Filing A Complaint About Immigration, Visa & Customs Processing

Revised Date: March 2008

Dear Clients, Friends and Supporters,

There is an established procedure whereby you can directly report any incident of misconduct, mistreatment, or allegations of abuse, fraud, waste, or mismanagement in the immigration, visa and customs process. Formal complaints with good cause are taken seriously and help sensitize officials about areas for improvement when abuses and ill treatment occur. Such complaints become part of the official record of the officers involved and the department in issue, and ultimately help to improve the immigration process. Further, such complaints are also usually required before other legal remedies such as court action are deemed appropriate.

1. COMPLAINTS CONCERNING TREATMENT BY USCIS (U.S. CITIZENSHIP & IMMIGRATION SERVICES), AND CUSTOMS AND BORDER ENFORCEMENT

Office of Inspector General (OIG), U.S. Department of Homeland Security
If you have knowledge of fraud, waste, abuse, or mismanagement in any Homeland Security program or operation, call, write or e-mail the Office of Inspector General. When making a report, it is suggested by Inspector General's office, that you convey as much information as possible such as: Who? What? Where? How? Complaints may be made anonymously or you may request confidentiality.

Contact:
Office of Inspector General
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, DC 20528 USA
DHS OIG Hotline at: (800) 323-8603
E-mail: DHS@dhs.gov

2. COMPLAINTS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT TREATMENT BY USCIS (U.S. CITIZENSHIP & IMMIGRATION SERVICES)

USCIS Office of Internal Audit (OIA)
Written complaints are accepted on in the mail. OIA policy is that A. complaints will be kept confidential unless disclosure is required by law in a legal or administrative proceeding, and B. that there is a strict prohibition against any retaliation for submitting a complaint.

Contact:
Director, Office of Internal Audit
USCIS
425 I St., NW
Room 3260
Washington, DC 20536 USA

3. COMPLAINTS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT TREATMENT BY U.S. CONSULATES AND EMBASSIES ABROAD

Office of Inspector General (OIG), U.S. Department of State
Complaints can be made via telephone call, e-mail or standard mail regarding visa and passport malfeasance, employee misconduct, misuse of public position and related misconduct. Confidentiality over the Internet cannot be assured. Helpful information would be: What is the problem? Who is involved? When, where and why did it happen? Is there any documentation? Passport and visa issuance problems report first to Telephone Number: 202-663-1225.

Contact:
Office of Inspector General (HOTLINE)
U.S. Department of State
P.O. Box 9778
Arlington, VA 22219 USA
Tel: 1-800-409-9926
E-Mail: oighotline@state.gov

Office of Inspector General
U.S. Department of State
Room 6817
Washington, DC 20520-6817 USA
Tel: 202-647-9450 Fax: 202-647-7660
Cables should be captioned: "OIG Channel-State" to ensure confidentiality

4. COMPLAINTS CAN ALSO BE DIRECTED TO YOUR LOCAL CONGRESSMAN'S OFFICE

Contact Your Local Congressman's (or Congresswoman's) office, specifically the Immigration Liaison staff person in the office. Register your complaint or dissatisfaction in writing. Congressmen's offices record the views and opinions of constituents, and take them into account in committee hearings, fact-finding reports and ultimately votes on the floor for new legislation.

Best regards,

Gary Bala
USA Immigration Attorney
Pennsylvania USA



FILING A COMPLAINT ABOUT IMMIGRATION, VISA & CUSTOMS PROCESSING Revised Date: March 2008 Dear Clients, Friends and Supporters, There is an established procedure whereby you can directly report any incident of misconduct, mistreatment, or allegations of abuse, fraud, waste, or mismanagement in the immigration, visa and customs process. Formal complaints with good cause are taken seriously and help sensitize officials about areas for improvement when abuses and ill treatment occur. Such complaints become part of the official record of the officers involved and the department in issue, and ultimately help to improve the immigration process. Further, such complaints are also usually required before other legal remedies such as court action are deemed appropriate. 1. COMPLAINTS CONCERNING TREATMENT BY USCIS (U.S. CITIZENSHIP & IMMIGRATION SERVICES), AND CUSTOMS AND BORDER ENFORCEMENT Office of Inspector General (OIG), U.S. Department of Homeland Security If you have knowledge of fraud, waste, abuse, or mismanagement in any Homeland Security program or operation, call, write or e-mail the Office of Inspector General. When making a report, it is suggested by Inspector General's office, that you convey as much information as possible such as: Who? What? Where? How? Complaints may be made anonymously or you may request confidentiality. Contact: Office of Inspector General U.S. Department of Homeland Security Washington, DC 20528 USA DHS OIG Hotline at: (800) 323-8603 E-mail: DHS@dhs.gov 2. COMPLAINTS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT TREATMENT BY USCIS (U.S. CITIZENSHIP & IMMIGRATION SERVICES) USCIS Office of Internal Audit (OIA) Written complaints are accepted on in the mail. OIA policy is that A. complaints will be kept confidential unless disclosure is required by law in a legal or administrative proceeding, and B. that there is a strict prohibition against any retaliation for submitting a complaint. Contact: Director, Office of Internal Audit USCIS 425 I St., NW Room 3260 Washington, DC 20536 USA 3. COMPLAINTS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT TREATMENT BY U.S. CONSULATES AND EMBASSIES ABROAD Office of Inspector General (OIG), U.S. Department of State Complaints can be made via telephone call, e-mail or standard mail regarding visa and passport malfeasance, employee misconduct, misuse of public position and related misconduct. Confidentiality over the Internet cannot be assured. Helpful information would be: What is the problem? Who is involved? When, where and why did it happen? Is there any documentation? Passport and visa issuance problems report first to Telephone Number: 202-663-1225. Contact: Office of Inspector General (HOTLINE) U.S. Department of State P.O. Box 9778 Arlington, VA 22219 USA Tel: 1-800-409-9926 E-Mail: oighotline@state.gov or Office of Inspector General U.S. Department of State Room 6817 Washington, DC 20520-6817 USA Tel: 202-647-9450 Fax: 202-647-7660 Cables should be captioned: "OIG Channel-State" to ensure confidentiality 4. COMPLAINTS CAN ALSO BE DIRECTED TO YOUR LOCAL CONGRESSMAN'S OFFICE Contact Your Local Congressman's (or Congresswoman's) office, specifically the Immigration Liaison staff person in the office. Register your complaint or dissatisfaction in writing. Congressmen's offices record the views and opinions of constituents, and take them into account in committee hearings, fact-finding reports and ultimately votes on the floor for new legislation. Best regards, Gary Bala USA Immigration Attorney Pennsylvania USA
	E-Mail: garybala@VISA-Attorney.com Copyright©, 2008. All Rights Reserved. Gary Bala, USA Immigration Attorney.