Transformation

This post is based on info from the USCIS website.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is attempting to enable U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to migrate from a paper file-based, non-integrated systems environment to an electronic customer-focused, centralized case management environment for benefit processing.  USCIS will not eliminate paper filing at this time, but will convert the data from paper to an electronic medium when the completed form is received.  USCIS benefit adjudication operations will be changed incrementally from a paper- and hard copy file-based process to an electronic process, making it possible to process benefit requests more efficiently.

 USCIS is engaged in an enterprise-wide transformation effort to implement new business processes and to improve service, operational efficiency, and national security. USCIS's new operational environment will employ online accounts, such as those used by many private sector organizations.

 Applicants and petitioners will be able to access individualized accounts that will provide electronic access to information on how to apply for benefits, allow easier filing, and permit applicants and petitioners, and their representatives, to track the status of open applications and petitions.  Applicants and petitioners will be able to use a secure USCIS Internet Web site to access accounts “on-demand” in an electronic service environment available at all times.

 USCIS will develop new automated case management tools to access data electronically, prevent the loss of information, and provide adjudicators with a comprehensive view of an alien's immigration history. USCIS's electronic environment will facilitate and expedite information collection, reduce benefit fraud and result in more consistent and efficient decisions. USCIS is supplementing existing paper filing options by adding more user-friendly electronic filing options.

 As the USCIS transformation initiative progresses, electronic versions of forms and digital images of supporting documents will largely replace paper forms and documents for adjudication and records retention purposes.  USCIS will specify the process and standards for the transmission of electronic benefit requests and supporting documents on its Internet Web site, but it is intended that these standards will accommodate the technology in most home and public computers so as to be widely accessible.

As transformation continues, the filing of paper forms is expected to decrease substantially as USCIS expects electronic means to become the preferred filing method. 

For more info on Transformation see this link.

I'll discuss a couple of interesting aspects to Transformation in upcoming posts.