By:
Roman P. Mosqueda, Esq.
On May 26, 2004, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) of the Department of the Homeland Security announced the expansion of its electronic or online filing program.
The following six (6) forms and petitions, in addition to Applications
for Replacement of Permanent
Resident Cards (Form I-90, filing fee: $185) and for Employment Authorization
Documents (Form I-765, filing fee: $175) allowed last year, are now available
for online filing:
1. Employment-based Petition for Non-immigrant Worker (Form I-129, filing fee: $185);
2. Application for Travel Documents (Form I-131, filing fee: $165, filing fee: $165);
3. Employment-based Petition for Immigrant Worker (Form I-140; filing fee: $190);
4. Application To Extend/Change Non-immigrant Status (Form I-539, filing fee: 195);
5. Application for Temporary Protected Status (Form I-821, filing fee: $50); and
6.
Application for Premium Processing (Form I-907, filing fee: $1,000).
Initiated last year, the online or E-Filing program of the USCIS allows customers to go online to apply for the eight (8) forms on the USCIS website: www.uscis.gov.
According to Tom Ridge, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security,
“By expanding E-Filing, USCIS will be able to provide immigration information
and process benefit applications in a more timely, accurate and efficient
manner.”
Indeed, customers who file online:
1. can establish an E-Filing “account” that includes a unique User ID and Password;
2. will be able to start completing a form, save it, and return to it later for completion at their convenience; and
3. will be able to pay application fees securely by using a credit card, debit card, or the electronic transfer of funds from a checking or savings account.
As Eduardo Aguirre, Director of
USCIS, said, “We want to make sure that our customer can enjoy the highest
standards of service, while securing privacy and national security.”
The law offices of the Author has
been using E-Filing since last
year.
USCIS customers can also access other Internet-based services that USCIS
provides.
Indeed, customers can visit its website: www.uscis.gov
to:
1. check the status of a pending application or petition;
2. schedule a date and time to meet with an Immigration Officer using its new initiative called Info Pass;
3. obtain immigration information; and
4.
download free immigration forms.
Mechanics of
E-Filing:
All the questions (fields) in the application should be completely filled in before submission and payment: full legal name should be used.
The validity of the application should be certified in the application; fee payment information should be correct.
The filing fee for the application should be paid online through credit or debit card or electronic transfer of U.S. funds from checking or savings accounts.
After electronic filing is complete, the applicant shall receive electronic confirmation that the application was received, called “Confirmation Receipt Notice,” with a Receipt Number. A paper receipt, Form I-796, shall be mailed by USCIS to the applicant after filing.
It contains the same Receipt Number, which can be used to check the status of the application, by going on line to the Case Status Service at www.uscis.gov.
It is recommended that the applicant download the Confirmation Receipt Notice and the completed application and sign a copy thereof for his/her record.
After online submission of the application, the applicant is instructed
to send the required supporting documentation or evidence to the address listed
on the Confirmation Receipt notice, attaching a copy thereof to the documents to
be sent out.