What Services Are Available 

to USCIS Customers Affected 

by Hurricane Katrina?

Many different programs offer disaster assistance to immigrants and other qualified aliens 

including food, rental and mortgage assistance, temporary housing allowances, grants for 

repairs, short-term cash, small business loans and more. 

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides: 

• Temporary housing assistance, or rental payments for persons displaced due to 

Hurricane Katrina. 

• Limited assistance for repair or replacement for homeowners so that they may restore 

habitability of their homes. 

Look for FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers in affected areas. 

The Other Needs Assistance (ONA) provides: 

• Money for repairs, replacement of household items, job essentials, medical, dental and 

funeral costs in the form of grants to those affected by Hurricane Katrina. 

• Money for purposes other than medical, dental and funeral for those persons affected by 

Katrina and not eligible for SBA loans, or for those persons who received an inadequate 

SBA loan. 

ONA is administered through Offices of Emergency Services or similar state agencies.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) provides: 

• Cash to replace income for those who are unemployed due to Hurricane Katrina.

DUA is administered through the Department of Labor through state employment agencies. 

Food Programs provide: 

Emergency food stamps and food are provided to meet emergency needs. 

Food Programs are administered through state social services agencies and similar local organizations as a service provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

Small Business Administration (SBA) provides: 

Low interest loans for repairs to homeowners and renters as well as to large and small 

business owners. 

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M-643 9/20/05
www.uscis.gov ★ 1 800 375 5283 (1 800 767 1833 TDD for the Hearing Impaired)

Which immigrants qualify for these programs? 

Many “qualified aliens” can apply for most or all of the benefits described on the previous page. They include the 

following groups: 

• Lawful permanent residents 

• Refugees, asylees and certain parolees 

• Cuban/Haitian entrants 

• Battered spouses and children pursuing immigration 

benefits based on that status.

Undocumented and non-immigrant workers in the US are 

eligible for non-cash, in kind emergency disaster relief such 

as food and shelter, search and rescue and emergency medical care. 

If I accept emergency assistance, am I at risk of being 

considered a “public charge?” 

No. Accepting assistance will not have a negative consequence on your immigration status unless you fraudulently 

obtain such assistance. 

Can employers hire an individual who has no personal documents for I-9 Employment Eligibility 

Verification? 

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced 

on September 6, 2005 that it will refrain from initiating 

employer sanction actions for the next for 45 days for civil 

violations of I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification procedures, with regard to individuals who are currently unable 

to provide identity and eligibility documents as a result of 

the hurricane. U.S. employers are responsible for completing 

and retaining Employment Eligibility (I-9) Forms for hired 

individuals. Regulations require employers to verify employment eligibility and establish identity through original documents presented by employees. 

Due to the losses caused by Hurricane Katrina, many individuals have lost or will be unable to provide the documents 

required by this procedure. Also, many government agencies 

in the affected regions have suffered destruction or damage 

so that many individuals are unable to apply for and receive 

replacement documents. 

DHS will not bring sanction actions against employers for 

the next 45 days so that employers can hire individuals 

evacuated or displaced from affected areas, otherwise eligible 

for employment, but lacking personal documents. DHS will 

review this policy at the end of 45 days. 

Note that employers are still required to complete I-9 forms 

for new employees as much as possible but will not be 

penalized if documentation is not available as a result of the 

hurricane.

What will happen with all petitions and cases 

pending at the USCIS, DOL, and EOIR offices in 

New Orleans? 

All offices in New Orleans are currently closed. As of 

September 9, 2005, USCIS has reported that all files in New 

Orleans are intact and are being moved to Memphis the 

week of September 18th, but it will likely be some weeks 

before they are organized and accessible. In the meantime, 

the New Orleans operations office is located in the Memphis, 

Tennessee Sub-Office and all other USCIS offices will be 

assisting in providing services and benefits to those affected 

by Hurricane Katrina. 

No filings can be made at Immigration Court in New 

Orleans and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) has 

suspended work on cases that originated from New Orleans. 

At this time, the Executive Office of Immigration Review 

(EOIR) is working on a uniform policy for filings for the regional offices in affected areas and is considering issues such 

as aging of petitions, filings, deadlines, reconstruction of 

files and more as they come up. 

The Department of State (DOS) will give priority appointments to Family and Next of Kin of hurricane victims. All 

DOS posts will give humanitarian consideration to applicants 

and accommodate emergency cases as quickly as possible. 

