USCIS STREAMLINING ITS PROCEDURES TO EASE BACKLOG
by Michael J. Gurfinkel, Esq.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) announced new plans and strategies to eliminate its huge backlog of cases, while enhancing national security.

According to the USCIS Office of Public Affairs, the new approach aims not only to eliminate the backlog, but also to ensure a six-month or less processing time for every immigration case by the end of 2006.      The USCIS backlog at the end of fiscal year 2003 was 3.7 million cases. (Each year, the USCIS receives about 6 million applications.)

By instituting some preliminary changes in its processing procedures, the USCIS has already reduced its backlog by more than 212,000 cases since the end of fiscal year 2003.

To further hasten processing of cases (without sacrificing national security), the USCIS plans to undertake the following:

• Pinpoint offices that lack manpower and resources (overwhelmed with work) with the aim of reallocating staff from other offices to ensure that each office meets monthly backlog elimination goals.
   
• Encourage employees, managers, and supervisors to review their day-to-day operations and suggest ideas on how to improve procedures and eliminate backlog.
   
• Identify low-risk cases primed for “fast-track” processing.
   
• Use modern technology to store and retrieve fingerprints, photographs and signatures in a fast manner, so people don’t have to keep being fingerprinted.
   
• Allowing customers to check the status of their cases online through the USCIS website, rather than calling a phone number to hear a recording about the case status.
   
• Eliminate the practice of unnecessarily requesting additional evidence from applicants. This guidance insures that, when possible, USCIS adjudicators will make a decision on the case based on the information included in the application.
   
• Issue Employment Authorization Documents (EADs or work permit) for up to five years (rather than every year).

For these new procedures to be effective, applicants will still need to submit the correct and complete documentation, and to apply for the appropriate immigration benefits to which they are entitled. People should consider retaining a reputable attorney, to help them file for the appropriate immigration benefit, and to help them gather and submit correct and complete documentation to support their cases.   

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