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Privacy Documents for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

DHS/USCIS/PIA-003 - Integrated Digitization Document Management Program (IDDMP)

Integrated Digitization Document Management Program, January 5, 2007 (PDF, 20 pages - 276 KB). U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has prepared a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) for a series of systems comprising the Integrated Digitization Document Management Program (IDDMP). Through the IDDMP, USCIS will digitize its paper-based Alien Files (A-Files) so that they may be shared more efficiently within the Department of Homeland Security and information contained within the A-Files may be shared with outside agencies. This PIA covers the IDDMP, a new IT system that digitizes the paper-based A-Files into a new electronic format.

Associated SORN(s):

DHS/USCIS/PIA-005 - Biometric Storage System (BSS)

Biometric Storage System, March 28, 2007 (PDF, 25 pages - 622 KB).  U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is developing the Biometric Storage System (BSS) to help streamline the established USCIS biometric and card production processes and become the centralized repository for all USCIS customer biometrics. BSS will route, store, and process 10-print fingerprint biometrics and associated biographic information for biometric-based background checks on those individuals applying/petitioning for immigration benefits. BSS is a new system being developed incrementally and will replace the Image Storage and Retrieval System (ISRS). BSS will also replace aspects of the Benefit Biometric Support System (BBSS), while adding new functionalities that did not previously exist in either ISRS or BBSS.

Associated SORN(s):

DHS/USCIS/PIA-006(b) - Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) Program

DHS/USCIS/PIA-006(b) - Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) Program, April 19, 2013 (PDF, 8 pages, 163KB).  USCIS' Verification Division is publishing this update to the SAVE Program PIA.  SAVE is a fee-based inter-governmental initiative designed to help federal, state, tribal, and local government agencies confirm status prior to granting benefits and licenses, as well as for other lawful purposes.  The purpose of this update is to:  1) describe the expanded use of the Photo Matching Tool technology; and 2) introduce the implementation of the electronic form G-845, Document Verification Request. 

Associated SORN(s):

DHS/USCIS/PIA-007(a) - Secure Information Management Service (SIMS) Pilot with Inter-Country Adoptions Update

Secure Information Management Service (SIMS) Pilot with Inter-Country Adoptions Update, August 13, 2008 (PDF, 6 pages - 248 KB).  U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is publishing this update to the Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) for the Secure Information Management Service (SIMS). This update describes the electronic sharing of case management data with the Department of State (DoS) necessary to expedite and improve the processing of inter-country adoption cases. Specifically, the Personally Identifiable Information (PII) will be shared electronically with the DoS to maintain statistics related to inter-country adoption cases.

Associated SORN(s):

DHS/USCIS/PIA-008 - Enterprise Service Bus (ESB)

Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) June 22, 2007, (PDF, 27 pages - 205 KB).  The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) is being developed by the USCIS Office of Information Technology (OIT) to facilitate information sharing and integration between USCIS systems, and across DHS components and other Agencies, such as the Department of State. The ESB is a set of commercial off-the-shelf software (COTS) that will provide a standardized infrastructure to connect to multiple systems and services. This is a new infrastructure component within USCIS that will be incrementally enhanced to provide support for multiple service interfaces. This Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) will be updated to reflect those material changes.

Associated SORN(s):

DHS/USCIS/PIA-009 - Central Index System (CIS)

Central Index System, June 22, 2007, (PDF, 23 pages - 240 KB).  U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services maintains the Central Index System (CIS), a database system originally developed by the legacy Immigration and Naturalization Service. CIS contains information on the status of 57 million applicants/petitioners seeking immigration benefits to include: lawful permanent residents, naturalized citizens, U.S. border crossers, aliens who illegally entered the U.S., aliens who have been issued employment authorization documents, individuals who petitioned for benefits on behalf of family members, and other individuals subject to the provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). This PIA addresses the current status of CIS, and will be updated accordingly as additional USCIS applications and system functionalities are added to CIS.

