futureuscitizen
Registered Users (C)
Direct link from the regulations site (regulations.gov)
Here are the contents:
Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, proposes to add a
new system of records to the Department's inventory, entitled
Background Check Service. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services, Office of Field Operations operates the Background Check
Service. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services conducts background
checks on petitioners and applicants who are seeking immigration
related benefits. To facilitate the background check process and to
improve efficiency, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services developed
the Background Check Service as a centralized repository that contains
the consolidated data on all background check requests and results. The
Background Check Service allows authorized U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services representatives to request background checks and
access the data stored in the Background Check Service during the
adjudication process in order to facilitate informed decision-making.
DATES: The established system of records will be effective January 3,
2007 unless comments are received that result in a contrary
determination. As a centralized repository containing all background check
activity, BCS will provide the status and results of background checks
required for completion of immigration eligibility petitions and
application determinations from one web-based system to geographically
dispersed field offices. This system supports USCIS's initiatives to
reduce immigration benefit/petition case backlog and provide
significant efficiencies in vetting and resolving the background checks
that are required for USCIS benefits. Prior to BCS, information
relating to the FBI Fingerprint Checks and the FBI Name Checks were
stored in the FD-258 system and FBI Query system respectively.
Information relating to the TECS/IBIS Name Checks was not stored in any
system.
The information maintained in BCS is initially collected and
maintained in one of the following USCIS case management systems and
then it is transferred to BCS:
Computer-Linked Application Information Management System
(CLAIMS) 3, which is used to process applications including, but not
limited to, an Adjustment of Status (Green Card) and Temporary
Protective Status (TPS);
CLAIMS 4, which is used to process applications for
Naturalization;
Refugee Asylum Parole System (RAPS), which is used to
process Asylum applications; and
Marriage Fraud Assurance System (MFAS), which is used for
processing information relating to investigations of marriage fraud.
The benefit applicant/petitioner do not have direct interaction
with BCS.
The above systems will send necessary and relevant information to
BCS in order to generate a Name Check Request for both the FBI Name
Check and TECS/IBIS Name Check. Both the requests and results will be
stored in BCS.
Fingerprint information is collected from the applicant at the time
the fingerprints are taken in order to conduct the FBI Fingerprint
Check. Fingerprints are taken electronically at a USCIS Application
Support Centers (ASC) or taken from hard copy fingerprint cards (FD-
258) that are submitted for those applicants who are unable to go to an
ASC. The fingerprints are currently stored in the Benefit Biometric
Support System (BBSS), which interfaces directly with FBI's Integrated
Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS). The responses to
the FBI Fingerprint Check are collected electronically from the FBI and
stored in BCS.
All information is currently collected as part of the established
USCIS application/petition process and is required to verify the
applicant/petitioner's eligibility for the benefit being sought. The
FBI Fingerprint Check is a search of the FBI's Criminal Master File via
the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS).
This search will identify applicants/petitioners who have an arrest
record. The FBI Name Check is a search of the FBI's Universal Index
that consists of administrative, applicant, criminal, personnel, and
other files compiled for law enforcement purposes. The TECS/IBIS Name
Check is a search of a multi-agency database containing information
from 26 different agencies. The information in TECS/IBIS includes
records of known and suspected terrorists, sex offenders, and other
people that may be of interest to the law enforcement community. USCIS
will use TECS/IBIS to access National Crime Information Center (NCIC)
records on wanted persons, criminal histories, and previous Federal
inspections.
The information collected in BCS as part of the background check
process provides USCIS with information about an applicant/petitioner
that has National Security or Public Safety implications or indicia of
fraud. Having this information and taking action to prevent potentially
undesirable and often dangerous people from staying in this country
clearly supports two primary missions of DHS: preventing terrorist
attacks within the United States and reducing America's vulnerability
to terrorism, while facilitating the adjudication of lawful benefit
applications.
The results of these background checks will be used to make
eligibility determinations, which will result in the approval or denial
of a benefit. If fraudulent or criminal activity is detected as a
result of the background check, information will be forwarded to
appropriate law enforcement agencies including Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE), FBI, CBP, and/or local law enforcement.
