The process to apply for asylum, residency, American citizenship, parole, family reunification and other immigration procedures requires forms issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Now, the federal agency is moving forward in digitizing its processes, taking a significant step by stopping printing blank forms that users could receive by mail.

USCIS notes that the online service will continue to provide access to these documents, allowing users to obtain them quickly. However, it is true that not all interested parties may have the necessary technological resources or knowledge. Despite this, USCIS has already set a date for the complete transition to digital documents.

When will USCIS stop sending physical copies of forms?

This summer, the agency will eliminate the mail-in form submission service, according to a USCIS message on the social network X, formerly known as Twitter. "We are discontinuing Forms by Mail service on July 18, 2024. You will no longer be able to request physical copies of blank forms," ​​the statement says.

"All of our forms and instructions are available on the uscis.gov website to download, print and complete," the agency reminds. "The removal of Forms by Mail is intended to allow USCIS to use resources on more essential tasks," a notice about the decision explains.

A new age? The end of a service that began decades ago

Mail-in forms service could date back to April 5, 1978, when the then-Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) published a rule to provide guidance on issuing forms to the public. The goal was to facilitate the distribution of forms to individuals, groups and professionals, benefiting the public at a time when such documents were not easily accessible.

However, the impact of new technologies is unquestionable. Since fiscal year 2019, forms requests filed through the USCIS mail service have decreased by more than 500%. USCIS attributes this drop to the increased availability of forms on its website and increasing electronic filing options for many applications and petitions.

Less inconvenience for users and less expense for USCIS

Accessing forms online assures people that they are using more up-to-date versions, reducing the number of immigration benefit applications rejected due to outdated or incorrect forms. Additionally, USCIS spends more than $35,000 annually managing the Forms by Mail program, including employee salaries, postage and other materials. This service also requires specialized mail equipment and software to manage the distribution of the forms.

With this measure, USCIS seeks to optimize its resources and adapt to new technologies, facilitating access to forms and improving the efficiency of its processes.

Source: View Source