Immigration matters in Minneapolis are handled across three federal offices in the Fort Snelling area, a city ordinance that limits how local employees interact with federal enforcement, and a network of nonprofits and state programs that serve residents regardless of status. Knowing which office does what, and which rules protect you locally, is the quickest way to get where you need to go.
Which Federal Office Handles What
Three separate agencies deal with immigration in the Minneapolis–St. Paul metro, and they do very different things.
USCIS Field Office
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services runs a field office in the Fort Snelling area that processes green card applications, conducts naturalization interviews, and holds citizenship oath ceremonies for Minnesota residents and parts of the surrounding region. Field offices do not accept walk-ins. Every visit requires an appointment scheduled through the USCIS contact center or an infopass request.1U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Field Offices Confirm the exact address and your appointment through the USCIS office locator.2U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Service and Office Locator
Naturalization applicants file Form N-400 and later appear here for the interview and civics test. The filing fee is $760 by paper or $710 online, with a reduced fee of $380 for applicants who qualify based on income.3U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. N-400, Application for Naturalization
Fort Snelling Immigration Court
The Executive Office for Immigration Review runs the immigration court at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, 1 Federal Drive, Suite 1850, Fort Snelling, MN 55111. Removal proceedings, asylum hearings, and other contested cases go before an immigration judge here. Filing and public inquiry hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays, excluding federal holidays, and the court does not accept faxes or electronic submissions unless court staff specifically request them.4United States Department of Justice. Fort Snelling Immigration Court The court remains fully operational as of 2026.5United States Department of Justice. Immigration Court Operational Status
ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations
Immigration and Customs Enforcement runs Enforcement and Removal Operations through the St. Paul Field Office, which covers Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota.6U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. St Paul Field Office ERO identifies, arrests, detains, and removes people subject to deportation orders or unlawfully present.7U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Enforcement and Removal Operations It is entirely separate from USCIS. USCIS handles benefits and status applications; ERO is enforcement. The St. Paul office manages check-in scheduling and address updates for supervised individuals in the region.8U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE Field Offices
What Minneapolis City Employees Will and Won’t Do
Under the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances, Title 2, Chapter 19, city workers cannot ask about your citizenship or immigration status, demand documents proving status, or use any knowledge of your status to enforce immigration laws.9City of Minneapolis. Welcoming City
The ordinance covers two broad areas. For general city services, employees may only request immigration information when a specific law or program guideline makes it a condition of eligibility for the service you are seeking. For public safety, police and fire personnel cannot take any law enforcement action aimed at detecting undocumented residents, enforcing federal immigration laws, or verifying status, and that includes questioning people about status during routine interactions.10City of Minneapolis. City of Minneapolis Revised Separation Ordinance
In practice, you can call 911, use city services, and visit city offices without that encounter turning into an immigration inquiry. The ordinance does not prevent federal agents from conducting their own operations within Minneapolis, and it does not override federal law. It draws a line around what city personnel will do.
Getting Legal Help
Several Minneapolis-area nonprofits provide free or low-cost immigration legal help, each with its own eligibility rules and capacity limits. The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota is one of the largest. ILCM screens potential clients through an intake process that compares household income against the federal poverty guidelines, and it typically serves people at or below 187.5 percent of the poverty line rather than the 125 percent threshold common in other federal programs.11Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota. Intake Process Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid also handles immigration matters under its own criteria.
Before you call, gather every document you have: passport, birth certificate, any marriage certificates, prior immigration filings, and every notice from USCIS, ICE, or the immigration court. For specific programs such as DACA or Temporary Protected Status, pull together employment records and school transcripts showing continuous presence. Most agencies run an initial screening to decide whether they can take your case, and a clear timeline of your entry and every interaction with immigration authorities makes that first meeting far more useful.
Private immigration attorneys in the area often charge between $0 and $250 for an initial consultation. If you cannot afford a private attorney and do not qualify for nonprofit help, the immigration court may maintain a list of pro bono attorneys willing to take cases.
Address Changes: A 10-Day Deadline That Catches People
Federal law requires every noncitizen in the United States to report a change of address to USCIS within 10 days of moving. You file Form AR-11 online through the USCIS website or by mail. The rule covers green card holders, visa holders, asylum applicants, and anyone else who is not a U.S. citizen. The only exemptions are people on A or G visas and visitors admitted under the visa waiver program.12U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. AR-11, Alien’s Change of Address Card
Failing to report can result in a fine of up to $200, up to 30 days in jail, or both, and it can be used as a ground for removal unless you can show the failure was not intentional or was reasonably excusable.13Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1305 – Notices of Change of Address If you move anywhere in the metro, file the AR-11 immediately. If you also have a pending case with USCIS or the immigration court, update your address separately with each. USCIS does not automatically forward your AR-11 to the Fort Snelling immigration court, and a hearing notice sent to an old address can result in an in absentia removal order.
