ExecutiveOrdersEO
MemoMemorandumObama · D

Presidential Memorandum

Modernizing and Streamlining the U.S. Immigrant Visa System for the 21st Century

This November 2014 presidential memorandum directs the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security to develop, within 120 days, recommendations for modernizing and streamlining the U.S. legal immigration and visa system. The recommendations must address reducing government costs, improving applicant services, reducing employer burdens, ensuring full use of congressionally authorized visa numbers, and modernizing IT infrastructure, with input from diverse stakeholders.

Federal Register Open PDF 79 FR 70769

Impact dates

  1. Secretaries of State and Homeland Security develop recommendations to improve immigration system

Key directives

  • Secretaries of State and Homeland Security shall develop recommendations within 120 days to streamline and improve legal immigration system
  • Recommendations must reduce Government costs, improve services for applicants, reduce burdens on employers, and combat waste, fraud, and abuse
  • Recommendations must ensure full use of congressionally authorized immigrant visa numbers
  • Recommendations must modernize IT infrastructure for visa processing
  • Secretaries shall establish metrics for measuring progress and service-level improvements

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Memorandum directs Secretaries of State and Homeland Security to begin consultation process with multiple agencies and stakeholders

Near term (90d)

  • Development and submission of recommendations due within 120 days (by March 21, 2015)

Long term

  • Potential implementation of IT modernization for visa processing
  • Possible streamlining of immigrant and non-immigrant visa systems
  • Service-level improvements subject to appropriations and follow-on action

Risks & tensions

  • Subject to availability of appropriations may limit implementation
  • Recommendations-only directive with no binding policy changes; actual impact depends on follow-through
  • Requires extensive interagency coordination (10+ entities) which may slow or dilute outcomes
  • Vague on how to balance 'promote economic opportunity for all workers' with business demands for more visas
  • No enforcement mechanism for recommendations beyond executive follow-up
Presidential Memorandum: Modernizing and Streamlining the U.S. Immigrant Visa System for the 21st Century · Executive Orders