On May 22, 2012, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) launched the first stage of USCIS ELIS—its new online immigration benefits system. Individuals are now able to set up an account and apply to extend or amend their nonimmigrant status for certain visa types, including foreign citizens who come to the United States to conduct business, study abroad, receive medical assistance, and go on vacation. USCIS ELIS is just the first step in the gradual transition to a comprehensive electronic immigration benefits system capable of processing the filing and adjudication of all immigration benefits electronically.

Before the launch of USCIS ELIS, USCIS customers had to apply by mail for most benefits. In addition, USCIS workers used to review and ship paper copies between offices in order to issue determinations. Now, USCIS ELIS allows USCIS employees to review and determine filings online from multiple agency locations. According to USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas, the system launch marks a significant step toward a more efficient process for managing the over 6 million applications the agency receives each year.

Customers using USCIS ELIS can take advantage of features such as filing applications and paying fees online, faster processing times, and tools designed to prevent fraud and address security concerns. Additional details about USCIS ELIS are available here.

USCIS plans to gradually roll out future phases of the online system, with the goal of easing the transition by making adjustments to the system based on user feedback and requests. USCIS also noted in the launch announcement its commitment to continuing to serve its diverse customer base and to be mindful of those customers without access to a computer.