How backlogged is USCIS?

Asked by: Bridget Homenick  |  Last update: January 15, 2023
Score: 4.4/5 (26 votes)

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' backlog has nearly 5.2 million cases and approximately 8.5 million cases are pending, according the CIS Ombudsman Phyllis Coven. By comparison, the backlog was around 2.7 million in July 2019. On a call with USCIS leadership Wednesday, Coven said...

Why is USCIS taking so long to process 2020?

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resource constraints resulting from the prior administration, USCIS inherited a significant number of pending cases and increased processing times.

Why USCIS is so slow now?

New policies at USCIS are restricting legal immigration. For example, one policy requires USCIS officers to conduct duplicate reviews of past decisions, adding unnecessary work to each case. Such inefficient policies help explain why processing times are increasing even as USCIS application rates are decreasing.

Why is USCIS taking so long to process 2022?

Jaddou on agency-wide backlog reduction efforts and processing times on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, from 2-3 p.m. Eastern. COVID-19 restrictions, fiscal issues, a hiring freeze, and other factors have greatly exacerbated processing delays and backlogs, and placed burdens on applicants and petitioners.

Is USCIS processing time getting better?

USCIS will increase capacity, improve technology, and expand staffing to achieve these new goals by the end of FY 2023. Currently, the agency's publicly posted processing times show the amount of time it took USCIS to complete 80% of adjudicated cases over the past six months.

USCIS Announces New Processing Time Table! I USCIS Backlog

41 related questions found

How long does it take USCIS to schedule an interview 2021?

In many cases, it can take at least 7-12 months to get an interview scheduled, but you may have a longer wait depending on your situation.

How do I speed up Uscis processing time?

You can generally request expedited processing by calling the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833) or by asking Emma after you have obtained a receipt notice.

How long does it take for an I-130 to be approved 2022?

Average time - Between five and 14.5 months to get a Form I-130 petition (Petition for Alien Relative) approved by USCIS as of early 2022; another six to 11 months or longer to get an immigrant visa to come to the United States.

How long does it take for USCIS to send receipt notices in 2022?

How Long Does It Take for USCIS to Send Receipt Notices in 2022? USCIS applications are processed in the order they are received. On average, USCIS takes approximately 8 to 9 weeks to issue receipt notices for some applications and petitions.

Can I call USCIS to ask about my case?

The phone number you will need to call to inquire about your pending case is 1-800-375-5283. For the hearing impaired the phone number is 1-800-767-1833. Follow the prompts and punch in your receipt number on the prompt. Wait to be connected to the first level of customer service.

How do I know where my USCIS case is being processed?

You will know which center is processing your case by looking at the first three letters of your receipt number on your receipt notice. If you are waiting for your case to be sent to your local office for an interview you must review the processing times for your local office by city and state.

Is USCIS taking longer than expected 2021?

Processing times for Form N-400 (officially called the “Application for Naturalization”) have increased significant between FY 2017 and FY 2022, with FY2021 processing times averaging 11 months.

Can I sue USCIS for delay?

Yes. If there have been unreasonable delays in your case, you may file a complaint against the Immigration Service in the Federal Court, and the Court can force the Immigration Service to make a decision in your case.

How long does it take for I-130 to be approved 2021?

Form I-130 Processing Times

For immediate relatives (spouse, unmarried child under 21 or parent) of a U.S. citizen, the wait times for Form I-130 are currently between 7-10 months.

How long does I-130 take to get approved 2020?

After filing Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, the approval process can take anywhere from 5 to 12 months for immediate relatives and could take several years for family preference categories. This is an approximation.

How long after case is being actively reviewed by USCIS I-130?

How long does it take for USCIS to complete an active review case? Ideally, it takes 120 days to process if no document is missing. But it can take months (sometimes years, depending on the case to get in the hand of someone that will handle it.

How long does it take to bring spouse to USA 2022?

Spousal Sponsorship I-130 Processing Time 2022

It will usually take anywhere from 7 to 24 months for USCIS to process and approve a spousal sponsorship visa. It can take an additional 6 to 10 months to get an immigrant visa to the US.

How many cases does USCIS process in a day?

According to documents obtain by The Washington Post, USCIS is creating the “Organization of Professional Responsibility” to enhance oversight of the way its employees handle the more than 26,000 cases the agency decides each day.

Which Uscis office is the fastest?

The most efficient U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services field office is also stated to be in Cleveland. The USCIS office efficiency is reflected in the highest backlog completion of 71.3%, and the nation's shortest average processing time, which is only four months. Almost nobody waited longer than 12.3 months.

Does USCIS work on weekends?

Representatives at our USCIS Contact Center will now take calls Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., local time. Applicants will be able to call our toll-free number on Saturdays to receive nationwide assistance for immigration services and benefits offered by USCIS.

Why is I 485 taking so long?

Allow travel/​work authorization based on I‑485 receipt to free up resources for final green card adjudications. The main issue that USCIS has publicly identified as a cause of the lengthy delays in processing is the lack of manpower.

How long is USCIS taking to schedule interviews?

The waiting times for interviews to be scheduled for the different field offices range from 1 month to over 24 months. Waiting for an extremely long time can result in you feeling concerned about your interview.

How long after the courtesy letter will I get an appointment for I 485 2021?

You should receive these appointments anywhere from 2-6 months after filing the AOS. EAD/AP approvals After biometrics have been completed, a card will be issued for Employment Authorization (EAD) and Advance Parole (AP) travel authorization within approximately.