USCIS - Backlog Elimination Strategy 6/17/04

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PrinceofJungle

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Prince,
Can you reply to this message, and just add it as an attachment? It seems that the file is gone from the USCIS site.
 
Press Office
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Fact Sheet June 17, 2004
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.
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 fasttrack
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.
 
Gives me some hope of getting through this year. I am sure it will have greater impact for recent and future Applicants.
 
It is good initiative. But this is not a rocket science. I am sure if TSC hires some of us as consultants then we would be able to reduce the backlog and bring the processing time to 30 days. I am not kidding. It is possible.

The terms which are used here such as 'Cycle Time', 'Bottom up thinking' and 'the process of reducing number of forms' are not new to those who understand the subject of management called 'Business Process Reengineering' (BPR).

One crucial question asked in BPR is how many minutes does it take for an officer to adjudicate a case? TSC has been avoiding to answer this question by saying 'each case is unique and time taken can vary'. So the next question was , how much time? And TSC tells, 'oh, it can take forever as we have to depend on FBI name check, security check....'

One way to redesign the process is to reduce forms if not completely elimnate. Some of the forms are unncessary. Why do we have to fill out new forms for EAD? When they have issued EAD in past, simply look up in computer and issue another. Same goes for AP.

EAD and AP has caused more backlog as precious time is wasted in doing the repetitive things. Again, it is not a rocket science. When TSC ( and same goes with other centers), knows that they are taking 999 days to process the case then why not issue EAD and AP with a validity period of 3 years if not 5 years. After obtaining GC, no one cares for the EAD and AP anyway.

Why does FP expire after 15 months? May be prints on fingers change!!. Ok, then what after obtaining GC? Do we have to redo every 15 months. No. Then why FP should expire if it was digitized. This is another redundant process. If you could adjudicate case before 15 months then you won't be adding more work for you. But someone in TSC does not think this way.

When I read the posts here, I see many bright guys. These are genious people. The talent is being wasted becasue we are under previleged and are limited by GC. We can not change job until we wait for I-140 approval and 180 days after I-485 filing. And even after that we can not perform another type of job but to remain in same rut as the one described in LC. Oh, after GC you are free to change jobs but then why not now? USCIS doe snot even care if after a year you are working on a totally different job. Then why make a big issue of it right now.

USCIS has come a long way in the past. Some of the good changes that I have seen in the past are,

1. Extension of 6 year H limit of GC is in process.
2. Requirement of PD to be current and was based on country specific. I considered that as a descrimination based on national origin. Some old folks here would know that they could not file for 485 unless their PD became current.
3. Introduction of 1-800-... for Customer Service. It is still useless but better than not having it.
4. Online status inquiry.
5. Digitized FP.
6. E-filing. Actually stupid system still needs EAD to be mailed.
7. E-mail notification of status change.
8. Infopass.


However, it is like turbo charging an old car whose engine and transmission is at fault. What we need is changing of process and not mere electronic processing of old lengthy process.
 
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