Associated SORN(s):

DHS/USCIS/PIA-010(e) - Person Centric Query Service (PCQS) Supporting Immigration Status Verifiers of the USCIS Enterprise Service

Person Centric Query Service Supporting Immigration Status Verifiers of the USCIS Enterprise Service Directorate/Verification Division Update June 8, 2011 (PDF, 9 pages – 191KB).  This is an update to the existing Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Person Centric Query Service (PCQS). This update describes the privacy impact of expanding the status verifier's person-search capability by adding the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators Network Service (AAMVAnet) system to the existing PCQS query inventory.

Associated SORNs:

DHS/USCIS/PIA-011 - DHS / UKvisas Project

DHS / UKvisas Project, November 14, 2007 (PDF, 12 pages - 250 KB).  Recently the United Kingdom (UK) enacted legislation requiring the submission of biometric data by almost all individuals filing applications for UK visas. Officials from the UK and Department of Homeland Security have agreed that individuals who are physically located in the United States (US) may provide the requisite biometrics and limited biographical information at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Application Support Centers (ASCs) for forward transfer to the UK in support of the adjudication of applications for visas. USCIS will temporarily retain the submitted biometric and biographical records until the UK provides confirmation that the transfer of data was successful. USCIS will delete the biometric and biographical records immediately after it receives that confirmation.

DHS/USCIS/PIA-012 - Correspondence Handling and Management Planning System (CHAMPS)

Correspondence Handling and Management Planning System (CHAMPS), January 13, 2009 (PDF, 16 pages - 261 KB).  U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Texas Service Center (TSC) has developed the Correspondence Handling and Management Planning System (CHAMPS). The CHAMPS system is designed to facilitate workflow management, production evaluation, and time and attendance functions. USCIS has conducted this Privacy Impact Assessment because CHAMPS collects and uses personally identifiable information (PII).

Associated SORN(s):

DHS/USCIS/PIA-013 - Fraud Detection and National Security Data System (FDNS-DS)

Fraud Detection and National Security Data System (FDNS-DS), July 29, 2008 (PDF, 19 pages - 258 KB).  U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has developed the Fraud Detection and National Security Data System (FDNS-DS), a case management system used to record, track, and manage immigration inquiries, investigative referrals, law enforcement requests, and case determinations involving benefit fraud, criminal activity, public safety and national security concerns. The FDNS-DS system is an upgrade of the Fraud Tracking System (FTS). The FTS PIA was published on June 24, 2005. 

Associated SORN(s):

DHS/USCIS/PIA-014(a) - Customer Identity Verification (CIV) System Update

Customer Identity Verification (CIV) System Update April 26, 2010 (PDF, 8 pages - 231 KB).  The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services is updating its Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) for the Customer Identity Verification (CIV) system to remove the "Pilot" designation of the system and to address the further deployment of the system to all field offices. The CIV system collects and uses biometrics (fingerprints and pictures) when an applicant appears before USCIS in person at the time of an interview so that USCIS can verify that the individual being interviewed is the same person for whom it conducted a background check and collected other information at the Application Support Center (ASC). USCIS will use United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology's (US-VISIT) Secondary Inspections Tool (SIT), a web-based tool, that processes, displays, and retrieves biometric and biographic data from the Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT).

Associated SORN(s):

DHS/USCIS/PIA-015(a) - Computer Linked Application Information Management System (CLAIMS 4) Update

Computer Linked Application Information Management System (CLAIMS 4) Update, August 31, 2011 (PDF, 9 pages - 198 KB).  The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is publishing this update to the Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) for the Computer Linked Application Information Management System (CLAIMS 4) dated September 5, 2008. CLAIMS 4 is an electronic case management system used to track and process applications for naturalization.  The purpose of this update is to:  (1) discuss the disposition of the Change of Address (CoA) subsystem; (2) discuss the disposition of the Complete File Review (CFR) subsystem; (3) describe the new privacy impacts associated with the exchange of zip codes between the Site Profile System (SPS) and CLAIMS 4; (4) describe the new privacy impacts associated with the capturing of certain digitized biometric images through the Benefits Biometric Support System (BBSS); and (5) provide notice of a pilot program under which the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is expanding the sharing of CLAIMS 4 data with the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) in support of DHS’s mission to protect the United States from potential terrorist activities.