The Privacy Act embodies fair information principles in a statutory
SORRY IF THIS IS A REPOST
Here are the contents:
Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, proposes to add a
new system of records to the Department's inventory, entitled
Background Check Service. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services, Office of Field Operations operates the Background Check
Service. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services conducts background
checks on petitioners and applicants who are seeking immigration
related benefits. To facilitate the background check process and to
improve efficiency, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services developed
the Background Check Service as a centralized repository that contains
the consolidated data on all background check requests and results. The
Background Check Service allows authorized U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services representatives to request background checks and
access the data stored in the Background Check Service during the
adjudication process in order to facilitate informed decision-making.
DATES: The established system of records will be effective January 3,
2007 unless comments are received that result in a contrary
determination. As a centralized repository containing all background check
activity, BCS will provide the status and results of background checks
required for completion of immigration eligibility petitions and
application determinations from one web-based system to geographically
dispersed field offices. This system supports USCIS's initiatives to
reduce immigration benefit/petition case backlog and provide
significant efficiencies in vetting and resolving the background checks
that are required for USCIS benefits. Prior to BCS, information
relating to the FBI Fingerprint Checks and the FBI Name Checks were
stored in the FD-258 system and FBI Query system respectively.
Information relating to the TECS/IBIS Name Checks was not stored in any
system.
The information maintained in BCS is initially collected and
maintained in one of the following USCIS case management systems and
then it is transferred to BCS:
Computer-Linked Application Information Management System
(CLAIMS) 3, which is used to process applications including, but not
limited to, an Adjustment of Status (Green Card) and Temporary
Protective Status (TPS);
CLAIMS 4, which is used to process applications for
Naturalization;
Refugee Asylum Parole System (RAPS), which is used to
process Asylum applications; and
Marriage Fraud Assurance System (MFAS), which is used for
processing information relating to investigations of marriage fraud.
The benefit applicant/petitioner do not have direct interaction
with BCS.
The above systems will send necessary and relevant information to
BCS in order to generate a Name Check Request for both the FBI Name
Check and TECS/IBIS Name Check. Both the requests and results will be
stored in BCS.
Fingerprint information is collected from the applicant at the time
the fingerprints are taken in order to conduct the FBI Fingerprint
Check. Fingerprints are taken electronically at a USCIS Application
Support Centers (ASC) or taken from hard copy fingerprint cards (FD-
258) that are submitted for those applicants who are unable to go to an
ASC. The fingerprints are currently stored in the Benefit Biometric
Support System (BBSS), which interfaces directly with FBI's Integrated
Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS). The responses to
the FBI Fingerprint Check are collected electronically from the FBI and
stored in BCS.
All information is currently collected as part of the established
USCIS application/petition process and is required to verify the
applicant/petitioner's eligibility for the benefit being sought. The
FBI Fingerprint Check is a search of the FBI's Criminal Master File via
the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS).
This search will identify applicants/petitioners who have an arrest
record. The FBI Name Check is a search of the FBI's Universal Index
that consists of administrative, applicant, criminal, personnel, and
other files compiled for law enforcement purposes. The TECS/IBIS Name
Check is a search of a multi-agency database containing information
from 26 different agencies. The information in TECS/IBIS includes
records of known and suspected terrorists, sex offenders, and other
people that may be of interest to the law enforcement community. USCIS
will use TECS/IBIS to access National Crime Information Center (NCIC)
records on wanted persons, criminal histories, and previous Federal
inspections.
The information collected in BCS as part of the background check
process provides USCIS with information about an applicant/petitioner
that has National Security or Public Safety implications or indicia of
fraud. Having this information and taking action to prevent potentially
undesirable and often dangerous people from staying in this country
clearly supports two primary missions of DHS: preventing terrorist
attacks within the United States and reducing America's vulnerability
to terrorism, while facilitating the adjudication of lawful benefit
applications.
The results of these background checks will be used to make
eligibility determinations, which will result in the approval or denial
of a benefit. If fraudulent or criminal activity is detected as a
result of the background check, information will be forwarded to
appropriate law enforcement agencies including Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE), FBI, CBP, and/or local law enforcement.
The Privacy Act embodies fair information principles in a statutory
SORRY IF THIS IS A REPOST