rick92
Volunteer Moderator
http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/structure/gc_1192724755499.shtm#8
13. For the Future - What preventative measures has USCIS taken to ensure that receipt and case backlogs do not happen again in the future, or are they seen as an inevitable part of the current system?
Response: That is a great question. It is our perspective that USCIS had advanced notice for the current frontlog and receipting dilemma because both the increased fees and influx of employment based visa applications were both anticipated. We encourage USCIS to take this question seriously and consider how to avoid this system-wide problem going forward.
USCIS Response on August 18, 2008: USCIS experienced a substantially larger influx of applications than originally predicted despite proactive management steps including use of an enhanced staffing model to ensure timely processing. The dramatic increase in receipts was the result of: (1) a significant year-long increase in naturalization applications, (2) applicants filing ahead of the increase in fees effective on July 30, 2007, and (3) an unexpected increase in employment-based adjustment of status applications due to the Department of State (DOS’s) July Visa Bulletin. The bulletin made visas current and available for all employment-based AOS applicants during the July 1, 2007 - August 17, 2007 time period.
USCIS cannot guarantee backlogs will not exist in the future. However, we can commit to taking all possible and appropriate steps to minimize the potential for delays associated with our receipt and processing of applications. We are working with the DHS Office of Immigration Statistics (OIS) to identify past and present trends pertaining to the annual influx of benefit applications. Future projections based on this joint analysis should help our agency assign resources. Unfortunately, the projections by their nature do not necessarily take into account various unpredictable factors, such as the course or impact of pending legislation.
USCIS is engaged in an enterprise-wide Transformation Program that will result in more efficient processes as well as a centralized, consolidated operational environment involving state of the art case management tools and paperless adjudications. As USCIS increasingly invites electronic filings, we believe application-related delays will decrease.
A comprehensive explanation of the Transformation Program can be found in the Concept of Operations report located at the following web-address: http://www.uscis.gov/files/nativedocuments/TransformationConOps_Mar07.pdf
13. For the Future - What preventative measures has USCIS taken to ensure that receipt and case backlogs do not happen again in the future, or are they seen as an inevitable part of the current system?
Response: That is a great question. It is our perspective that USCIS had advanced notice for the current frontlog and receipting dilemma because both the increased fees and influx of employment based visa applications were both anticipated. We encourage USCIS to take this question seriously and consider how to avoid this system-wide problem going forward.
USCIS Response on August 18, 2008: USCIS experienced a substantially larger influx of applications than originally predicted despite proactive management steps including use of an enhanced staffing model to ensure timely processing. The dramatic increase in receipts was the result of: (1) a significant year-long increase in naturalization applications, (2) applicants filing ahead of the increase in fees effective on July 30, 2007, and (3) an unexpected increase in employment-based adjustment of status applications due to the Department of State (DOS’s) July Visa Bulletin. The bulletin made visas current and available for all employment-based AOS applicants during the July 1, 2007 - August 17, 2007 time period.
USCIS cannot guarantee backlogs will not exist in the future. However, we can commit to taking all possible and appropriate steps to minimize the potential for delays associated with our receipt and processing of applications. We are working with the DHS Office of Immigration Statistics (OIS) to identify past and present trends pertaining to the annual influx of benefit applications. Future projections based on this joint analysis should help our agency assign resources. Unfortunately, the projections by their nature do not necessarily take into account various unpredictable factors, such as the course or impact of pending legislation.
USCIS is engaged in an enterprise-wide Transformation Program that will result in more efficient processes as well as a centralized, consolidated operational environment involving state of the art case management tools and paperless adjudications. As USCIS increasingly invites electronic filings, we believe application-related delays will decrease.
A comprehensive explanation of the Transformation Program can be found in the Concept of Operations report located at the following web-address: http://www.uscis.gov/files/nativedocuments/TransformationConOps_Mar07.pdf