Adjudicator's Field Manual - Redacted Public Version
Introduction to the Adjudicator's Field Manual
Welcome to the online public version of the Adjudicator's Field Manual (AFM). The AFM comprehensively details USCIS policies and procedures for adjudicating applications and petitions. USCIS updates the AFM regularly to incorporate new policies and procedures established through statutes, regulations, policy memoranda, or any other pertinent publications.
As permitted under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), United States Code, Title 5, Section 552, the AFM on the USCIS public web site is a redacted version of the complete manual. All redactions were made under both of the following exemptions:
- 5 USC 552(b)(2) to prevent the disclosure of records that are related solely to the internal personnel rules and practices of an agency; and
- 5 USC 552(b)(7)(E) to prevent the disclosure of techniques and procedures for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions, or would disclose guidelines for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions if such disclosure that could reasonably be expected to risk circumvention of the law.
The abbreviations "(b)(2)" and "(b)(7)(E)" in the manual indicate where data has been redacted.
Important Notice: Nothing in the AFM shall be construed to create any substantive or procedural right or benefit that is legally enforceable by any party against the United States or its agencies or officers or any other person. Also, see the USCIS general web site policies on the USCIS web home page for additional disclaimers.
Send us your suggestions for improving the AFM by cutting and pasting the following address "manual1@dhs.gov" into your e-mail address line. When sending an e-mail to us, provide your full name and, if you are an attorney or representative, the name of the firm or organization you represent. We will only consider e-mails related to AFM content and format. For specific case information or immigration related information, visit our website at www.uscis.gov .
Note: Any bookmarks for the Adjudicators Field Manual should be made from the Table of Contents page. This page will soon redirect all readers there.
Please be aware that the Adjudicators Field Manual (AFM) Chapters 71 to 76 and Appendices 71-1 to 75-7 have been superseded by USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12: Citizenship & Naturalization as of January 22, 2013.
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