In October 1961, Octavio Cisneros immigrated to the United States as a political refugee as part of Operation Peter Pan.

[1] Cisneros' subsequent appointments were as an episcopal vicar in the Brooklyn East Vicariate and as rector of the Cathedral Seminary in the Douglaston section of Queens He was raised to the rank of honorary prelate of his holiness by Pope John Paul II in 1988.

While auxiliary bishop, Cisneros also served as pastor of Holy Child Jesus Parish in the Richmond Hill section of Queens.

[1] On July 19, 2020, Cisneros reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 for bishops and submitted his letter of resignation to Pope Francis.

[3] On January 20, 2022, Cisneros traveled to Chalatenango, El Salvador to celebrate a mass at the gravesites of Maryknoll Sisters Maura Clarke and Ita Ford.