USCIS Reduced Its Backlog for the First Time in Over a Decade

USCIS completed over 10 million cases in 2023. This information is according to a press release from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). The press release states: In FY 2023, USCIS received 10.9 million filings and completed more than 10 million pending cases– both record-breaking numbers in the agency’s history. In doing so, USCIS reduced overall backlogs by 15%. Among USCIS’ record number of case completions in FY 2023, the agency administered the Oath of Allegiance to more than 878,500 new U.S. citizens, including 12,000 members of the military, effectively eliminating the backlog of naturalization applications . The median processing time for naturalization applicants decreased from 10.5 months to 6.1 months by the end of the fiscal year, achieving the agency’s longstanding goal and significantly reducing waiting times for most individuals seeking U.S. citizenship. USCIS Press Release (available at: https://www.uscis.gov/EOY2023) The press release explains that USCIS received 10.9 million filings and completed “more than 10 million” cases. It is is difficult to understand how USCIS could have reduced its backlog if it completed less cases than were added to the backlog in 2023. However the math works USCIS claims it has reduced its overall backlog by 15%. The graph to the left is from the press release. Cycle Times USCIS states that in March 2022 new internal cycle time goals were established for 25 forms to guide the agency’s backlog reduction efforts. A cycle time measures how many months’ worth of pending cases for a particular form are awaiting a decision and are used to gauge progress on reducing backlogs. As cycle times improve, processing times will follow, and applicants and petitioners will receive decisions on their cases more quickly. USCIS states that it achieved the cycle time goal for nine of the forms, including naturalization. Further, USCIS claims it reduced cycle times for all but one of the 25 forms that were identified.  USCIS notes that it achieved these time reductions at the same time it was receiving a record number of new cases and responding to growing humanitarian needs around the world. USCIS predicts that it will continue reduce processing times and will work to achieve the stated cycle time goals. Displayed below is the data from a select number of those 25 forms. The full data set for all 25 forms is available from USCIS.

USCIS Enhancing Transparency Introducing myProgress for Application Tracking

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has taken a significant stride towards improving the application processing experience with the introduction of myProgress, formerly known as personalized processing times. What is myProgress? myProgress offers enhanced transparency for applicants, allowing them to track the progress of their Form I-485 or Form I-821 in real-time. This service is currently available for family-based or Afghan special immigrant Form I-485 applicants. It’s a user-friendly tool accessible through the USCIS online account. Who is Eligible to Use myProgress? For now, the service will only be available for family-based or Afghan special immigrant Form I-485, Applicants for Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, and Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status. Key Features of myProgress Applicants with a pending Form I-485 or Form I-821 can now: How to Access myProgress To utilize myProgress, applicants need to follow these simple steps: Forms Supported by myProgress myProgress is currently available for the following forms: Additional Information While myProgress is a valuable tool, all applicants and petitioners must still use the Check Case Processing Times webpage to determine eligibility for filing a service request outside of normal processing times. For more detailed information on myProgress, please refer to the full announcement. This development marks a crucial step in USCIS’s ongoing efforts to enhance the application process, increase transparency, and reduce contact center wait times. Applicants are encouraged to take advantage of myProgress to stay informed about their case processing journey.

New USCIS Form Editions (Form I-601A, G-325A, & I-907)

New USCIS Forms

On November 13, 2023, USCIS released a new edition of the Form I-601A, Application for Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver. The new edition is the 08/31/21. You can find the edition date of a form on the bottom of the page. See uscis.gov/forms/forms-update for information about updates to USCIS forms. On October 31, 2023, USCIS announced a new edition of the Form G-325A, Biographical Information (for Deferred Action). The new edition date for the G-325A is the 10/25/23 edition, which will be the only edition accepted starting today, November 14, 2023. New 08/31/2021 Edition Form I-601A Updated Form I-601A, Application for Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver Form G-325A Update to Form G-325A, Biographic Information (for Deferred Action). New Edition Dated 10/25/23.

USCIS.gov Website Down

USCIS.gov Website Down

If you are having a hard time accessing some of the tools or pages on the USCIS website (www.uscis.gov), you are not alone. The website is partially down and some of USCIS’ online tools are temporarily down for maintenance until later today, Thursday, November 2, 2023, at 2PM Eastern Standard Time.

See the press release from USCIS below:

Release Date

10/31/2023

USCIS will conduct system maintenance to the Contact Relationship Interface System (CRIS) on Wednesday, Nov.1, 2023 at 11:50 p.m. through Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023 at 2:00 a.m. Eastern.

During this time frame, users may experience technical difficulties with one or more of the following online tools:

  • Check My Case Status
  • e-Request
  • Change of Address online
  • Check Case Processing Times
  • Civil Surgeon Locator
  • Office Locator
  • File Online
  • myUSCIS online account
  • Service Request Management Tool (SRMT)

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Source: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/tools-outage

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