u.s. citizenship and immigration services plain language...
TRANSCRIPT
June 18, 2012 1
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Plain Language Program
Kathryn Catania
Division Chief, Plain Language and Content
June 18, 2012 2
Who We Are
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is the
government agency that oversees lawful immigration to the
United States. We are a component of the Department of
Homeland Security.
USCIS:
Has about 18,500 employees within 250 offices around the world
Provides services to individuals who mostly speak English as a
second language
Has complex regulations that mention terms such as: Principal
alien, Derivative status, and Inadmissibility
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You must show that sufficient physical
premises to house the beneficiary have been
secured.*
You must show that your employee has an
acceptable place to live.
Or
From instructions asking an employer,
petitioning on behalf of an employee, for
proof that his employee has a place to live.
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Pursuant to 8 CFR part 3, an appeal shall lie from a
decision of an immigration judge to the Board of
Immigration Appeals, except that no appeal shall lie from
an order of removal entered in absentia.
You may appeal a decision of an immigration judge to the
Board of Immigration Appeals, unless the judge ordered
your removal when you were not physically present at the
hearing. See 8 CFR part 3.
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Evolution of Program 2008: Started Program • Asked U.S. Plain Language Action Information Network for classes
• Formed volunteer committee to promote plain language use
2009: Developed USCIS-focused training • Created plain language Web-writing class for USCIS Web re-design team
• Started building educational tools – plain language guide and videos
• Held first USCIS Excellence in Plain Language Awards
2010: Offices start making class mandatory • Plain Writing Act is signed
• Began teaching class to other DHS components
2011 to Present: Acceptance of plain language increases • New Plain Language and Content Division in Office of Communications
• Program offices thinking about plain language at start of projects
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Our services
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Training – Print and
Web
Educational tools
Awards
Employee resource
intranet page
Document review
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Training We provide the following:
Classes monthly at HQ
Classes at BASIC training
In-person, video conference or webinar classes to the field
Briefings at USCIS conferences
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Plain Language Guide
Our guide:
• Includes key guidance from
the Federal Plain Language
Guidelines
• Follows same lessons in our 3
hour class
• Includes USCIS examples
• Available to all employees
electronically
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Plain Language Videos
Our videos:
Focus on key plain-language techniques
Used in classes and new employee orientation
Featured on plainlanguage.gov, uscis.gov and www.youtube.com/uscis
Several agencies are using the videos in their plain language classes
Acronyms
Active Voice
Bulleted Lists
Headings
Proofreading
Tables
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Broadcast Messages
We send out USCIS Today
messages to keep employees
aware that:
Plain language is now a
federal law not just a best
practice
We provide training classes
We offer online tools
available
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Intranet Page
Schedule of
upcoming classes
Writing Guide
Plain Language
Videos
Plain Language
News
Info on the Plain
Writing Act
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USCIS Plain
Language Awards
Great way to
encourage clear
writing!
2009 – 3 Winners
(10 submissions)
2010 – 6 Winners
(25 submissions)
2011 – 8 Winners
(42 nominations)
June 18, 2012
Looking Ahead
Our goals for the future include:
Maintaining a culture where plain language is the norm and not
a bump in the clearance process
Getting offices to have designated plain language reviewers
Incorporating plain language into our decision letter process
Writing plain language regulations and possibly revising old
regulations
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Thank You
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USCIS Using Bulleted Lists Video.