500 candidates will participate in Seattle’s 26th Annual Independence Day Naturalization Ceremony; and the John F. Kennedy Space Center near Orlando, Fla. where approximately 100 candidates will become U.S. citizens.

Also during this week’s Independence Day celebrations, more than 500 service members will take the Oath of Allegiance at nine all-military ceremonies, including in Baghdad, Iraq; Seoul, Korea; Frankfurt, Germany; Tegucigalpa, Honduras; Camp Lejeune, N.C.; and Fort Sill, Okla.

For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit www.uscis.gov or view our blog, The Beacon, available at http://blog.uscis.gov.

To view a complete list of 2010 Independence Day naturalization ceremonies, please visit www.uscis.gov/news.