Associated SORN(s):

DHS/USCIS/PIA-016 - Benefits Processing of Applicants other than Petitions for Naturalization, Refugee Status, and Asylum (CLAIMS 3)

Benefits Processing of Applicants other than Petitions for Naturalization, Refugee Status, and Asylum (CLAIMS 3), September 5, 2008 (PDF, 33 pages - 414 KB).  U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) receives and adjudicates applications for all United States immigration benefits. This PIA covers the USCIS systems associated with processing all immigration benefits except naturalization, asylum, and refugee status. These systems include the Computer Linked Adjudication Information Management System (CLAIMS 3), the Citizenship and Immigration Services Centralized Oracle Repository (CISCOR), the Interim Case Management System (ICMS), Integrated Voice Response System (IVRS), and the Integrated Card Production System (ICPS). Other USCIS systems involved in the processing of benefits are covered by other Privacy Impact Assessments.

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DHS/USCIS/PIA-017- Microfilm Digitization Application System (MiDAS)

Microfilm Digitization Application System (MiDAS) September 15, 2008 (PDF, 21 pages - 289 KB).  U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Records Division maintains the Microfilm Digitization Application System (MiDAS), which houses 85 million electronic immigration-related records previously stored on microfilm. USCIS is conducting this Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) to analyze the privacy impacts associated with the new release of MiDAS that will enable USCIS to 1) electronically search and retrieve historical immigration-related records, 2) process web-based requests for these records submitted by federal, state, and local Government and Public Genealogy Customers, 3) provide case tracking capabilities for USCIS Records Division staff, and 4) provide these records to the law enforcement and intelligence communities.

Associated SORN(s):

DHS/USCIS/PIA-018 - Alien Change of Address Card (AR-11)

Alien Change of Address Card (AR-11) October 21, 2008 (PDF, 13 Pages - 194 KB).  U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is publishing this Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) for the Alien Change of Address Card (AR-11) System. The AR-11 tracks the address changes submitted to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in paper and electronic form as required by Section 265 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. 1305. USCIS has conducted this PIA because AR-11 contains personally identifiable information (PII).

Associated SORN(s):

DHS/USCIS/PIA-019(a) - Customer Relationship Interface System (CRIS) Update

Customer Relationship Interface System (CRIS) Update, September 22, 2009 (PDF, 23 pages - 225 KB).  U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has developed the Customer Relationship Interface System (CRIS) to provide USCIS customers with the status of pending applications and petitions for benefits and processing time information. USCIS is updating this PIA due to a Presidential initiative to add text messaging as a capability to the Case Status Service Online module of the CRIS system.

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DHS/USCIS/PIA-020 - Scheduling and Notification of Applicants for Processing (SNAP)

Scheduling and Notification of Applicants for Processing (SNAP), December 15, 2008 (PDF, 22 pages - 438 KB).  U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has developed the Scheduling and Notification of Applicants for Processing (SNAP) system. SNAP automatically schedules appointments for immigration benefits for applicants/petitioners (hereafter collectively referred to as "applicants") to submit biometric information to USCIS. USCIS is conducting this Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) because SNAP uses personally identifiable information (PII) to perform its scheduling functions.

Associated SORN(s):

DHS/USCIS/PIA-021 - Changes to Requirements Affecting H-2A Nonimmigrants and Changes to Requirements Affecting H-2B Nonimmigrants and Employers Final Rules

Changes to Requirements Affecting H-2A Nonimmigrants and Changes to Requirements Affecting H-2B Nonimmigrants and Employers Final Rules, December 18, 2008 (PDF, 21 pages - 244 KB).  U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is publishing this Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) in conjunction with two Final Rules titled Changes to Requirements Affecting H-2A Nonimmigrants and Changes to Requirements Affecting H-2B Nonimmigrants and Employers. The Final Rules announce employers' requirements to notify USCIS when an H-2A or H-2B worker absconds, fails to report for work, or is terminated early and/or when any prohibited fees are collected from aliens as a condition of H-2A or H-2B employment. USCIS has conducted this PIA because the nonimmigrant visa programs associated with these Final Rules involve the collection of personally identifiable information (PII).

