DHS Publishes Business Transformation Regulations

For Immediate Release–August 29, 2011

DHS Releases the First in Series of Regulations Designed to Facilitate Electronic Filing and Handling of USCIS Benefit Requests in Order to Increase Efficiency

WASHINGTON—The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the first in a series of regulations intended to promote the migration of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) benefit filings from a paper-based environment to an electronic one. The regulation is an important step toward modernizing how USCIS handles the more than 6 million benefit applications submitted annually.

In the coming years, USCIS will roll out a secure, user friendly online account system that will enable and encourage customers to submit benefit requests and supporting documents electronically. This new online system will greatly simplify the process of applying for immigration benefits. It will assign new customers a unique account which will enable them to access case status information, respond to USCIS requests for additional information, update certain personal information, and receive timely decisions and other communications from USCIS.

The new regulation, which can be found at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-08-29/html/2011-20990.htm revises more than 50 parts of DHS regulations contained in Title 8 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The regulation eliminates references to outdated USCIS benefit request forms and descriptions of paper-based procedures. In addition, the regulation removes numerous obsolete provisions of the regulations.

The public is invited to comment on this regulation and offer suggestions on further improvements. Comments must be received by Oct. 28, 2011. The new regulation will become effective on Nov. 28, 2011.

Please visit the USCIS Transformation page to learn more about the agency’s work in this area.