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USCIS Updates Website, Will Launch September 22, 2009 There is already a countdown headlining the front page of USCIS.gov that reads “43 days” in anticipation of the debut of their new website. On June 25, 2009, President Barack Obama even announced that “in the next 90 days, USCIS will launch a vastly improved Web site that will, for the first time ever, allow applicants to get updates on their status of their applications via e-mail and text message and online." Initially redesigned in October 2006, USCIS.gov was modeled after the Department of Homeland Security’s website. The bureau has decided once again to redesign their website. During a three month period from March to June of this year, USCIS conducted a number of surveys and held various focus groups to assess the efficiency and navigability of the site. Based on feedback received from both website users and stakeholders, USCIS plans to implement more “customer-centric” features. This entails email and text functions and a more user-friendly “case status” update. While their current homepage also has a “case status” update option, the new site boasts a much more apparent design, made possible by the modified blue and green color scheme. On top of that, the sample site (provided in PDF form) shows that there is even a language converter for Spanish-speaking users, an option previously unavailable directly on the home page. In modifying their current website, USCIS aims to ensure that the new design not only disseminates information more clearly, but that it is also easier to navigate, and equipped with a better search capacity. USCIS ultimately hopes that their new home page “provides applicants with a one-stop shop of immigration services”. While the new site will not debut until September 22, the sample site posted online shows great promise, and is certainly more attuned to the needs of applicants. As USCIS continues making this transition, they plan to post updates online to answer any questions that users may have. Aside from the debut of their new website, USCIS has implemented and plans to continue implementing other changes to improve the efficiency of the visa application process, particularly in regards to I-485 and I-140 processing. On average, an I-140 application now takes less than four months to process, as reported by the most recent service charts posted by USCIS. Fairly recently, on June 29, 2009, USCIS reinstated its premium processing service for I-140 petitioners applying under the categories of EB-1(a), EB-1(b), EB-2 (excluding those applying under a National Interest Waiver), and EB-3. After a petitioner submits his or her application to USCIS, along with an additional $1,000 fee, USCIS becomes obligated to review that particular application within 15 days of receipt. Upon which, USCIS can either approve, deny, or give a request for evidence to the applicant. If USCIS fails to give the applicant notice within 15 days, then the $1,000 fee is credited back. In regards to I-485 applications, USCIS expects to release an online feature on their new website capable of providing information about cases not within allocated processing times for a particular employment based category. This will be very helpful for those who want to track the status of their application. Under the Texas Service Center’s PLUS program, both concurrent I-140 and I-485 applications are reviewed by just one immigration officer. Combined with this and an expected turnaround of 90 days, processing should become much more efficient than before. Likewise, the Nebraska Service center also plans to review all I-485 applications (employment based only) by the end of this month. With this new website and the other improvements USCIS is implementing, Zhang and Associates, P.C. hopes that these changes will make the application process easier and more efficient for petitioners. ------ (08/11/2009) For more immigration news, please click here |
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