USA Immigration News

U.S. Launches Online Immigration System, ELIS

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) introduced the first phase of its electronic immigration benefits system, named USCIS ELIS, on May 22, 2012.

The system, ELIS, is made to modernize the process for filing and adjudicating U.S. immigration benefits.

"We have launched the foundation for the web-based future of our agency and our immigration benefits system. USCIS ELIS will transform how we interact with our customers and how we manage the 6-7 million applications we receive each year" indicated the USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas at the launching ceremony.

The new system allows U.S. immigrants to establish a USCIS ELIS account and apply online to extend or change their nonimmigrant status for certain U.S. visa types. Qualified applicants include foreign citizens who travel to the U.S. temporarily to study, conduct business, receive medical treatment, or visit on vacation. ELIS also helps USCIS officers review and adjudicate online filings from multiple agencies in the U.S.

Some benefits of ELIS include filing applications and paying fees online, shorter processing times, and the ability to update user profiles, receiving notices, and responding to requests electronically. Especially, the system can provide tools to combat fraud and identify national security concerns.

According to the USCIS, this change for America's immigration benefits system will take time to be fully implemented. USCIS will continue to make adjustments and improvements in response to user feedback after the first release. The process is expected to assist USICIS in continually enhancing the user experience for both customers and USCIS employees. In addition, it will help the agency's transition to electronic filing to work more smoothly, and be mindful of individuals without computer access.

If you are interested in Visas to the USA, contact Migration Expert for information and advice on which visa is best suited to you. You can also try our visa eligibility assessment to see if you are eligible to apply for a visa to the United States of America.