Backlog Elimination Strategy - USCIS

at first i got that too.. but it works

Press Office U.S. Department of Homeland Security Fact Sheet
BACKLOG ELIMINATION STRATEGY
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is streamlining the way immigration benefits are delivered. By working smarter and eliminating redundancies, USCIS is bringing a business model to government. We will eliminate the backlog and, at the same time, enhance national security. USCIS will deliver the right benefit to the right person in the right amount of time, while ensuring that the wrong individual does not access immigration benefits. It is this fundamental mission that guides USCIS as it faces the challenges associated with eliminating the backlog.
The backlog isn't new. What's new is the strategy and initiatives USCIS is using to tackle this issue head-on. This new approach represents a focused effort that will eliminate the backlog and ensure a six-month or less processing time by the end of 2006.
The USCIS backlog elimination plan focuses on three objectives:
Achieving a high-level of performance by establishing clear, concrete milestones and actively monitoring progress towards these milestones;
Transforming business practices by implementing significant information technology improvements and identifying processing improvements to transform the current way of doing business; and
Ensuring integrity by instituting comprehensive quality assurance measures.
Based upon a cycle time of up to six months (the amount of time needed to process an immigration application), the USCIS backlog at the end of FY 2003 was 3.7 million cases and included all cases that exceed their cycle time. Each year, USCIS receives roughly six million applications.
During the next three years, USCIS will eliminate the 3.7 million backlogged cases by changing the culture through which immigration services and benefits are administered. The USCIS efforts are already paying dividends. Since December 2003, USCIS has reduced the backlog by more than 360,000.
GOOD GOVERNMENT INITATIVES
New Management Tools
Measure Progress Against Milestone Projections
Each month USCIS managers receive detailed reports highlighting the number of new applications. This information is allowing USCIS managers to react to current trends and use resources in a more constructive, concerted effort.
June 17, 2004
www.uscis.gov
Press Office U.S. Department of Homeland Security Resource Allocations
The USCIS Headquarters Backlog Elimination Taskforce – staffed by highly experience senior staff members - will work to achieve the rapid adjudication of severely backlogged applications while ensuring the integrity of immigration services. USCIS will work to identify areas of greatest needs for resources to make sure that all offices are supported to meet monthly backlog elimination goals.
Project Ingenuity
USCIS actively encouraging employees, supervisors and managers at every level to critically look at our day-to-day operations and then share their ideas about how we can improve business and eliminate the backlog. The tremendously popular InfoPass initiative is just one example of how this “bottom-up thinking” is helping shape the backlog elimination strategy.
Better Technology
Managing Risk with Technology
USCIS is providing guidance that will allow adjudicators to identify low-risk cases primed for fast-track processing. This will allow USCIS to use both modern technology and trend analysis to reduce the number of pending cases while maintaining high security standards.
Electronic Biometrics
USCIS will use the latest in modern technology allowing for the storage of fingerprints, photographs and signature information. This will reduce the workload at USCIS facilities tasked with capturing this information. Additionally, it will eliminate the redundancy associated with recapturing information as new or subsequent applications for a service or benefit are filed.
Online Customer Services
o E-Filing
This simple and friendly to use system allows customers to go online to apply for certain immigration benefits. The eight forms currently available account for more than 50% of the total volume of benefits applications USCIS receives annually. E-Filing began with two of the most frequently filed forms last year. By the end of fiscal year 2006, E-Filing will support 12 forms that represent over 90% of the applications for benefits received yearly.
o InfoPass
InfoPass is an innovative customer service initiative that allows customers to make an appointment with an Immigration Information Officer online instead of waiting in long lines at a USCIS District Office. InfoPass began in Miami and is currently in Los Angeles, and Dallas. By October 1, USCIS plans to offer InfoPass nationwide.
o Case Status Online
Customers can check the status of their case for an immigration benefit on the USCIS website and build a portfolio of up to 100 receipted applications. Customers may also choose to receive updates from USCIS via e-mail whenever the status of their case changes.
www.uscis.gov
Press Office U.S. Department of Homeland Security Improve Policies and Procedures
Decision At First Review
USCIS has issued guidance that will eliminate the practice of unnecessarily requesting additional evidence from applicants for immigration services and benefits. This guidance insures, that when possible, USCIS adjudicators will make their decisions based upon the information included with the application.
Employment Authorization Validity Period
USCIS is proposing a regulation removing the one-year mandatory expiration of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs). This would allow USCIS to issue EADs for up to five years and eliminate the redundant step of re-adjudicating individuals eligible for long-term issuance.
Pilot Projects
USCIS has also launched a number of pilot projects at locations across the United States. These projects allow USCIS to test and evaluate various initiatives or production enhancements to determine their effectiveness in reducing the backlog. If successful, USCIS could expand these pilots to a national level.
- USCIS -
On March 1, 2003, U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services became one of three legacy INS components to join the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. USCIS is charged with fundamentally transforming and improving the delivery of immigration and citizenship services,
while enhancing our nation's security.
www.uscis.gov
 
Ha!!!!

