US immigration system to be revamped

[reeses16 8]

We're filing ROC next month. I hope redesigned the websites (electronic processing behind the scenes) this doesn't slow down the process.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

I think a system could be introduced relatively quickly for new applicants. Imagine a system more like our current tax system. You apply through online software where the software actually audits your application prior to submission. That would cut down on 90% of the RFEs. Imagine if when doing the support documents it alerts you that the figures you have imputted do not meet the 125% levels etc.

So you have run the audit and it says your all clear so you submit your file by entering your credit card/paypal/billme later info. Now the file uploads into a giant queue on a USCIS server. Then technicians access the server look through your file mainly to verify identity because the audit system has already verified everything else.

Review times drop to 10 minutes per case...NO DATA ENTRY...and the applicant can log on and see times and dates that their file was reviewed. Imagine uploading you file and getting it reviewed within two weeks. Imagine the minute you upload your file, you get a receipt and then like when booking a flight you pick your biometric appointment date.

3 simple software engineers could create immigration utopia!

[Jonara 0]

tell u what redoing anything at that place makes me very afraid........but hey if it helps them find my case and deal with it i can wait 90 days lol

sara

I'd rather deal with a crappy website than deal with a long haul wait to get cases done. When you look at their current processing timeframes, it shows that they process H1B or any employment related visa faster than family related visa. What that tells me is it is more important to get work done than reuniting with your families. Pfff a website improvement is supposed to make things better? I'd have to revisit that in the next few month.

[stangguy 0]

A complete revamp of the immigration systemm cannot be accomplished by only changing USCIS. USCIS are only the first step and the very last step in the process. They only check that you are eligible to apply for a visa and they are the ones that control adjustment of status/citizenship. It is the state department that has the real control over immigration. They tell you what paperwork you need and when to send it in. They are also the ones that deicde if you get the visa or not. The state department decides if an immigrant comes to America not USCIS.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

I don't know about you but on our timeline 90% of the time was spent in USCIS not the state department....

[WhidbeyGirl 1]

I think a system could be introduced relatively quickly for new applicants. Imagine a system more like our current tax system. You apply through online software where the software actually audits your application prior to submission. That would cut down on 90% of the RFEs. Imagine if when doing the support documents it alerts you that the figures you have imputted do not meet the 125% levels etc.

So you have run the audit and it says your all clear so you submit your file by entering your credit card/paypal/billme later info. Now the file uploads into a giant queue on a USCIS server. Then technicians access the server look through your file mainly to verify identity because the audit system has already verified everything else.

Review times drop to 10 minutes per case...NO DATA ENTRY...and the applicant can log on and see times and dates that their file was reviewed. Imagine uploading you file and getting it reviewed within two weeks. Imagine the minute you upload your file, you get a receipt and then like when booking a flight you pick your biometric appointment date.

3 simple software engineers could create immigration utopia!

Can you go work for them???? Or at least be a contractor advising??? LOL! Of course a system like that would decrease the amount of workers needed, decrease the number of times we have to make a long distance phone calls to check on the status - thereby decreasing the revenue generated to the phone companies, AND to top it all off what the H E double hockey sticks would all the script writers do if they didn't have complete useless, inaccurate scripts to write??

I love your idea but it would create a lot of unhappy people who are used to inflated government salaries.

[baron555 934]

I think a system could be introduced relatively quickly for new applicants. Imagine a system more like our current tax system. You

Can you go work for them???? Or at least be a contractor advising??? LOL! Of course a system like that would decrease the amount of workers needed, decrease the number of times we have to make a long distance phone calls to check on the status - thereby decreasing the revenue generated to the phone companies, AND to top it all off what the H E double hockey sticks would all the script writers do if they didn't have complete useless, inaccurate scripts to write??

I love your idea but it would create a lot of unhappy people who are used to inflated government salaries.

But if they subcontracted this out to a private firm, with incentives, it would be sped up quite a lot. There is no real public service in any form of the government, by definition.