Associated SORN(s):

DHS/USCIS/PIA-022 - Compliance Tracking and Management System (CTMS)

Compliance Tracking and Management System (CTMS), May 22, 2009 (PDF, 22 pages - 257 KB).  The Verification Division of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) operates the Compliance Tracking and Management System (CTMS). CTMS collects and uses information necessary to support monitoring and compliance activities for researching and managing misuse, abuse, discrimination, breach of privacy, and fraudulent use of USCIS Verification Division's verification programs, the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) and E-Verify. This is a new system that requires publication of a Privacy Impact Assessment and System of Records Notice.

Associated SORN(s):

DHS/USCIS/PIA-023 - Enterprise Citizenship and Immigrations Services Centralized Operational Repository (eCISCOR)

Enterprise Citizenship and Immigrations Services Centralized Operational Repository (eCISCOR), August 13, 2009 (PDF, 17 pages - 225 KB).  U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is developing the enterprise Citizenship and Immigration Services Centralized Operational Repository (eCISCOR) to streamline access to relevant information by consolidating information collected during the adjudication of applications and petitions (hereafter referred to collectively as "applications") for immigration benefits. eCISCOR will serve as an intermediary repository for immigration and naturalization information derived from several USCIS systems and will replace the Citizenship and Immigration Services Centralized Oracle Repository (CISCOR). USCIS is conducting this Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) because eCISCOR contains personally identifiable information (PII).

Associated SORN(s):

DHS/USCIS/PIA-024 - Electronic Filing System (e-Filing)

Electronic Filing System (e-Filing), August 24, 2009 (PDF, 21 pages - 255 KB).  U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has developed the Electronic Filing System (e-Filing). E-Filing is a customer service Web-based initiative developed to provide a mechanism for individuals to submit and track the processing of certain USCIS applications and petitions. USCIS has developed this Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) to document, analyze, and assess current USCIS practices with respect to the collection, use, and sharing of personally identifiable information (PII) and the implementation of e-Filing.

Associated SORN(s):

DHS/USCIS/PIA-025 - Reengineered Naturalization Casework System (RNACS)

Reengineered Naturalization Casework System (RNACS), August 24, 2009 (PDF, 21 pages - 253 KB).  The Reengineered Naturalization Application Casework System (RNACS) is an electronic tracking system implemented at various U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) offices to process and track applications associated with naturalization and/or citizenship. USCIS is conducting this Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) because RNACS contains personally identifiable information (PII).

Associated SORN(s):

DHS/USCIS/PIA-027(a) - Refugees, Asylum, and Parole System (RAPS) and the Asylum Pre-Screening System (APSS) Update

Refugees, Asylum, and Parole System and the Asylum Pre-Screening System Update National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC), June 30, 2011 (PDF, 6 pages - 156 KB).

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating the Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) for the Refugees, Asylum, and Parole System (RAPS) and the Asylum Pre-Screening System (APSS) in order to provide further notice of the expansion of routine sharing of RAPS with the intelligence community in support of the Department’s mission to protect the United States from potential terrorist activities.

Associated SORN(s):

DHS/USCIS/PIA-028 - Background Vetting Service (BVS)

Background Vetting Service, March 22, 2010 (PDF, 18 pages - 273 KB).  The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) developed the Background Vetting Service (BVS) to comply with the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, Public Law 109-248 which restricts the ability of any U.S. citizen (USC) or lawful permanent resident alien (LPR) who has been convicted of any "specified offense against a minor" from filing certain family-based immigration petitions. Under the BVS, the USCIS will facilitate fingerprint checks of USCs whose principal residence is overseas filing family-based immigration petitions at Department of State (DOS) Overseas Posts against the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS) and the United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology (US-VISIT) Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT). The information is collected and assembled by DOS. The USCIS BVS does not collect or originate any information but only serves as a conduit to route the information between DOS, US-VISIT, FBI IAFIS, and the USCIS BVS Users. USCIS Conducted this privacy impact assessment (PIA) because BVS checks personally identifiable information (PII) collected by DOS against US-VISIT's IDENT and FBI's IAFIS and returns a status flag back to DOS for their use in the adjudication of the applicable petition.