Page 4 of the document says ....

The Backlog Elimination Plan will:
• Report on the current size of the application backlog;
• Identify the next steps to eliminate the backlog and achieve a six-month or less cycle time target for all forms by the end of 2006;

So they still have NOT identified next steps to eliminate backlog. How encouraging!!!! :mad:
 
peeved said:
Ha!!!!

Page 4 of the document says ....

The Backlog Elimination Plan will:
• Report on the current size of the application backlog;
• Identify the next steps to eliminate the backlog and achieve a six-month or less cycle time target for all forms by the end of 2006;

So they still have NOT identified next steps to eliminate backlog. How encouraging!!!! :mad:
Click to expand...

Anyway we dont benefit because by the end of 2006 we all will get our GCs anyhow based on old times also .... :mad: :mad:
 
dazzling said:
Anyway we dont benefit because by the end of 2006 we all will get our GCs anyhow based on old times also .... :mad: :mad:
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If the last couple of years are any indication (the flurry we've witnessed this month not withstanding) I wouldn't count on it.

USCIS just fooled the congressional subcommittee on immigration by calling Mr Aguirre's statement the backlog reduction plan. Basically what it all boils down to is that USCIS has a plan to develop a backlog reduction plan. :mad:
 
peeved said:
If the last couple of years are any indication (the flurry we've witnessed this month not withstanding) I wouldn't count on it.

USCIS just fooled the congressional subcommittee on immigration by calling Mr Aguirre's statement the backlog reduction plan. Basically what it all boils down to is that USCIS has a plan to develop a backlog reduction plan. :mad:
Click to expand...

Hmmm.... you have a point .... I would wait and watch for another 6 months before commentiong on anything ....
 
dazzling said:
Hmmm.... you have a point .... I would wait and watch for another 6 months before commentiong on anything ....
Click to expand...

If I'm not wrong you filed like in March this year right? So if you're like most of us, the 6 months wait for you wouldn't be as hard (it wasn't that hard for us most of us in the beginning) as some of those that filed in 2001 or 2002 and are still waiting. :)

I can only hope and pray things get better for you, along with the rest of the recent filers, and don't have to suffer as much as some of the old filers, if at all. :)
 
peeved said:
If I'm not wrong you filed like in March this year right? So if you're like most of us, the 6 months wait for you wouldn't be as hard (it wasn't that hard for us most of us in the beginning) as some of those that filed in 2001 or 2002 and are still waiting. :)

I can only hope and pray things get better for you, along with the rest of the recent filers, and don't have to suffer as much as some of the old filers, if at all. :)
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Yup I filed in March after not getting my labor approved for 3 years !!! So for 3 years my labor did not get approved, and I had to force my company to substitute .. lucky me a guy left and I got his approved labor. So I have been far longer in this race then lot of other folks .. I got a receipt of my labor application from the local office after 1 year of submitting the papers. Can you believe it, a receipt after 1 year for documents that were sent by FedEx. I am more frustrated with this system than what you can think .... :)

And that too after I have a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Computer Science from a top 10 college in India and an MBA from IIM.
 
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Mr Auguire is responsible for all this mess. He has absolutely no plans to reduce backlogs and he keeps on saying that some how he will eliminate the backlog by 2006. The backlog can't vanish in just one month or one year. It has to happen gradually. He never pleads the congress to allott more money. He is afraid that if the congress allots the money he asks, then he will be forced to show results. He is using the slogan "the right person will get the benefit in right time" to give every body an impression that the backlogs is due to his efforts to eliminate wrong people from this queue. He is just a manipulator :mad:
 
