USCIS will open the first ever field office in South America

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced the opening of a new international office in Quito, Ecuador, the first of it's kind in South America and only the sixth in Latin America after Guatemala City, Mexico City, Havana, San Salvador and Tegucigalpa. The Quito International Office is set to open on September 10.

The office will focus on expanding the processing capacity for Ecuadorian refugees, in line with USCIS commitments under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), and assisting in the reunification of individuals with family members already residing in the United States.

Ecuador has become one of the biggest hubs of immigrants arriving from the region to the U.S. In 2023 alone 57,250 Ecuadorians made the trek through the infamous Darien Gap, an increase of 95% from 2022.

USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou stated that the opening of the Quito office enhances USCIS's international presence and expertise in a key location:

"It is part of our commitment to the Biden-Harris administration's efforts to facilitate safe and orderly legal pathways and fulfill our humanitarian mission. USCIS is dedicated to equity, integrity, and respect for all those we serve, and our presence in Ecuador is part of an effort to expand USCIS's presence outside the United States to support that mission more effectively."

The Quito International Office will be located within the U.S. Embassy in Ecuador and will provide immigration expertise to the local and regional partners in support of the Safe Mobility Offices in Ecuador. The Safe Mobility initiative aims to expedite refugee processing under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and offer information and referrals for other legal migration pathways to the United States and other countries.

In addition to refugee processing in Ecuador and the broader region, USCIS staff in Quito will focus on family reunification efforts and resume other critical tasks at the embassy.

Services at the Quito office will be available by appointment only. USCIS will update its International Immigration Offices webpage to include information on the new office, its services, and appointment scheduling.