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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will propose to: (1) Mandate electronic submission for all immigration benefit requests and explain the requirements associated with electronic processing; and (2) make changes to existing regulations to allow end-to-end digital processing.

Statement of Need:

To address the inefficiency of relying on paper, U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is fully transitioning to a digital environment for processing immigration benefit requests. Agency experience demonstrates that the electronic processing of benefit requests is more efficient and effective than the traditional paper processes, during the immediate request, throughout the immigration life cycle, and beyond. eProcessing will largely eliminate the enormous cost of paper intake, shipping and storage, strengthen information security, and reduce redundancy and the potential for error in adjudication processes. For applicants, electronic processing will improve the experience of applying for immigration benefits at each stage of the process.

Summary of the Legal Basis:

Authority for this proposed regulatory amendment can be found in the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Public Law 107-296, section 102, 116 Stat. 2135, 6 U.S.C. 112, and the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) section 103, 8 U.S.C. 1103, which give the Secretary the authority to administer and enforce the immigration and nationality laws, as well as the Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA), Public Law 105-277, tit. XVII, section 1703, 112 Stat. 2681, 2681-749, 44 U.S.C. 3504, which provides that, when practicable, federal agencies use electronic forms, electronic filing, and electronic submissions to conduct agency business with the public.

Alternatives:

Anticipated Costs and Benefits:

DHS is currently considering the specific cost and benefit impacts of the proposed provisions. In general, DHS anticipates that by mandating electronic submission for all immigration benefit requests and making changes to existing regulations to allow end-to-end digital processing, stakeholders will incur some costs associated with transitioning current practices to an electronic process. DHS anticipates there will be benefits and cost savings associated with mandating electronic submission for all immigration benefit requests and end-to-end digital processing.

Risks: