With the presence of digital technology today, many people are expecting most of the important transactions can already be done online. But that is not always the case. Although it’s possible to shop and pay bills these days, there are still issues that need to be addressed particularly when it comes to transactions that pertain to immigration.
When applying for immigration, the usual process is quite complicated and requires applicants to fill out loads of paper which are then passed on from one government agency to another. It is for this reason that U.S. President Barack Obama in 2014 ordered the modernization of visa processing with the help of the Department of Homeland Security, Department of State and the U.S. Digital Service team.
In the U.S., the effort to improve immigration processing has been snail-paced. Reports say the federal government has already spent more than $1 billion to digitize immigration records, online applications and some 100 electronic forms yet up to now, majority of forms still need to be filed only with paper. The project managed by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services originally estimated to be completed in 2013 is now projected to cost $3.1 billion with an expected date of completed in four years.
The Issues
A report entitled Modernizing and Streamlining Our Legal Immigration System for the 21st Century noted several issues and new actions being undertaken by federal agencies related to visa processing. Four key areas were addressed and these covered technical recommendations.
Understand the needs of users. A research was done to find out the needs of people who may be looking for information or applying for immigration. Government agencies were also asked about their processes and recommendations on areas that need more improvement.
Address the process. The process of applying for immigration can be overwhelming for many people what with several government agencies involved. This being the case, the Obama administration aims to streamline the process and cut redundancy. For those who have questions that they can’t find answers online, it’s best to get the help of a citizenship attorney.
Clear and simple process. A simple process is also a goal of the team to enable users to better understand immigration application and be prepared when they make a request. This is also aimed at helping users gain the benefit they so deserve.
Same language and design patterns. The goal of establishing consistent language and design patterns is to make users feel secure that the forms they submit are received and processed in a timely manner. This also enables them to be more familiar with the immigration services available to them.
Originally posted on December 26, 2015 @ 10:00 pm
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