Kathmandu. The US will soon make it mandatory to apply online for immigration benefits such as green cards, citizenship and refugees. The aim is to make work more efficient and reduce operating costs. According to information received from Washington, this change will apply to forms that already have e-filing options.
Under a new rule published Monday in the Federal Register, US Citizenship and Immigration Services will now be required to file forms that have been available e-filing for at least 180 days. A process has also been established. Under this, an online form can be made only after giving at least 60 days’ notice.
Which rule will change?
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has issued an interim final rule. That would allow USCIS to mandate electronic filing for certain immigration forms. Under this rule, any immigration form that has been available for at least 180 days can now be filed online.
USCIS will provide a public notice on its website at least 60 days in advance of the e-filing requirement for any form. Applicants must use an online account to submit immigration forms to USCIS. They can directly fill out the online form or upload a PDF of the completed form and required proofs.
This initiative will remove the U.S. Treasury Department’s reliance on physical lockbox services and replace electronic fee payments. The U.S. government claims that this will result in significant savings in federal infrastructure and more efficient operations. The ease of capturing, storing, and using data compared to paper forms will help detect fraud, simplify identity management, and enhance national security investigations with faster data access and greater analytical capabilities.
According to the US government, e-filing will reduce errors, incomplete applications and shorten application decision times. This will make the decision-making process more secure, transparent and more efficient. Electronic filing is already in place for many USCIS forms, and applying for benefits electronically is not a new process. This interim final rule has come into effect today, August 11. –Agency
