USCIS significant steps toward the release of new capabilities.

[Chuward 5]

Though USCIS progress is not yet evident to customers, OTC has completed significant steps toward the release of new capabilities. For the past year and a half, USCIS has laid the groundwork to develop new systems and processes. Information-sharing agreements with Federal immigration partners, such as the U.S. Department of State (DOS), have been initiated. Stakeholders, including customers, immigration advocates, and the CISOMB, have been engaged in designing the new processes. Employees from all areas of the Agency have been involved in working groups to design new ways to conduct Agency business and develop desired systems capabilities. A risk and fraud analyzer prototype has demonstrated its effectiveness and has served as an early validation of OTC’s approach.

This groundwork has brought USCIS closer to an important milestone – development of the Release A Blueprint, which documents the reengineered business processes for the first Transformation release. The reengineered business processes in Release A consist of core, end-to-end capabilities for certain nonimmigrant-related benefits. These capabilities will include establishing accounts for individuals linked to biometrics, case management, risk and fraud analytics, digital content and knowledge management. A draft version of the Release A Blueprint was presented to USCIS leadership in June 2010. Their feedback is now being incorporated into the final version of the blueprint. Once the final blueprint has been accepted and business requirements have been approved through the Systems Engineering Lifecycle (SELC), USCIS can then begin to design, build, and test the Integrated Operating Environment (IOE) that will be delivered in Release A.

The first customer-facing changes will begin to deploy in the fourth quarter of fiscal year (FY) 2011, and will provide the following capabilities for many nonimmigrant benefits:

•Customers and representatives will be able to create individual electronic accounts that can be managed online.

•Customers and representatives will be able to file electronically, schedule biometric appointments, and update account information (change of address, etc.).

•Customers and representatives will be able to upload evidentiary documentation electronically.

•Critical information and evidence will be easily accessible and maintained electronically.

•In a manner consistent with privacy rules, immigration partner agencies will be able to query core customer and benefit information in this initial release, which will contribute to national security and improve the accuracy of customer information.

By the fourth quarter of FY 2012, organizations, such as employers and law firms, will be able to establish electronic accounts with USCIS, and online case management will be expanded to encompass all nonimmigrant benefits. Between 2012 and 2014, USCIS will expand the transformed capabilities to the remaining lines of business – immigrant, humanitarian, and citizenship.

The deployment dates in Figure 9: Projected Transformation Timeline1 of the Annual Report identified the timeframes for planning, designing, and testing the new capabilities; however, the dates for actual delivery of the new capabilities are as follows:

•Release A: 4th Quarter FY 2011

•Release B: 4th Quarter FY 2012

•Release C: 2nd Quarter FY 2013

•Release D: 4th Quarter FY 2013

•Release E: 2nd Quarter FY 2014

[Ray-J 2]

Looks like the government is catching up with the rest of the world in its use of technology.

[USColombia 6]

Thank God. The lack of digital usability was shocking to me when we first filed. How one of the most important parts of government (immigration) is only just catching up is beyond me. Wasted money for years by making people do most of this process by hand.

Hopefully these changes will be administered long after we need them

[pushbrk 12,105]

Note that this article refers to nonimmigrant benefits. Not sure how that relates to actual immigration benefits.

[Ray-J 2]

Note that this article refers to nonimmigrant benefits. Not sure how that relates to actual immigration benefits.

True, Pushbrk. However, a K1 is a non-immigrant visa. So, wouldn't this apply to K1's?

[pushbrk 12,105]

True, Pushbrk. However, a K1 is a non-immigrant visa. So, wouldn't this apply to K1's?

USCIS doesn't issue visas. The Dept. of State does.

Perhaps they are referring to the C in USCIS, meaning Citizenship benefits.

Edited May 23, 2011 by pushbrk