From: Nigel.Allen@bbs.oit.unc.edu (Nigel Allen)
Subject: INS Eliminates Forms, Some Interviews to Improve Service
Organization: Echo Beach
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1992 01:29:50 GMT

Here is a press release from the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service.
 INS Eliminates Forms, Some Interviews to Improve Service
 To: National Desk
 Contact:  Verne Jervis or Duke Austin, 202-514-2648, both
           of the Immigration and Naturalization Service

   WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The Immigration and
Naturalization Service (INS) plans to eliminate interviews for
some persons seeking permanent residence in the United States,
and has scrapped 29 application forms as part of an overall
program to simplify dealing with the agency, Commissioner Gene
McNary said today.
   Earlier this year, in support of a Presidential directive to
ease the regulatory burden on the public, INS asked for public
suggestions on how it could improve its services.  The elimination
of some interviews was one of the more than 40 suggestions
received.  The forms reduction program had been underway earlier,
but was also suggested by public commentors.
   The INS annually receives a quarter of a million applications
for permanent resident status from persons who hold temporary visas
to the United States.  All currently require personal interviews
before granting the status.  The agency believes that about one-
third of those, or more than 80,000, involve children, elderly
persons and professionals who have held visas permitting temporary
residence in the country for long periods.  The denial rate for
such persons is extremely low, and the instance of fraud is
minimal.
   Therefore Commissioner McNary has directed that the agency
develop a plan to permit approval of these applications without the
interview.  This will not only save INS an estimated $500,000
annually, but result in considerable savings of time and eliminate
inconvenience for the applicants.
   "Soon after taking office I became aware that INS forms had long
been a source of confusion to the public because of their
complexity and the large number which existed for a single
purpose," McNary said.
   Beginning in 1989, and in conjunction with new provisions of the
Immigration Act of 1990, INS has reduced the number of forms used
to apply for immigration benefits and made new forms easier to
understand and complete.
   So far, 48 forms have been consolidated into 19, and at least
seven more forms are targeted for consolidation into three.
   In addition to the consolidation, INS has simplified the forms
and the application requirements by eliminating redundant requests
for information; reduced required supporting documentation; and
clarified questions and instructions.
   "Immigration law is extremely complex," McNary said.  "However,
we intend to simplify our instructions and applications to the
point where the public feels confident in being able to complete
the applications properly and gain the benefits that the law
provides," he said.
 -30-

--
   The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the University of
     North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Campus Office for Information
        Technology, or the Experimental Bulletin Board Service.
           internet:  bbs.oit.unc.edu or 152.2.22.80