Press Office 

 U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Fact Sheet June 17, 2004

BACKLOG ELIMINATION STRATEGY 

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is streamlining the way immigration benefits are 

delivered. By working smarter and eliminating redundancies, USCIS is bringing a business model to 

government. We will eliminate the backlog and, at the same time, enhance national security. USCIS will 

deliver the right benefit to the right person in the right amount of time, while ensuring that the wrong 

individual does not access immigration benefits. It is this fundamental mission that guides USCIS as it faces 

the challenges associated with eliminating the backlog. 

The backlog isn't new. What's new is the strategy and initiatives USCIS is using to tackle this issue head-on. 

This new approach represents a focused effort that will eliminate the backlog and ensure a six-month or less 

processing time by the end of 2006. 

The USCIS backlog elimination plan focuses on three objectives: 

3⁄4 Achieving a high-level of performance by establishing clear, concrete milestones and actively 

monitoring progress towards these milestones; 

3⁄4 Transforming business practices by implementing significant information technology improvements 

and identifying processing improvements to transform the current way of doing business; and 

3⁄4 Ensuring integrity by instituting comprehensive quality assurance measures. 

Based upon a cycle time of up to six months (the amount of time needed to process an immigration 

application), the USCIS backlog at the end of FY 2003 was 3.7 million cases and included all cases that 

exceed their cycle time. Each year, USCIS receives roughly six million applications. 

During the next three years, USCIS will eliminate the 3.7 million backlogged cases by changing the culture

through which immigration services and benefits are administered. The USCIS efforts are already paying 

dividends. Since December 2003, USCIS has reduced the backlog by more than 360,000. 

GOOD GOVERNMENT INITATIVES

New Management Tools 

3⁄4 Measure Progress Against Milestone Projections 

Each month USCIS managers receive detailed reports highlighting the number of new applications. 

This information is allowing USCIS managers to react to current trends and use resources in a more

constructive, concerted effort. 

www.uscis.gov
 Press Office 

 U.S. Department of Homeland Security

3⁄4 Resource Allocations 

The USCIS Headquarters Backlog Elimination Taskforce – staffed by highly experience senior staff 

members - will work to achieve the rapid adjudication of severely backlogged applications while 

ensuring the integrity of immigration services. USCIS will work to identify areas of greatest needs 

for resources to make sure that all offices are supported to meet monthly backlog elimination goals. 

3⁄4 Project Ingenuity 

USCIS actively encouraging employees, supervisors and managers at every level to critically look at 

our day-to-day operations and then share their ideas about how we can improve business and 

eliminate the backlog. The tremendously popular InfoPass initiative is just one example of how this 

“bottom-up thinking” is helping shape the backlog elimination strategy. 

Better Technology 

3⁄4 Managing Risk with Technology 

USCIS is providing guidance that will allow adjudicators to identify low-risk cases primed for fasttrack processing. This will allow USCIS to use both modern technology and trend analysis to reduce 

the number of pending cases while maintaining high security standards. 

3⁄4 Electronic Biometrics 

USCIS will use the latest in modern technology allowing for the storage of fingerprints, photographs 

and signature information. This will reduce the workload at USCIS facilities tasked with capturing 

this information. Additionally, it will eliminate the redundancy associated with recapturing 

information as new or subsequent applications for a service or benefit are filed. 

3⁄4 Online Customer Services

o E-Filing 

This simple and friendly to use system allows customers to go online to apply for certain 

immigration benefits. The eight forms currently available account for more than 50% of the 

total volume of benefits applications USCIS receives annually. E-Filing began with two of 

the most frequently filed forms last year. By the end of fiscal year 2006, E-Filing will 

support 12 forms that represent over 90% of the applications for benefits received yearly. 

o InfoPass 

InfoPass is an innovative customer service initiative that allows customers to make an 

appointment with an Immigration Information Officer online instead of waiting in long lines 

at a USCIS District Office. InfoPass began in Miami and is currently in Los Angeles, and 

Dallas. By October 1, USCIS plans to offer InfoPass nationwide. 

o Case Status Online 

Customers can check the status of their case for an immigration benefit on the USCIS website 

and build a portfolio of up to 100 receipted applications. Customers may also choose to 

receive updates from USCIS via e-mail whenever the status of their case changes. 

www.uscis.gov
 Press Office 

 U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Improve Policies and Procedures 

3⁄4 Decision At First Review

USCIS has issued guidance that will eliminate the practice of unnecessarily requesting additional 

evidence from applicants for immigration services and benefits. This guidance insures, that when 

possible, USCIS adjudicators will make their decisions based upon the information included with the 

application.

3⁄4 Employment Authorization Validity Period 

USCIS is proposing a regulation removing the one-year mandatory expiration of Employment 

Authorization Documents (EADs). This would allow USCIS to issue EADs for up to five years and 

eliminate the redundant step of re-adjudicating individuals eligible for long-term issuance. 

3⁄4 Pilot Projects 

USCIS has also launched a number of pilot projects at locations across the United States. These 

projects allow USCIS to test and evaluate various initiatives or production enhancements to determine 

their effectiveness in reducing the backlog. If successful, USCIS could expand these pilots to a 

national level. 

- USCIS -

On March 1, 2003, U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services became one of three legacy INS components to join the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. USCIS is 

charged with fundamentally transforming and improving the delivery of immigration and citizenship services, 

while enhancing our nation's security.

www.uscis.gov