Associated SORN(s):

DHS/USCIS/PIA-029(a) - Eligibility Risk and Fraud Assessment Testing Environment (EFRA) Update

Eligibility Risk and Fraud Assessment Testing Environment (EFRA) Update, June 1, 2011 (PDF, 7 pages – 205 KB). The Office of Transformation Coordination of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services is planning to update the Eligibility Risk and Fraud Assessment Testing Environment. This update describes the next phase of this tool to develop, test, and refine the tool’s risk and fraud business rules and to load biographic data from legacy systems before deploying to a full production environment.

Associated SORN(s):

DHS/USCIS/PIA-030(d) - E-Verify Program

E-Verify Program, July 27, 2012 (PDF, 7 pages, 162 KB).  The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Verification Division is publishing this update to the DHS/USCIS-030 E-Verify Program PIA and its updates.  USCIS administers the E-Verify program, which allows participating employers the ability to verify the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. The purpose of this update is to: (1) describe collection and verification of the foreign passport country of issuance (COI) through the U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology (US-VISIT) program’s Arrival and Departure Information System (ADIS); and (2) discuss the decommissioning of the Image Storage and Retrieval System (ISRS) and the Reengineered Naturalization Applications Casework System (RNACS) subsystems. The functionality previously provided by ISRS and RNACS will be replaced by the Customer Profile Management System (CPMS) and Claims Linked Application Information Management System 4 (CLAIMS 4), respectively.

Associated SORN(s):

DHS/USCIS/PIA-031- Citizenship and Immigration Data Repository (CIDR)

Citizenship and Immigration Data Repository (CIDR) September 8, 2010 (PDF, 25 pages - 252 KB).  The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) developed the Citizenship Immigration Data Repository (CIDR), hosted on DHS classified networks, in order to make information from multiple USCIS benefits administration systems available for querying by authorized USCIS personnel for the following three purposes: (1) vetting USCIS application information for indications of possible immigration fraud and national security concerns, (2) detecting possible fraud and misuse of immigration information or position by USCIS employees, for personal gain or by coercion, and (3) responding to requests for information (RFIs) from the DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) and/or the federal intelligence and law enforcement community members that are based on classified criteria. In conjunction with this PIA, DHS is issuing a new Privacy Act system of records notice to cover the search parameters and the results of the searches.

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DHS/USCIS/PIA-032- National File Tracking System (NFTS)

National File Tracking System (NFTS) October 5, 2010, (PDF, 16 pages - 211 KB). The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is preparing this Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) for the National File Tracking System (NFTS). NFTS is an automated file-tracking system used to maintain an accurate file inventory and track the physical location of files. This system facilitates USCIS's ability to efficiently manage and streamline access to the millions of immigration files under its control. USCIS is conducting this PIA to document, analyze and assess the current practices with respect to the personally identifiable information (PII) NFTS collects, uses and shares.

Associated SORN(s):

DHS/USCIS/PIA-033 - Immigration Benefits Background Check Systems (IBBCS)

Immigration Benefits Background Check Systems (IBBCS) November 5, 2010 (PDF, 28 pages – 354 KB).  As part of its benefits adjudication process and as required by law, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) conducts background checks on petitioners and applicants who seek certain immigration benefits. These background checks consist of four separate checks against systems within Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In order to facilitate the collection and transmission of information necessary to complete background check processes, USCIS maintains five information technology electronic systems: the Fingerprint Masthead Notification System (FMNS), the Customer Identity Capture System (CICS), the FD-258 Tracking System - Mainframe (FD-258 MF), the Benefits Biometrics Support System (BBSS), and the Interagency Border Inspection System (IBIS) Manifest. USCIS is conducting this privacy impact assessment (PIA) because FMNS, CICS, FD-258 MF, BBSS, and IBIS Manifest collect, use, and share personally identifiable information (PII). This PIA replaces the previously published USCIS PIA for the “Background Check Service (BCS)” which describes planned background check-related systems that were never implemented. Upon publication of this PIA, the BCS PIA will be retired.

