Modernizing our Immigration System
By the Numbers
Yearly naturalization applicants
Immigration workload now completed digitally, up from 5%
of new N-400 applications electronically processed since October 2017
The Challenge
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services processes millions of immigration requests a year using a paper-based process that results in long waiting periods for applicants who have little visibility into the status of their application or petition. To become a naturalized citizen, an individual had to complete a physical 20-page form, called the N-400. Often, USCIS shipped this form across the country to multiple immigration officers, adjudicators, and clerks to review immigration records, perform interviews, and process background checks.
The Solution
Since 2014, USDS has supported the release of USCIS’s most critical digital capabilities and services such as ELIS—the case management system that supports processing and adjudication of digitized immigration workloads—and myUSCIS, which allows applicants to apply and track their cases online. In late 2017, USCIS successfully transitioned digital processing of Form N-400 from the legacy CLAIMS4 system to ELIS. Now, all applicants can apply for naturalization online, and USCIS can process the application more efficiently.
A naturalization ceremony taking place at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., with Michelle Obama in attendance (photo courtesty of U.S. National Archives).
More projects
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Centers for Disease Control and PreventionPreparing for the Next Pandemic While Building Tech for COVID-19
We worked with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to quickly create and scale technology programs that digitize and share infectious disease test results in real-time.
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Cross-agencyOptimizing benefits for families
Working alongside The Department of Treasury and the White House, we built ChildTaxCredit.gov to educate families about the expanded Earned Income Credit and Child Tax Credit. The USDS team relied on in-depth research to create a site that is accessible, easy-to-read, and provides resources to find free tax services.
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Health and Human ServicesCritical code: building COVID-19 vaccine finder tools
With the American public eager for COVID-19 vaccinations, The White House partnered with the U.S. Digital Service, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, the Department of Health & Human Services, and Boston Children’s Hospital to launch a fleet of tools connecting people to life-saving vaccines.
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Veterans AffairsSimplifying Veteran‑facing services through VA.gov
Each month, over 10 million people attempt to access the digital tools and content at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and have historically struggled to find what they’re looking for. Digital modernization efforts needed to focus on improving the user experience.
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Health and Human ServicesModernizing the Medicare Payment System
Eight million lines of COBOL and 2.5 million lines of assembly running on 15 mainframes. 4.5 percent of the entire American economy is fueled by Medicare payments and 53 million people depend on it for their healthcare.
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Cross-agencyChanging how the government hires technical talent
We helped develop a process that allows HR to leverage subject matter experts to evaluate candidates for specialized roles. The result restores fair and open access for all applicants, shortens the hiring timeline, and ensures applicants are truly qualified.