So, the less government intervention in your life, the better your life will be.

And yes, I am not a Democrat.

Edited June 28, 2009 by baron555

[SuperDuper! 230]

the website improvement I buy... the actual overhaul of the entire system in 90 days I don't think so.

Yea, with the $2b upgrade to the USCIS website, we will actually get updates on our cases that mean something, and not just after we get the hardcopy in the mail

[Beth/ Paris Heart 2]

http://www.ndtv.com/news/diaspora/us_immig...be_revamped.php

The Obama administration has announced that it is going to use cutting-edge technologies to revamp the entire US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), so that paperwork and backlog are reduced and to bring in more transparency into the system.

US President Barack Obama told a select bi-partisan group of Congressmen that such a system would be in place in the next 90 days, in which the USCIS will launch a vastly improved website.

Is a new system and an improved website the same thing?

They dont even use the damn website now for the On Line Case Status, only a handful actually use it, so many approved and yet their cases still show Pending etc etc. much less they mail out NOA 2 anymore. A re-vamp is much needed!!

[Krikit 1,165]

I'd rather deal with a crappy website than deal with a long haul wait to get cases done. When you look at their current processing timeframes, it shows that they process H1B or any employment related visa faster than family related visa. What that tells me is it is more important to get work done than reuniting with your families. Pfff a website improvement is supposed to make things better? I'd have to revisit that in the next few month.

No. What that tells you is that employment-related visas are not immigrant visas. Therefore, different processes.

Moving to Immigration News and Discussion.

Edited June 29, 2009 by Krikit

[ScottThuy 140]

the website improvement I buy... the actual overhaul of the entire system in 90 days I don't think so.

Yea, with the $2b upgrade to the USCIS website, we will actually get updates on our cases that mean something, and not just after we get the hardcopy in the mail

I found the actual numbers of the contract and when it was awarded... Awarded in November 2008, the initial contract value is $14.5 million with options up to $491.1 million over five years. To deliver the contract, IBM has assembled a team of partners that includes Blackstone Technology Group, Deloitte Consulting, EDS, Evolver, The Legacy Network, Sandler and Travis Trade Advisory Services (STTAS), Sapient Corporation, SI International, Unisys, and Visionary Integration Professionals, among others.

If they know exactly what the system is going to be it should not take long to code it.. its the testing and debugging of something like this that I would want to be sure of and take my time on...

http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/25922.wss

[mawilson 2,133]

The agency, known as USCIS, will launch an improved website in 90 days that will allow applicants to get online updates on their status.

Applicants can already do that.

[Y's_habibitk 2]

all the futuristic applicants may face higher fees for petitions i think

You're probably right and we know the last fee increase really helped speed things along for petitioners :puke:

[Hannah+Vito 0]

The agency, known as USCIS, will launch an improved website in 90 days that will allow applicants to get online updates on their status.

Applicants can already do that.

Not that it always works! More transparency I would welcome but i don't understand what gunna be new about this new website that we don't have already. Except that if the website updates and notifications fail theres no one in a knowledgeable possition to contact and complain to. those helpline people seem to only be able to see our website accounts so if its wrong how can they giv us any info. We were approved for k1 petition on the 23rd sept 08 case status on line still says pending still no sign of our hardcopy noa2 we found out from nvc it took four phone calls and several reps and several months to get someone to actually send a service request for non delivery of notice. everyone we spoke to asked us how we knew we were approved when they couldnt see our approval. the last two were very rude and thought we were lying when we claimed we had the visa already. even insinuated"she uk citizen isn't she she can enter without a visa". finally he sent a service request thwe last guy we spoke to and we actually got a letter informing us he sent one after this time which is an improvement but we were quoted two ruddy months before the investigation will be complete.

even their customer services need revising. You can't even inform them of problems or mistakes efficiently

[ScottThuy 140]

They have actually made some extensive reccomendations when it come to the change in the online system.. It goes beyond what we have mentioned above. I posted the article :

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=205297

They expect it to be in use by 2010...