The United States will soon make online applications mandatory for several immigration benefits, including green cards, citizenship and asylum, in a move aimed at improving efficiency and reducing operational costs. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said in a new rule published in the Federal Register that forms which have been available for electronic filing for at least 180 days will be required to be submitted online.
The rule will also establish a process to make immigration forms available exclusively online, after providing applicants with at least 60 days’ notice. The changes could affect a wide range of immigration benefits, including green card applications and renewals, family-based petitions, citizenship applications, asylum claims, employment authorisation and Temporary Protected Status filings.
Applicants will generally be required to use a USCIS online account. They can either complete the form online or upload a PDF of the completed form along with supporting documents. The USCIS said the move is intended to streamline the immigration application process and lower administrative costs.
