The US is set to move a large part of its immigration system online, with applications for benefits such as green cards and citizenship eventually becoming mandatory to file electronically. The move is aimed
at cutting paperwork, reducing processing costs and making the system more efficient but it will also mean a major change for Indian applicants accustomed to paper-based filings.
What Exactly Is Changing?
USCIS will make electronic filing mandatory for forms that have already been available for online filing for at least 180 days. The agency will also be able to make other forms online-only after giving applicants at least 60 days’ notice. Applicants will generally need to use a USCIS online account to submit their applications.
Which Immigration Applications Will Be Affected?
The change could cover a wide range of immigration benefits, including green card applications and renewals, family-based petitions, US citizenship applications, employment authorisation requests and Temporary Protected Status filings. For Indians living in or seeking to move to the US, green card and citizenship applications are likely to be among the most significant areas affected.
How Will Applicants File Their Documents?
Applicants will generally have two digital options. They can complete the relevant form directly through their USCIS online account or upload a PDF version of the completed form along with the required supporting evidence. The shift means applicants will increasingly have to manage their immigration paperwork through USCIS’s digital system rather than relying on mailed applications.
Why Is US Making This Change?
USCIS said that the move is intended to improve efficiency while reducing the cost of handling paper applications. The agency processed more than 14 million immigration benefit requests in fiscal year 2025. During the same period, its lockbox facilities- which receive and process applications submitted by mail- handled around 453 million pages of paper documents. USCIS spent approximately $396 million operating these lockbox intake systems and more than $10 million on postage alone.
Will This Make Immigration Processing Faster?
The US government expects electronic filing to streamline the process by reducing manual handling, data entry, shipping, storage and scanning. USCIS also said digital processing could reduce errors and make immigration information easier to access and analyse, potentially helping with fraud detection and security screening.
However, the new rule does not guarantee that every application will be processed faster. The actual processing time will continue to depend on the type of immigration benefit and the circumstances of each case.
What If Someone Cannot Apply Online?
USCIS will establish a waiver process for people who are unable to file electronically. Applicants can request an exemption, which USCIS will review on a case-by-case basis. Those who receive a waiver will be allowed to use the applicable paper-based filing process. However, applicants seeking such an exemption will have to pay a $25 filing fee.
When Will The Change Take Effect?
The rule does not mean every immigration form becomes online-only immediately. USCIS will first apply the requirement to forms that have already been available for electronic filing for at least 180 days. For other forms, the agency can shift them to online-only filing after providing at least 60 days’ notice.
