The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website (www.uscis.gov) has introduced new customer service features, which include credit card payment options and the addition of processing times to the existing case status service.  With the new payment features, electronic applications can be processed in a secure environment with real time payment confirmation.  Applicants can also access their case status almost anywhere, at anytime with the Internet.

Online case status lets customers obtain information regarding pending immigration benefits applications and when to call the National Customer Service Center for assistance with a case, as well as get current application processing dates.  The National Customer Service center’s toll free number is 1-800-375-5283.

Customers can now pay application fees online with their Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover credit or debit cards, as well as with electronic funds transfers. This is the first time that customers have even been to charge their immigration fees.

More than 56,000 applications have been filed on the USCIS web site. Currently, applicants can file to renew or replace a green card (Form I-90) or to receive employment authorization (Form I-765).  The USCIS received almost 7.2 million immigration benefit applications, averaging about 600,000 per month, in 2003.  With the more than 3.2 million people who visit the website each month, the USCIS hopes these new online features will make online filing easier for applicants.

More information on electronically filing applications is available at http://uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/efiling.htm and information on case status and processing times online can be found at https://egov.immigration.gov/graphics/cris/jsps/index.jsp?textFlag=N.