http://www.bcis.gov/graphics/AguirreMPI090303.pdf
Excerpt:
To address challenges successfully, CIS will also have to work more efficiently, and that is that is where ingenuity becomes so essential. Whether we realize our vision of a world-class service organization will hinge in large part on our ability to harness the latest technological innovations.
Case-in-point, the electronic-filing program we launched late last month. Now, for the first time, our customers can file the two most commonly used applications online, the green card replacement or renewal and for employment authorization forms. They alone account for 30 percent of the 7 million applications we receive annually. That is just the beginning, however. We expect to have 90 percent of all immigration forms available for online filing by the end of FY 2005.
E-filing provides our customers with simpler, more convenient service—they can file online 24 hours a day, seven days a week—without compromising the integrity or security of the application process. So far we have received more than 30,000 applications.
Of course, simplifying filing processes will accomplish little unless we simultaneously address the application backlog. And, we are doing that. At a strategic planning session with senior manager in early May, I established a team to identify the immediate changes that would do the most to speed up the adjudication process, while enhancing security. I also asked them to develop implementation plans to put these changes in place as soon as possible.
Of all the possible projects identified, eight were selected as having the greatest potential to produce a major improvement, and they are now under intensive study. These initiatives are:
1) Streamlining the family-based adjustment of status process;
2) Pre-certifying businesses that file petitions on behalf of employees;
3) Eliminating self-imposed requirements that inhibit processing or that create more work, such as the one-year limit on Employment Authorization Document validity;
4) Improving processes leading to immigration benefit documents or cards by collecting biometrics at Application Support Centers and redefining adjudication of applications for certain benefits documents to institute verification of identify;
5) Reducing lines are our local offices;
6) Implementing the Child Citizenship Act;
7) Streamlining Naturalization Quality Procedures; and,
8) Implementing batch processing for Employment Work Authorization applications (I-765).
At the same time, we also continue to update the more comprehensive backlog reduction plan that was put together prior to the tragic events of September 11, 2001 --a plan that did not, and could not, take into account the security checks we instituted in response to the terrorist attacks. Security screening has caused major delays in the processing of applications. While we make no apologies for the new procedures, we are making every effort to ensure that they are carried out as expeditiously as possible, and dramatic progress is being made.
The adjudication of applications isn’t our only activity affected by new security measures implemented in the wake of September 11. They have also had a major impact on the processing of refugees, who are now subject to stricter screening, including name checks and relationship verification. As a result of this enhanced security, there have been delays in overseas processing. CIS has been working with the State Department and our other partners in the U.S. Refugee Program to streamline the new security requirements. We are also working together to improve the responsiveness and quality of the resettlement program overall.
One of the most important steps CIS can take is to end our reliance on temporary duty officers by creating a permanent, dedicated corps of refugee officers. We are working with the Department of Homeland Security to incorporate our resource requirements for the refugee corp. in our FY05 budget.
CIS is, of course, responsible for adjudicating affirmative asylum claims, those filed by individuals who are in the United States and not in removal proceeding. In this area, our Asylum Program is looking to build on the successful reforms that were instituted when Doris Meissner was INS Commissioner. These reforms resulted in a significant decrease in the filing of frivolous applications and a very dramatic increase in productivity. The increase in productivity has, among other things, allowed our asylum officers to make major progress in addressing the application backlog, progress we need to continue.
Speaking of asylum, I would also like to note that the statutory cap on asylum adjustments, which limits CIS to granting law permanent status to no more than 10,000 asylees each year, is currently under review. As of July, more than 140,000 asylees had applied for adjustment of status, meaning that someone applying for adjustment today could wait for as long as 14 years before a slot is available.
It is important to remember, however, that the statutory limitation is a function of monitoring overall immigrant admissions.
If Congress eventually lifts the cap, it would eventually lead to a surge in naturalization applications, as lawful permanent status puts people on the final road to citizenship. But that doesn’t worry me much; if we get there, CIS will be ready. Some of the most notable progress that we have made has been in our work connected to citizenship. It is also the area where we have some of our most ambitious and exciting plans for the future.
