The document discusses modernizing the US immigration system through the use of digital signatures. It outlines the current lengthy paper-based process for obtaining visas which involves multiple government agencies and steps. This process is vulnerable to fraud and forgery. The document proposes implementing digital signatures to streamline the workflow, reduce processing times, and increase security by making documents virtually impossible to forge. This could help reduce illegal immigration while improving experiences for legal immigrants and protecting national security.

1. Modernizing Immigration with Digital Signatures | DrySign
Modernizing Immigration with Digital Signatures|
DrySign By Exela
The United States plays host to more immigrants than any other country in the world. The
year 2020 recorded 40 million immigrants of varying nationalities. Although this problem
statement has been highlighted during many election campaigns and rallies, finding a
permanent solution has been challenging. While opening doors to immigrants may positively
impact the economy, there is a potential risk of illegal immigration, posing a severe threat to
national security. This is where paperwork can prove to be a serious hurdle. There have
been numerous instances of people crossing the border using forged papers, leading to
disastrous consequences. The key is to keep an eye out for suspicious-looking documents
and implement a more holistic, secure, and robust system that can eliminate the possibility
of unauthorized entry – such as digital signatures.
The current immigration process
The current process to apply for an immigrant visa involves multiple steps. The current
paper-riddled process consumes a significant amount of operational bandwidth of the
National Visa Center (NVC) and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
(USCIS) – considering the fact that the immigrant population is projected to reach 78 million
by 2065.
Step 1 – Filing a petition with the USCIS and filling out the form based on the type of visa.
Step 2 – Passing the application to the NVC.
Step 3 – Submitting your financial documents, affidavit of support, and civil documents.

2. Modernizing Immigration with Digital Signatures | DrySign
Step 4 – Medical exam.
Step 5 – Visa interview.
Step 6 – Visa approval and issuance.
Step 7 – DO NOT OPEN THE SEALED VISA ENVELOPE. Instead, submit the sealed
document to the immigration & customs official.
Also Read: Which Industries Must Use Digital Signature Solutions and Why?
Why do we need digitization?
In the current process, when your application reaches the NVC, it may take several months
to get processed, depending on the category of the visa you have applied for. Digitization
can go a long way in streamlining the workflow and reducing the TAT. An ideal way to start
this transition would be to implement digital signatures to speed up the approval workflow.
This would drastically improve the experience for international students and working
professionals.
Besides lengthy TATs and complexities, the current workflow also presents several
vulnerabilities that may threaten national security. Where there is paperwork, there exists a
high possibility of forgery. There have been numerous instances of Border Patrol officials
arresting illegal immigrants trying to enter American soil through unfair means. The Rio
Grande Valley sector – the southernmost tip of Texas, is more than familiar with ‘illegal
aliens’ (people without proper authorization) trying to enter the United States. In February
2021, the Border Patrol Agents, with assistance from the County Sheriff, arrested 130 illegal
immigrants. Some of them had flu-like symptoms, threatening the health and safety of other
citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Among illegal aliens, it is also likely for some of them to be wanted criminals. For example,
in October 2020, the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested
30 at-large immigrants on American soil in San Antonio, TX. Some of these immigrants were
convicted of burglary and distributing narcotics.
Digital signatures in the immigration ecosystem
Until June 2021, the U.S. border authorities have made more than one million arrests on the
US-Mexico border. With digital signature solutions in place, we are looking at faster, secure,
transparent, and more accountable immigration government bodies. In addition, E-signature
solutions tend to maintain detailed logs and verify users, making it virtually impossible to
trick the system. Ultimately, with digital signatures in place, we may not be able to bring
illegal immigration down to zero, but we can certainly reduce it by a significant margin.

3. Modernizing Immigration with Digital Signatures | DrySign
Source:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-
process/step-1-submit-a-petition/step-2-begin-nvc-processing.html
https://uy.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/steps-apply-immigrant-visa/
https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/ice-announces-arrests-more-30-large-aliens-south-
texas
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-border-arrests-top-1-million-fiscal-year-2021-
2021-06-25/
https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/group-130-illegal-aliens-arrested-
mission-texas
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/01/us/undocumented-visa-overstays.html
https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/04/13/key-facts-about-the-changing-u-s-
unauthorized-immigrant-population/
https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/08/20/key-findings-about-u-s-immigrants/
https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/07/12/how-pew-research-center-counts-
unauthorized-immigrants-in-us/
https://www.brookings.edu/policy2020/votervital/how-many-undocumented-immigrants-are-
in-the-united-states-and-who-are-they/
https://www.alllaw.com/articles/nolo/us-immigration/crime-enter-illegally.html
https://www.alllaw.com/articles/nolo/us-immigration/legal-options-undocumented-illegal-
immigrant-stay.html
DISCLAIMER: The information on this site is for general information purposes only and
is not intended to serve as legal advice. Laws governing the subject matter may change
quickly, and Exela cannot guarantee that all the information on this site is current or
correct. Should you have specific legal questions about any of the information on this site,
you should consult with a licensed attorney in your area.
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