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DHS/USCIS/PIA-034 - H-1B Visa Cap Registration

Visa Cap Registration January 28, 2011 (PDF, 16 pages – 210 KB) The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is proposing to amend its regulation governing petitions by U.S. employers seeking H-1B nonimmigrant worker status for aliens subject to annual numerical limitations or exempt from numerical limitations by having earned a U.S. master’s or higher degree (also referred to as the “65,000 cap” and “20,000 cap” respectively, or the “cap” collectively). Under the proposed rule, USCIS would establish H-1B Cap Registration, a mandatory registration process, to streamline the administration of H-1B petitions filed by employers. This Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) is being conducted because the H-1B Cap Registration NPRM proposes a change to USCIS’ collection of personally identifiable information (PII).

DHS/USCIS/PIA-035 - Migrant Information Tracking System (MITS)

Migrant Information Tracking System (MITS) February 3, 2010 (PDF, 16 pages – 180 KB).  The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) developed the Migrant Information Tracking System (MITS) to serve as a centralized repository for information relating to migrants interdicted at sea. MITS facilitates USCIS’ ability to record and track information pertaining to a migrant’s illicit maritime migration into the United States and respond to information requests regarding interdicted migrants from Members of Congress inquiring on behalf of a family member of the migrant. USCIS conducted this privacy impact assessment (PIA) because MITS collects, uses, and disseminates personally identifiable information (PII).

DHS/USCIS/PIA-036(a) - Employment Eligibility Verification Requirements Under the Form I-9

Form I-9 “Employment Eligibility Verification” Update, July 27, 2012 (PDF 7 pages, 228 KB). The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Verification Division manages the business process in support of the statutory requirement that requires employers to maintain Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, which is completed by their new employees. This form serves to verify employment authorization for all new employees. The purpose of this update is to: (1) describe the collection of additional information in “Section I: Employee Information and Attestation” of Form I-9, and (2) describe the update to Form I-9 instructions.

Associated SORN(s):

DHS/USCIS/PIA-038(a) - FOIA/PA Information Processing System

FOIA/PA Information Processing System (FIPS), December 17, 2012 (PDF 157 KB, 7 pages).  DHS/USCIS uses  the  Freedom  of  Information  Act  and  Privacy  Act  (FOIA/PA) Information Processing System (FIPS) to process FOIA/PA requests from individuals requesting access to DHS/USCIS records.  USCIS is updating the FIPS PIA (DHS/USCIS/PIA-038) dated June 14, 2011,1  to introduce the DHS/USCIS Enterprise Services Directorate’s (ESD) National Records Center’s (NRC) Significant Interest Group (SIG), use of the SharePoint Enterprise Collaborative Network (ECN) Site to track and receive records that are responsive to FOIA/PA requests.

Associated SORN(s):

DHS/USCIS/PIA-039 - Transformation

Transformation, August 29, 2011 (PDF, 12 pages – 210.67 KB).  U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is transforming its business processes and systems to improve operational efficiency and customer service and to strengthen the security and integrity of the immigration system. As part of this effort, USCIS is amending its regulations and modifying its data collection practices to eventually convert all benefit requests to electronic submissions and to transition internal paper processes to an electronic environment. These regulatory and data collection changes will improve the consistency and timeliness of immigration benefit adjudications, support identity management, promote customer service, and manage national security and benefit risks. This PIA will address how the changes in regulations and collections of information, pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. §§ 3501-3521 (2009), will permit USCIS to shift to a transformed electronic environment and further the implementation of the Fair Information Practice Principles (FIPPs).

DHS/USCIS/PIA-041 – ELIS-1 Temporary Accounts and Draft Benefit Requests

Electronic Immigration System (ELIS-1) Temporary Accounts and Draft Benefit Requests, May 16, 2012 (PDF, 26 pages – 242 KB). USCIS is transforming its operations by creating a new electronic environment known as the USCIS Electronic Immigration System (USCIS ELIS), which allows individuals requesting a USCIS benefit to register online and submit certain benefit requests through the online system. This system will improve customer service; increase efficiency for processing benefits; better identify potential national security concerns, criminality, and fraud; and create improved access controls and better auditing capabilities. This Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) is being conducted because USCIS ELIS collects and uses personally identifiable information (PII). This new electronic environment is divided into three distinct processes: 1) Temporary Account and Draft Benefit Requests; 2) Account and Case Management; and 3) Automated Background Functions. This PIA addresses the Temporary Account and Draft Benefit Requests process by describing how Applicants or their Representatives can create a temporary account, draft a benefit request, and submit or abandon that request.

