What agency is responsible for monitoring the pathway of legal visitation and citizenship applications of foreign nationals?

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is the agency responsible for managing the legal pathways for foreign nationals regarding visitation and citizenship applications. This includes processing various types of applications, such as those for visas, green cards, and naturalization. USCIS plays a crucial role in administering immigration laws and ensuring that all applications are reviewed, processed, and adjudicated according to established legal standards.

The agency operates under the Department of Homeland Security and is primarily focused on immigration benefits and services. This includes overseeing the steps involved in obtaining lawful permanent residency or citizenship, thus making it central to the journey of foreign nationals seeking to live and work in the United States legally.

In contrast, the Department of State mainly handles foreign relations and the issuance of visas at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad, but it does not directly manage the application processes once these individuals enter the U.S. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is focused on protecting refugees and the displaced but does not intervene in U.S. citizenship processes. Border Patrol is tasked with enforcement along U.S. borders and does not manage legal visitation or citizenship applications. Hence, USCIS is the designated agency for overseeing these immigration pathways.