No Borders NewsUSCIS says it is opening a new international field office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The office is scheduled to begin operations on September 9, 2026, and it will handle USCIS immigration matters in Ethiopia.
USCIS staff in Addis Ababa will focus on fraud prevention and document verification. That includes checking whether foreign documents are authentic and investigating suspected fraud.
The agency also says the office will collect DNA to confirm family relationships. In the past, USCIS described these kinds of functions as being supported through coordination with the Department of State.
USCIS says the new office will give the agency a dedicated presence overseas to carry out these workstreams directly. It also described the move as part of a broader effort to align overseas operations with USCIS priorities and strengthen its international capacity.
USCIS services at the Addis Ababa office will be available only by appointment. The agency says it will update its International Immigration Offices webpage with details on services and how to schedule appointments.