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DHS/USCIS/PIA-042 – ELIS-2 Account and Case Management

Electronic Immigration System (ELIS-2) Account and Case Management, May 16, 2012 (PDF, 28 pages - 264 KB). USCIS is transforming its operations by creating a new electronic environment known as the USCIS Electronic Immigration System (USCIS ELIS), which allows individuals requesting a USCIS benefit to register online and submit certain benefit requests through the online system. This system will improve customer service; increase efficiency for processing benefits; better identify potential national security concerns, criminality, and fraud; and create improved access controls and better auditing capabilities. This Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) is being conducted because USCIS ELIS collects and uses personally identifiable information (PII). This new electronic environment is divided into three distinct processes: 1) Temporary Account and Draft Benefit Requests; 2) Account and Case Management; and 3) Automated Background Functions. This PIA addresses the Account and Case Management process by describing how USCIS ELIS uses information provided on initial and subsequent benefit requests and subsequent collections to create or update USCIS ELIS accounts; gather any missing information; manage workflow; assist USCIS in making a benefit determination; and provide a repository of data to assist with future benefit requests.

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DHS/USCIS/PIA-043 – ELIS-3 Automated Background Functions

Electronic Immigration System (ELIS-3) Automated Background Functions, May 16, 2012 (PDF, 26 pages - 246 KB). USCIS is transforming its operations by creating a new electronic environment known as the USCIS Electronic Immigration System (USCIS ELIS), which allows individuals requesting a USCIS benefit to register online and submit certain benefit requests through the online system. This system will improve customer service; increase efficiency for processing benefits; better identify potential national security concerns, criminality, and fraud; and create improved access controls and better auditing capabilities. This Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) is being conducted because USCIS ELIS collects and uses personally identifiable information (PII). This new electronic environment is divided into three distinct processes: 1) Temporary Account and Draft Benefit Requests; 2) Account and Case Management; and 3) Automated Background Functions. This PIA addresses the Automated Background Functions process, which includes the actions USCIS ELIS takes to ensure that serious or complex cases receive additional scrutiny by detecting duplicate and related accounts and identifying potential national security concerns, criminality, and fraud.

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DHS/USCIS/PIA-044 – Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate

Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate, July 30, 2012 (PDF, 28 pages, 258 KB).  The Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services created the Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate to strengthen the integrity of the nation’s immigration system and to ensure that immigration benefits are not granted to individuals that may pose a threat to national security and/or public safety. In addition, the Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate is responsible for detecting, deterring, and combating immigration benefit fraud. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services is conducting this Privacy Impact Assessment to document and assess how the Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate collects, uses, and maintains personally identifiable information.

Associated SORN:

DHS/USCIS/PIA-045 – Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), August 15, 2012 (PDF, 25 pages - 236 KB). On June 15, 2012, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano (the Secretary) issued a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) memorandum entitled, “Exercising Prosecutorial Discretion with Respect to Individuals Who Came to the United States as Children” (the Secretary’s memorandum). The Secretary addressed the memorandum to the Acting Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Directors of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).  The Secretary’s memorandum sets forth how prosecutorial discretion may be exercised in cases involving certain people who arrived in the United States as children.  The Secretary emphasized that generally, this population lacked the intent to violate the law, and that her memorandum would ensure enforcement resources would not be expended on these low priority cases.  The basis for the Secretary’s memorandum is the Secretary’s authority to exercise prosecutorial discretion by deferring action in appropriate cases.  Prosecutorial discretion is the authority to determine how and when to exercise enforcement authority in line with agency priorities.  Deferred action is an exercise of this prosecutorial discretion to defer removal action against certain individuals who are unlawfully present in the United States in order to devote scarce enforcement resources to the highest priority removal cases, including individuals who pose a danger to national security or public safety or have been convicted of specific crimes.  USCIS is publishing this Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) because the deferred action for childhood arrivals process associated with this memorandum involves the collection and use of personally identifiable information (PII).

Associated SORN(s):

Retired PIAs

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