Minnesota Driver’s Licenses and ID
Minnesota allows all residents to obtain a standard driver’s license or state identification card regardless of immigration status. Governor Walz signed the change into law in 2023, ending the previous requirement to prove citizenship or lawful presence for a standard license.14State of Minnesota. Governor Walz Signs Bill Expanding Access to Driver’s Licenses This applies to standard licenses only. REAL ID-compliant licenses still require proof of lawful status under federal rules, so a standard Minnesota license works for driving and everyday ID but cannot be used to board domestic flights or enter federal buildings where REAL ID is required.
Minneapolis also runs a municipal ID program open to all city residents, designed with immigrants, people experiencing housing instability, youth, seniors, and transgender residents in mind.15City of Minneapolis. Municipal Identification RCA A municipal ID is not a substitute for a driver’s license or state ID for immigration purposes, but it works as identification during interactions with city services.
Working Legally: What Changed in Late 2025
Your right to work in the United States depends entirely on your immigration status. If your status does not automatically include work authorization, you generally need to file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, with USCIS.16U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-765, Application for Employment Authorization Filing fees changed as of January 1, 2026, so confirm the current amount on the USCIS fee schedule before filing.
Automatic EAD Extensions Have Ended
Until October 2025, people who filed to renew their Employment Authorization Document before it expired received an automatic extension while the renewal was pending. That safety net is gone. Anyone who filed a renewal on or after October 30, 2025, no longer receives an automatic extension. USCIS recommends filing your renewal up to 180 days before your EAD expires to minimize any gap. Limited automatic extensions may still apply to certain Temporary Protected Status categories through Federal Register notices.17U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. DHS Ends Automatic Extension of Employment Authorization
If your EAD expires before USCIS processes your renewal, you cannot legally work during the gap. Your employer must stop letting you work when the card expires, regardless of whether a renewal is pending. File early.
Work Permits for Asylum Applicants
Asylum applicants face a mandatory 180-day waiting period after filing a complete asylum application before USCIS can grant work authorization.18eCFR. 8 CFR 208.7 – Employment Authorization You can submit the I-765 at the 150-day mark, but USCIS will not approve it until the full 180 days have elapsed. An electronic asylum clock tracks the days, and certain actions stop the clock, such as requesting a hearing reschedule or failing to appear for an interview. If the asylum office issues a recommended approval on your case, you can apply for the EAD immediately regardless of how many days have passed.
The Immigration Medical Exam for Green Card Applicants
Anyone applying to adjust status to permanent resident needs a medical exam documented on Form I-693, the Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record.19U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record Only a physician designated by USCIS as a civil surgeon can perform the exam. Find one near Minneapolis through the USCIS civil surgeon tool.20U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Find a Civil Surgeon
Bring a government-issued photo ID and complete vaccination records to the appointment. If you cannot document prior vaccinations, the civil surgeon will administer them during the visit at additional cost. The exam itself typically runs between $500 and $650 depending on the provider, and that price often does not cover missing vaccinations or lab work. After the exam, the civil surgeon seals the finished I-693 in an envelope. Do not open it. USCIS will reject any form that arrives in an opened or tampered envelope.19U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record
One timing detail matters. For any I-693 signed by a civil surgeon on or after November 1, 2023, the form is only valid while the application it accompanies is pending. If that application is denied or withdrawn, the I-693 expires with it, and you would need a new exam for any future filing.21U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Changes Validity Period for Any Form I-693 Signed on or After Nov. 1, 2023 Schedule the exam close to when you plan to file.
Refugee and Asylee Resettlement in the Twin Cities
The Twin Cities are one of the largest refugee resettlement hubs in the country. Resettlement agencies such as Arrive Ministries and Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota run structured programs covering housing, English instruction, employment orientation, healthcare navigation, and school enrollment. To access these services, you typically need documentation of your status, such as a Form I-94 arrival record or an asylum grant letter.
Refugees receive a computer-generated I-94 at the time of admission, and most no longer get a physical paper copy. A printout from the CBP I-94 website serves as a valid receipt for employment verification on Form I-9.22U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Refugee Form I-94 Automation Retrieve your record at i94.cbp.dhs.gov.23U.S. Customs and Border Protection. I-94/I-95 Website
Resettlement support generally lasts between 90 days and a year depending on the program and funding source. Staff handle the immediate essentials and connect new arrivals to longer-term resources for job training, financial literacy, and community integration. Keep every piece of status documentation in a safe place. Losing your I-94 or grant letter does not change your legal status, but replacing these documents takes time and can delay access to benefits you are entitled to.