This special consideration will be limited to family and next 

of kin. DOS officers will refer applicants looking for loved 

ones to the website compiled by FEMA at www.dhs.gov. 

When using this web page, click on “Finding Friends and 

Information.” 

How can affected USCIS customers replace lost immigration documents? 

All USCIS offices will assist those affected by Katrina in 

replacing immigration documents. The USCIS offices will 

verify identity and immigration status through electronic file 

data before re-issuing immigration related documents. 

Normally, you would need to make an appointment at a local office for these services. If you have been displaced by 

Hurricane Katrina, you do NOT need to make an INFOPASS 

appointment to visit the local office in your area for these 

services.

Replacing Your Lost/Destroyed Permanent Resident Card

You will need to get a Form I-90. The Form I-90 is available 

from our website. We will also have a supply on-hand at our 

local offices. If you have been displaced, and your Permanent 

Resident Card has been lost or destroyed, you can file the 

Form I-90 application in-person at any local office. Please 

take any documents and/or identification that you may have 

with you to help speed the process. Please identify yourself 
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as having been displaced due to the hurricane. Where 

possible, please take two passport-style photos with you 

as well so we can give you temporary proof of your permanent resident status. Fee waivers will be decided on 

a case-by-case basis. See Fee Waivers at the bottom of the 

page.

Replacing Your Lost/Destroyed Re-Entry Permit 

You will need to get a Form I-131. The Form I-131 is 

available from our website. We will also have a supply 

on-hand at our local offices. If you have been displaced, 

and your Re-Entry Permit has been lost or destroyed, 

you can file the Form I-131 application in-person at any 

local office. Please take any documents and/or identification that you may have with you to help speed the 

process. Please identify yourself as having been displaced 

due to the hurricane. Where possible, please follow the 

instructions to the Form I-131 concerning supporting 

documentation and photos and bring them with you if 

you choose to file in-person. Fee waivers will be decided 

on a case-by-case basis. See Fee Waivers at the bottom of 

the page.

Replacing Your Lost/Destroyed Refugee Travel Document

You will need to get a Form I-131. The Form I-131 is 

available from our website. We will also have a supply 

on-hand at our local offices. If you have been displaced, 

and your Refugee Travel Document has been lost or destroyed, you can file the Form I-131 application in-person at any local office. Please take any documents and/or 

identification that you may have with you to help speed 

the process. Please identify yourself as having been displaced due to the hurricane. Where possible, please follow the instructions to the Form I-131 concerning supporting documentation and photos and bring them with 

you if you choose to file in-person. Fee waivers will be 

decided on a case-by-case basis See Fee Waivers at the bottom of the page.

Replacing Your Lost/Destroyed Advance Parole

You will need to get a Form I-131. The Form I-131 is 

available from our website. We will also have a supply 

on-hand at our local offices. If you have been displaced, 

and your Advance Parole Document has been lost or 

destroyed, you can file the Form I-131 application inperson at any local office. Please take any documents 

and/or identification that you may have with you to 

help speed the process. Please identify yourself as 

having been displaced due to the hurricane. Where possible, please follow the instructions to the Form I-131 

concerning supporting documentation and photos and 

bring them with you if you choose to file in-person. Fee 

waivers will be decided on a case-by-case basis. See Fee 

Waivers at the bottom of the page.

Replacing Your Lost/Destroyed Employment Authorization 

Document 

You will need to get a Form I-765. The Form I-765 is 

available from our website. We will also have a supply 

on-hand at our local offices. If you have been displaced, 

and your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) 

has been lost or destroyed, you can file the Form I-765 

application in-person at any local office. Where possible, 

please take any documents and/or identification that 

you may have with you to help speed the process. Please 

identify yourself as having been displaced due to the 

hurricane. Fee waivers will be decided on a case-by-case 

basis. See Fee Waivers at the bottom of the page.

Replacing Your Lost/Destroyed Naturalization Certificate or 

Certificate of Citizenship

You will need to get a Form N-565. The Form N-565 is 

available from our website. We will also have a supply 

on-hand at our local offices. If you have been displaced, 

and your Naturalization Certificate or Certificate of 

Citizenship has been lost or destroyed, you can file the 

Form N-565 application in-person at any local office. 