Excerpt:
To address challenges successfully, CIS will also have to work more efficiently, and that is that is where ingenuity becomes so essential. Whether we realize our vision of a world-class service organization will hinge in large part on our ability to harness the latest technological innovations.
Case-in-point, the electronic-filing program we launched late last month. Now, for the first time, our customers can file the two most commonly used applications online, the green card replacement or renewal and for employment authorization forms. They alone account for 30 percent of the 7 million applications we receive annually. That is just the beginning, however. We expect to have 90 percent of all immigration forms available for online filing by the end of FY 2005.
E-filing provides our customers with simpler, more convenient service—they can file online 24 hours a day, seven days a week—without compromising the integrity or security of the application process. So far we have received more than 30,000 applications.
Of course, simplifying filing processes will accomplish little unless we simultaneously address the application backlog. And, we are doing that. At a strategic planning session with senior manager in early May, I established a team to identify the immediate changes that would do the most to speed up the adjudication process, while enhancing security. I also asked them to develop implementation plans to put these changes in place as soon as possible.
Of all the possible projects identified, eight were selected as having the greatest potential to produce a major improvement, and they are now under intensive study. These initiatives are:
1) Streamlining the family-based adjustment of status process;
2) Pre-certifying businesses that file petitions on behalf of employees;
3) Eliminating self-imposed requirements that inhibit processing or that create more work, such as the one-year limit on Employment Authorization Document validity;
4) Improving processes leading to immigration benefit documents or cards by collecting biometrics at Application Support Centers and redefining adjudication of applications for certain benefits documents to institute verification of identify;
5) Reducing lines are our local offices;
6) Implementing the Child Citizenship Act;
7) Streamlining Naturalization Quality Procedures; and,
8) Implementing batch processing for Employment Work Authorization applications (I-765).
At the same time, we also continue to update the more comprehensive backlog reduction plan that was put together prior to the tragic events of September 11, 2001 --a plan that did not, and could not, take into account the security checks we instituted in response to the terrorist attacks. Security screening has caused major delays in the processing of applications. While we make no apologies for the new procedures, we are making every effort to ensure that they are carried out as expeditiously as possible, and dramatic progress is being made.
The adjudication of applications isn’t our only activity affected by new security measures implemented in the wake of September 11. They have also had a major impact on the processing of refugees, who are now subject to stricter screening, including name checks and relationship verification. As a result of this enhanced security, there have been delays in overseas processing. CIS has been working with the State Department and our other partners in the U.S. Refugee Program to streamline the new security requirements. We are also working together to improve the responsiveness and quality of the resettlement program overall.
One of the most important steps CIS can take is to end our reliance on temporary duty officers by creating a permanent, dedicated corps of refugee officers. We are working with the Department of Homeland Security to incorporate our resource requirements for the refugee corp. in our FY05 budget.
CIS is, of course, responsible for adjudicating affirmative asylum claims, those filed by individuals who are in the United States and not in removal proceeding. In this area, our Asylum Program is looking to build on the successful reforms that were instituted when Doris Meissner was INS Commissioner. These reforms resulted in a significant decrease in the filing of frivolous applications and a very dramatic increase in productivity. The increase in productivity has, among other things, allowed our asylum officers to make major progress in addressing the application backlog, progress we need to continue.
Speaking of asylum, I would also like to note that the statutory cap on asylum adjustments, which limits CIS to granting law permanent status to no more than 10,000 asylees each year, is currently under review. As of July, more than 140,000 asylees had applied for adjustment of status, meaning that someone applying for adjustment today could wait for as long as 14 years before a slot is available.
It is important to remember, however, that the statutory limitation is a function of monitoring overall immigrant admissions.
If Congress eventually lifts the cap, it would eventually lead to a surge in naturalization applications, as lawful permanent status puts people on the final road to citizenship. But that doesn’t worry me much; if we get there, CIS will be ready. Some of the most notable progress that we have made has been in our work connected to citizenship. It is also the area where we have some of our most ambitious and exciting plans for the future.