isGCtheKey? said:
http://uscis.gov/graphics/aboutus/repsstudies/backlog.htm

Some links may have to be saved to local pc in order to view

Site is a little "quirky" may have to refresh a few times to see the links/files

Thanks
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485 processing tines in FY04 is expected to be 20 months and will reduce to 15 months in next FY. Dont know what is means by any standards ... they plan to do more 485 processing in the next year and the year after that. So in any cas, most of us will have to wait for atleast 2 years anyhow .... :(
 
dazzling said:
Yup I filed in March after not getting my labor approved for 3 years !!! So for 3 years my labor did not get approved, and I had to force my company to substitute .. lucky me a guy left and I got his approved labor. So I have been far longer in this race then lot of other folks .. I got a receipt of my labor application from the local office after 1 year of submitting the papers. Can you believe it, a receipt after 1 year for documents that were sent by FedEx. I am more frustrated with this system than what you can think .... :)

And that too after I have a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Computer Science from a top 10 college in India and an MBA from IIM.
Click to expand...

You're so right! Most of us in this forum have been so focused on I-485 that I almost overlooked the ordeal of LC. The entire process is unbearable. And this is "supposed" to be the most techonologically advanced country in the world. If I could start over again, I'd probably go somewhere else.
 
Whatever they do, all who filed in the last two years suffer most than any other who filed in other times. By the time they (if at all) take any action to reduce the backlog or speed up processing time, we already have suffered the worst.

The most unlucky ones we are.
 
z/OS V1.4 said:
Whatever they do, all who filed in the last two years suffer most than any other who filed in other times. By the time they (if at all) take any action to reduce the backlog or speed up processing time, we already have suffered the worst.

The most unlucky ones we are.
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You are so very right.
 
You are absolutly right.

The most ridiculous thing is when many people waiting for more than 1 year + 6 months, the uscis is talking about 6 months. :cool:
 
dazzling said:
485 processing tines in FY04 is expected to be 20 months and will reduce to 15 months in next FY. Dont know what is means by any standards ... they plan to do more 485 processing in the next year and the year after that. So in any cas, most of us will have to wait for atleast 2 years anyhow .... :(
Click to expand...

Apparently they're claiming that by Sep. 30th, 2004 there will be no pending cases older than Feb. 1, 2003. By Sep. 30th, 2005 there will be no pending cases older than July 1, 2004. Of course reaching the target of 6 months by Sep 30th, 2006. (They have also put in a disclaimer that there will be exceptions.)

To achieve these mile stones, they are projecting to process 752,173 cases by Sep. 30, 2004, 936,164 cases by Sep 30th, 2005 and 1,154,635 cases by Sep 30th, 2006. As with any process re-engineering peak efficiency can not be achieved right from the beginning. (Though I firmly believe there should be a law against using the words "efficiency" and "USCIS" in the same sentence. But for the sake of analysis I am willing to make an exception for myself this one time :o ). There's the initial migration and then the teething problems. So the efficiency should increase over time till the peak is reached and things level off when the pleateau is reached.

While these numbers looked great, I wondered how they could be accomplished. So I assumed there are 251 working days a year (104 weekend days plus 10 national holidays etc. = 114 days off. Thus working days = 365 - 114 = 251). They plan on adjudicating 752,173 cases by Sep 30th, 2004. This means on average they have to adjudicate (752,173)/251 = 2997 cases a day. To top it off, they don't even have the entire year to achieve those numbers. We started seeing some movement on approval processes as of May 2004. At best that gives them 5 months to achieve their goals. Even if they work everyday from May 1st, 2004 to Sep. 30th 2004 they have 153 days which means 4916 cases a day on average across all service centers, district offices and the national benefits center, if applicable. I don't know what in their track record makes them even dream they can achieve this number.

I do know for a fact that government employees have to take a drug test before being selected. I wonder if such a test was administered to Mr. Aguirre.

Boy! Did I burst my own bubble or what?! :mad:

Sorry folks! I didn't mean to come across so negatively. In fact, I was, at first, fairly excited about the claims made by USCIS and was kinda beginning to figure out when to tentatively expect an approval. That's what triggered the other calculation.

Having said all this, I do so fervently hope that they're right and not me. After all, they do say they will provide quarterly progress reports to the congress.
 
I read that backlog reduction plan, and it appears that the 20 months they refer to, is the average cycle time for the FY2004. It need not mean that the JIT will show 20 months backlog. If they approve some recently filed cases (which they are anyway doing), then the average wait time will come down. This is what Rajiv calls "creative accounting". They are playing games not only with us, but also with united states congress :mad:
 
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