Homeland department to accept some immigration forms online

The Homeland Security Department announced on Friday that it soon will begin accepting two application forms via the Internet.

The department's Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that beginning May 29, it will allow people to electronically submit applications to renew or replace "green cards" and submit the form for employment authorization.

The bureau will collect biometrics information for applicants who wish to file electronically as a way to verify their identities. That information will be collected before electronic forms are submitted.

The bureau plans to phase in e-filing services for other immigration documents and applications but chose to begin with those two types applications because they represent about 30 percent of the total the agency receives annually.