Immigration Forms Gold, Version 1.0

Immigration Forms Gold, Version 1.0

Immigration Forms Gold from Immigrant Software Corp., is a generational upgrade to its journeyman Immigrant Pro forms processor. The new product has most of the features of the previous version, but was rebuilt from the ground up with a focus on data stability.

To get the desired stability, Immigrant Software ditched the useful, but volatile, Microsoft Access runtime engine and replaced it with a Structured Query Language backbone. Previously, it was recommended that users of the old Immigrant Pro compact and repair their database on a daily basis to keep its data healthy. Not any more. The SQL database engine is largely self-maintaining and has greater recovery support in case something does go wrong.

Forms Gold offers “bring your own” support for firms with a SQL server already in place, or you can download the Microsoft SQL-Server Desktop Engine for free from the company’s Web site.

The renovation doesn’t stop with data integrity. Immigrant Software Corp., has made an earnest effort to anticipate any major changes that might occur over the next several years in the immigration forms arena. They are working on the ability to automatically receive new forms and software updates over the Internet. The software also includes support for bar codes and electronic filing when the Immigration and Nationalization Service implements these features.

I appreciated the fact that Immigrant Software Corp., included a Portable Document Format writer in the software, instead of requiring you to purchase a PDF writer as a separate add-on.

Of course all the database integrity and doodads are meaningless if the forms completion process isn’t up
to snuff. Like most top-of-the-line forms processing packages, Forms Gold only requires you enter information once, and automatically fills in the appropriate blanks in all future forms.

One feature I liked is the way Forms Gold treats petitioners and aliens as two separate entries. In other words, the software doesn’t treat each petition as a single universe of data, but instead separates them, and you create a package by linking a petitioner and an alien, then associating the appropriate form. That way, if you have a petitioner, such as a business, you represent on behalf of several aliens, you don’t need to enter the petitioner’s information more than one time.

The way the program is structured, there isn’t a central data entry screen where you type in vital information about each client.

However, there is a Status Report form that serves basically the same function. You can enter the basic information about each petitioner on the Status Report screen when you start a new petition.

I did, however, encounter an odd quirk when trying to use the Status Report as a data entry starting point. The program would not allow me to enter address information through the Status Report screen. I was only able to enter address information by opening a form and entering the information there. Then, when returning to the Status Report, the address information was displayed properly.

It must be noted that Immigrant Software still considers Version 1.0 to be a late Beta version. The company is aware of the issue and has promised to correct it before the final version is released (expected in late spring).

Beyond the freshman year quirks, the software has only a few shortcomings. For one, I would have liked to have the ability to create form sets for certain repetitive tasks (i.e., the ability to link forms I-140, I-485, I-765 and I-131 automatically into a “green card” group for easy selection).

Also, while the program has several useful reports and note fields to track important To-Dos and deadlines in your cases, it isn’t intended to serve as a case management front end. For example, it’s very easy to print a report detailing the filing deadlines within the next 60 days, but it’s not easy to print a report indicating what you are supposed to do today. This means you will have to use an external program or paper tickler system to keep up with your deadlines.

Of course, the program isn’t intended to serve as an all-in-one turnkey immigration package. If you are looking for full-blown case management features, you will need to look elsewhere, or you can wait for Immigrant Software Corp.’s Case Management Gold, which is due out this summer.

It’s really a matter of having the right tool for the right job. If immigration is all you do, then you might want to look to a package with more robust case management features. However, if your practice covers several areas, including immigration, and you already have a case management package, Forms Gold should be all you need.

All in all, I like this product. It meets my key requirements for forms software. First and foremost, the software makes it easy to update your forms so you always have the most current versions. Secondly, it’s ready for the next several stages in electronic filing. Lastly, it’s stable and easy to use.

Immigrant Software Corp.
(530) 587-9262

www.immigrantsoftware.com

Price: $395 for one user yearly subscription, $95 per additional user; $395 subscription renewal (no user limit).

Windows 98/Me/2000/XP

Reviewed by David Hiersekorn, a recent law school graduate and legal researcher based in Orange County, Calif.

Apr/May '03 Issue

PROS
Stable data structure in an easy-to-use environment. Ready for the future with Web updates, electronic filing and bar code support built in.

CONS
Weak in the case management area.

VERDICT
I recommend this program as long as you don’t rely on your forms processor for case management duties.