(b) WORKFLOW.—As part of the study, the Comp-
troller General shall examine all elements of such unit’s 
workflow, in order to determine the most efficient way to 
handle its work without compromising security. Any obsta-
cles associated with security matters should be identified 
and recommendations should be made on ways to mini-
mize such obstacles without compromising security. The 
Comptroller General should assess the division of work, 
adequacy of infrastructure (particularly information tech-
nology), as well as personnel needs. 
(c) INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.— 
As part of the study, the Comptroller General shall exam-
ine the unit’s interactions with other government organi-
zations. Specifically, the Comptroller General shall deter-
mine whether existing memoranda of understanding and 
divisions of responsibility, especially any which pre-date 
the establishment of the Department of Homeland Secu-
rity, need to be revised in order to improve the bureau’s 
service delivery. 
(d) BACKLOG COST.—As part of the study, the 
Comptroller General shall assess the current cost of main-
taining the backlog (as defined in section 203 of the Immi-
gration Services and Infrastructure Improvements Act of 
2000 (8 U.S.C. 1572)).
(e) INTERVIEWS.—The Comptroller General may 
interview any front-line personnel, without supervisors 
present, to determine priorities and needs. 
(f) INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.—Aspects of this 
study related to information technology should be coordi-
nated with the Chief Information Officer for the Depart-
ment of Homeland Security and should build on the find-
ings of the task force established by section 3 of the Immi-
gration and Naturalization Service Data Management Im-
provement Act of 2000 (Public Law 106–215). 
(g) SUBMISSION.—The study should be completed 
not later than January 1, 2005, and shall be submitted 
to the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of 
State, and the appropriate congressional committees (as 
defined in section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 
(6 U.S.C. 101)). It shall include recommendations for re-
source allocation. 
SEC. 403. STUDY ON BIOMETRICS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Homeland Secu-
rity, in consultation with the Director of the National In-
stitute of Standards and Technology, shall conduct a 
study of all biometric identifiers that might be collected 
for purposes of processing and adjudicating applications 
and petitions for immigration benefits, and shall deter-
mine which among these identifiers would be most appro-
priate for the purposes described in subsection (b). The 
Secretary shall provide the resources necessary properly 
to conduct the study. 
(b) USES.—In carrying out subsection (a), the Sec-
retary shall consider the use of a biometric identifier— 
(1) to register or catalogue a petition or appli-
cation for an immigration benefit upon submission 
to the appropriate Federal agency; 
(2) to check the petitioner or applicant against 
watch lists; 
(3) as part of the integrated entry and exit data 
system required under section 110 of the Illegal Im-
migration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act 
of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1365a); and 
(4) to conduct background checks with Federal 
intelligence agencies. 
(c) FACTORS.—The Secretary shall consider the fol-
lowing factors in making the determination under sub-
section (a): 
(1) Accuracy 
(2) The technology available. 
(3) Economic considerations. 
(4) Storage. 
(5) Efficiency.
(d) SUBMISSION.—The study should be completed 
within one year of enactment, and shall be submitted to 
the Secretary of State and the appropriate congressional 
committees (as defined in section 2 of the Homeland Secu-
rity Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101)). 
SEC. 404. DIGITIZING IMMIGRATION FUNCTIONS. 
(a) DIGITIZED FINGERPRINTS.—Not later than Jan-
uary 1, 2005, all fingerprints taken for purposes of adjudi-
cating an application or petition for an immigration ben-
efit shall be digitized. 
(b) REGISTERING APPLICATIONS BY BIOMETRIC.— 
Not later than January 1, 2005, all applications and peti-
tions for an immigration benefit shall be registered or 
catalogued by the receiving agency using a biometric iden-
tifier. Initially, such biometric identifier shall be a finger-
print. Subsequently, the Secretary of Homeland Security 
may select one or more alternative biometric identifiers to 
be used for such purposes, taking into account factors 
such as efficiency, accuracy, the technology available, eco-
nomic considerations, and storage requirements. 
SEC. 405. STUDY ON DIGITIZING IMMIGRATION BENEFIT 
APPLICATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of the 
United States shall conduct a comprehensive study on 
digitizing all applications and petitions for an immigration
benefit, including digital storage, cataloguing, and the 
ability to apply for all types of immigration benefits 
through digital means. The study should consider costs for 
both the Federal Government and the applicant or peti-
tioner, as well as the feasibility for all types of persons 
to apply by digital means. 
(b) SUBMISSION.—The study should be completed 
not later than January 1, 2005, and shall be submitted 
to the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of 
State, and the appropriate congressional committees (as 
defined in section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 
(6 U.S.C. 101)). 
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