BCIS TO ALLOW E-FILING OF EADs / I-90s

On April 25, 2003, the BCIS announced its first step in its endeavor to accept e-filing. Beginning May 29, 2003, the BCIS will allow electronic submission of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) and I-90s (Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card).

Noncitizens who e-file will not submit their photographs and fingerprints with the e-filing, but will augment their filing by appearing in person at a BCIS application support center at a later date. The applicant will need to schedule an appointment with an application support center via the BCIS toll-free appointment telephone line. The BCIS has application support centers, or "local offices," in most major US cities.

These two petition classes were chosen because they make up approximately 30% of all petitions filed with BCIS. The BCIS expects to phase in other forms in the next several years. By the fourth quarter of 2003, the BCIS expects that Forms I-129 (Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker) , I-131 (Application for Travel Document), I-539 (Application to Extend/Change Status), I-140 (Petition for Alien Worker), I-821(Application for Temporary Protected Status), and I-907 (Request for Premium Processing) will be e-filing enabled.