Please take any documents and/or identification that 

you may have with you to help speed the process. Please 

identify yourself as having been displaced due to the 

hurricane. Where possible, please follow the instructions 

to the Form N-565 concerning supporting documentation and photos and bring them with you if you choose 

to file in-person. Fee waivers will be decided on a caseby-case basis. See Fee Waivers at the bottom of the page.

Replacing Your Form I-94, Nonimmigrant Entry Document 

You will need to get a Form I-102. The Form I-102 is 

available from our website. We will also have a supply 

on-hand at our local offices. If you have been displaced 

and your Form I-94 has been lost or destroyed, you can 

file the Form I-102 at any local office. Please take any 

documents and/or identification that you may have with 

you to help speed the process. Please identify yourself as 

having been displaced due to the hurricane. Where possible, please follow the instructions to the Form I-102 

concerning supporting documentation and photos and 

bring them with you if you choose to file in-person. Fee 

waivers will be decided on a case-by-case basis. See Fee 

Waivers at the bottom of the page.

Fee Waivers

Many Katrina victims may not have additional documents for fee waiver applications. USCIS can approve fee 

waivers for those who show an inability to pay based on 

an affidavit or unsworn declaration.
Filing Other Applications

If you need to file an application or petition for anything 

other than a replacement document shown previously, 

please follow the instructions for that specific form. 

Forms and instructions are available on our website.

What should J-1 exchange visitors do if their 

programs have been disrupted by the hurricane? 

The DOS advises all J-1 exchange visitors to contact their 

program sponsors. We do not expect J-1 visa holders 

will be penalized for the disruption, but have not received further information yet. 

What should F-1 or M Foreign Students do if they 

are currently studying at a school affected by the 

disaster? 

Foreign students should attempt to contact the designated school official (DSO) if available. If the DSO is 

not available, please contact the SEVIS office at 

202-305-2346 or email SEVIS.source@dhs.gov and 

include date of birth, SEVIS ID# and school information. Foreign students should let the SEVIS officer know 

if they plan to delay entry until the school is operational, 

or transfer to another educational institution. New “F” 

or “M” students who were unable to contact their designated school will receive a new report date and new 

I-20 if the school is operational. Students who transfer 

to a new school should contact the school directly for 

the new I-20. This particular transfer will not be subject 

to a new SEVIS fee. Still, students may need to obtain a 

new visa that indicates the new school. Students will also 

not have to pay a new MRV fee. 

SEVIS has detailed information on its website at 

www.ice.gov/SEVIS concerning the following issues: 

• Transfers 

• Transcripts 

• Status concerns 

• Residence and money problems 

• Lost documentation 

• Address changes 

• OPT issues 

• Fall enrollment problems 

• Contact information 

How will the Immigration Court in New Orleans 

be Affected? 

The court is closed until further notice. We have been 

informed that no action will be taken on any case arising 

out of hurricane-affected areas until proper procedures 

are set up. 

Have naturalization services been cancelled for 

USCIS customers from the New Orleans district? 

Yes, naturalization services in the affected areas have 

been cancelled until further notice. Those who have 

pending naturalization and adjustment of status interviews will be contacted as soon as information becomes 

available. 

What happened to passport applications processed through the New Orleans Passport office? 

The DOS announced on September 7, 2005 that all materials in the New Orleans Passport Agency have been 

collected and transported to another location. These 

materials include personal documents and applications 

from individuals applying for passports. 

The Bureau of Consular Affairs is in the process of mailing postcards to applicants notifying them of the disruptions and possible delays caused by Hurricane Katrina. 

Anyone with pending passport applications at the New 

Orleans Passport Office planning to travel in the next six 

weeks should contact the National Passport Information 

Center at 1-877-487-2778. 

What if the hurricane causes me to be late in 

meeting a filing deadline or miss an interview? 

USCIS will attempt to accommodate customers to the 

fullest extent possible. If you were scheduled for an interview at the New Orleans Office, please call customer 

service at 1-800-375-5283 once you have an address 

you can use for more than 30 days so we can work with 

you to re-schedule your interview at another office, 

where appropriate.

Do I need to file an AR-11 form if I have been 

displaced? 

All immigrants and non-immigrants are required to 

submit an AR-11 form each time they move to a new 

location. Once you have an address that you can use for 

more than 30 days, please complete the Form AR-11. 

If you have any cases pending with USCIS, also call 

customer service at 1-800-375-5283 to update your 

address on your case.

www.uscis.gov ★ 1 800 375 5283 (1 800 767 1833 TDD for the Hearing Impaired)

Photos by FEMA.