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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
June 18, 2012
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.
June 18, 2012
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.
June 18, 2012
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
5
June 18, 2012
Our services
6
Training – Print and
Web
Educational tools
Awards
Employee resource
intranet page
Document review
June 18, 2012 7
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
June 18, 2012 8
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
June 18, 2012 9
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
June 18, 2012 10
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
June 18, 2012 11
Intranet Page
Schedule of
upcoming classes
Writing Guide
Plain Language
Videos
Plain Language
News
Info on the Plain
Writing Act
June 18, 2012 12
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
13
June 18, 2012
Thank You
14
USCIS Using Bulleted Lists Video.