PATHWAY

Our Application!

Our Group is ONLINE

Group Members : Patrick Petprasert, Kirsten Flores, Jamee Villavicencio

Prototype Link : link

Project Summary

Our project reimagines how we interface with the complex U.S. visa process and status, addressing the uncertainty and fear that many face due to visa revocations, long processing times, and difficult-to-understand policies. With increasing concerns about visas being revoked for minor infractions or bureaucratic errors, many individuals feel overwhelmed and vulnerable. Our user research confirmed that confusion, lack of transparency, and unorganized steps are major pain points for those navigating the immigration system. Our application directly tackles these challenges by simplifying the visa application and renewal process through an intuitive, user-friendly platform. Using AI, real-time updates, and clear step-by-step guidance, the app ensures users can easily navigate the system, stay informed, and avoid mistakes.

This app is not just a digital tool, but essentially a solution we genuinely need in these times. It empowers users by providing immediate assistance, easy access to resources, and transparent communication about their visa status. By addressing key issues identified in our research, such as the stress and confusion around visa applications and renewals, the app reduces anxiety and makes the immigration process more accessible and breathable. It innovates by rethinking how people interact with complex immigration systems, offering them a reliable, clear, and less intimidating way to maintain their status and keep up with their visa requirements. This solution directly meets the needs of user research, making a meaningful impact in a space where technology has yet to simplify these critical processes.

User Research

We conducted extensive user research to better understand the challenges faced by individuals navigating the complex U.S. visa process. Through surveys, interviews, and articles we gathered insights from international students, families with immigrants, and American Citizens, which revealed several key pain points. Our research allowed us to directly address these challenges in the design of our app, ensuring it aligns with the needs and frustrations of the people we are designing for.

The survey results reveal strong consensus among respondents regarding the complexity and inaccessibility of the current immigration and visa processes. All participants agreed that these systems are difficult to navigate, often citing bureaucratic language, overwhelming paperwork, and lack of transparency as major challenges. From citizens respondents, 75% of them personally know someone on a visa or green card, highlighting a widespread awareness and empathy toward the struggles faced by non-U.S. residents. Knowledge about existing support systems was very low, with most respondents rating themselves at the bottom of the scale. Notably, every participant expressed belief in the potential of a secure, tech-based solution to ease the burden of immigration management. Overall, these findings underscore a critical opportunity for design innovation to address immigration accessibility through user-centered, educational, and transparent digital tools.

Google Form : https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdNF0lr81wyadB2MpyJIo_nJTAhGZunqZsKLP762NkOHwKUsw/viewform

Survey Results: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KzxCjc-a2iX97GZ4T3fymVjuDCtWQK0TOzyLJ-Id7SA/edit?usp=sharing

Articles: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c20xq5nd8jeo

https://www.npr.org/2025/03/29/nx-s1-5343493/green-card-holders-rights-visa-detained-cbp#:~:text=In%20recent%20weeks%2C%20international%20tourists,illegal%20immigration%20to%20the%20country.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/17/us/university-international-student-visas-revoked/index.html

Key Findings:

Confusion & Lack of Transparency: Users struggle with complex terminology and unclear instructions. (More than half of respondents didn't even know the process of the visa system here in the US.)

Stress & Uncertainty: Delays in processing times and not knowing the status of applications cause anxiety.

Limited Access to Help: Users have difficulty getting timely assistance during the application process.

Fear of Visa Revocation: Users fear their visa could be revoked due to minor errors or unclear steps.

This app is designed for the people in our interviews and research findings. It directly addresses the pain points from our research from the confusion, stress, and lack of support by offering them clear guidance, real-time updates, instant assistance, and accessible resources. We built this app to make their visa journey simpler, clearer, and less stressful.