HARLINGEN – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is changing the way they process applications.

Officials at the USCIS field office in Harlingen say they get anywhere from 3,000 to 5,000 applications from people seeking to become citizens.

Nationwide, that number is about 1 million applications each year, which translates to a lot of paper. That’s why the USCIS is taking it online.

“Once the applicant files electronically, it’s a one-stop shop,” says USCIS Harlingen Director Norma Limon. “It’s already in electronic format so they are already eliminating the seven to 10 days it takes to mail – to ship that form.”

The department wants applicants to submit their applications at uscis.gov.

KRGV’s Daisy has more on the change.

Watch the video above for more information.