USCIS

Updated USCIS Processing Time Data

by
2022, 2023, and 2024 median processing times for Forms I-765, I-90, and I-485.

USCIS released updated case processing time averages April 3, 2024. A chart and graph of the median processing times for some common forms are below showing 2022 (blue), 2023 (red), and thus far in 2024 (green) as of today. FORM Classification or Basis for Filing 2022 2023 2024 I-765 Based on a pending asylum application 9.2 1.6 0.6 I-765 Based on adjustment of status application 6.7 5.5 3.6 I-765 Based on parole 1.1 1.3 0.9 I-821 Request to register for TPS 10.2 11.8 8.7 I-485 Based on family-based petition 10.6 11.4 9.4 I-130 Immediate Relative 10.3 11.8 11 N-400 Application for naturalization 10.5 6.1 5.2 I-131 Application for advance parole document 7.3 5.8 4.4 I-90 Replacement or renewal of LPR card 1.2 9.1 3.3 source: https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/fact-sheets/historical_pt_factsheet_fy16_to_fy24.pdf Source: https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/fact-sheets/historical_pt_factsheet_fy16_to_fy24.pdf

Third Gender Option Added to Form N-400, Application for Naturalization

by
USCIS adds an option for a third gender on application

The 04/01/24 edition of Form N-400 is the first USCIS form to include the “X” gender option. Today, April 1, 2024, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has made a big announcement that we hope isn’t a bad April Fool’s Day joke of some kind. USCIS’ update to their policies take effect immediately. Applicants filing the 04/01/2024 edition of Form N-400 on or after April 1, 2024, will have the option of choosing “m” (for male), “f” (for female), or “X” as a gender option on the form. USCIS issued a Policy Alert on April 1, 2024, PA-2024-08, which explains this change to the Department of Homeland Security’s policy. This is reflected in an update to the USCIS Policy Manual as well. What is “X” Gender? The X gender marking is intended for applicants who neither identify as being male nor female. This would be a blanket option covering any non-binary or gender fluid individuals who do not feel comfortable being referred to as a male or a female. Any gender that isn’t male or female would fall into this category. From the Policy Alert, “USCIS has determined that it will define “X” as “Another Gender Identity” for purposes of USCIS forms and secure identity documents. Transgender individuals have already had the option to select the gender they identify with per an earlier change to policy that allows for noncitizens to change their gender on USCIS ID documents quite easily without needing to provide any evidence. However, updating one’s gender on a certificate of naturalization that has already been issued can be a bit more tricky, so any applicant that may wish to change the gender that appears on their USCIS documents should do that before their certificate of naturalization is issued if possible. Will This Change Be Coming To All USCIS Forms? At the moment the change has only been made on the Form N-400. However, this change will be coming to other USCIS forms in the future, which they have confirmed in the Policy Alert stating: “USCIS anticipates that the additional gender option “X” will become available upon each form’s revision to incorporate the change, beginning with the Application for Naturalization (Form N-400).” USCIS Policy Alert, Availability of Additional Gender Options for Certain Benefit Requests, April 1, 2024; PA-2024-08 When Will This Option Become Available on Other USCIS Forms? According to the Policy Alert, “USCIS anticipates that the additional gender option “X” will become available upon each form’s revision to incorporate the change, beginning with the Application for Naturalization (Form N-400).” USCIS recommends that to determine what gender options are available for a particular form in the future, see the relevant USCIS form and related instructions. What if my N-400 is Already Pending? USCIS addressed this concern in the Policy Alert stating that Applicants who have a pending Form N-400 using the edition in effect before April 1, 2024, may request to update their gender on or after April 1, 2024, as well. Is there an X Gender Option if I am Requesting Residency or Another Immigration Benefit? For all other forms, individuals must wait until USCIS revises those forms to include the X gender option. USCIS explains this in the alert. The good news is that they also indicated that the change will be coming for other forms.

New USCIS Filing Fees Take Effect April 1, 2024

by

New USCIS Filing Fees and policies take effect April 1, 2024. Some USCIS Forms have new Form Editions taking effect April 1, 2024 with no grace period. Updates to USCIS Filing Fees Most forms filed online are discounted by $50 now.  Most forms now have the $85 biometric services costs incorporated into the main benefit fee.  (Temporary Protected Status and the filings accepted on behalf of the Executive Office for Immigration Review are exceptions). So no need to pay a separate $85 fee with the new higher filing fee.  Form I-485, I-131, and I-765 filing fees must be paid separately even if they are filed concurrently. Individuals seeking adjustment of status will pay $260 (half standard filing fee) for Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, if they paid the full fee for a concurrently filed or pending adjustment application; Naturalization applicants filing Form N-400 who have incomes between 150% and 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines will pay $380 If requesting a reduced fee on Form N-400 you can check the box on the N-400 and do not need to file a separate Form I-942. New USCIS Form Editions There will be no grace period for the following new forms, however, because they must be revised with a new fee calculation. Filers should click the links below to access a preview version of each new form edition prior to the April 1, 2024, effective date: USICS says they will use the postmark date of a filing to determine which form version and fees are correct, but will use the received date for purposes of any regulatory or statutory filing deadlines. Visit uscis.gov for latest revision of the new USCIS Form Editions. See this webpage for more information. New Fee Schedule Table For each relevant form, the following table compares the previously enacted fee, the fee from the January 2023 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), and the final rule fee that goes into effect on April 1, 2024. USCIS also post an updated comprehensive fee schedule on the Fee Schedule webpage. Type of Filing Current Fee(s) NPRM Fee(s) Final Fee(s) Current vs. Final Fees I-90 Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (online filing) $455 $455 $415 -$40 -9% I-90 Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (online filing) (with biometric services) $540 $455 $415 -$125 -23% I-90 Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (paper filing) $455 $465 $465 $10 2% I-90 Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (paper filing) (with biometric services) $540 $465 $465 -$75 -14% I-102 Application for Replacement/Initial Nonimmigrant Arrival-Departure Document $445 $680 $560 $115 26% I-129 H-1B $460 $780 $780 $320 70% I-129 H-1B (small employers and nonprofits) $460 $780 $460 $0 0% I-129 H-2A – Named Beneficiaries $460 $1,090 $1,090 $630 137% I-129 H-2A – Named Beneficiaries (small employers and nonprofits) $460 $1,090 $545 $85 18% I-129 H-2A – Unnamed Beneficiaries $460 $530 $530 $70 15% I-129 H-2A – Unnamed Beneficiaries (small employers and nonprofits) $460 $530 $460 $0 0% I-129 H-2B – Named Beneficiaries $460 $1,080 $1,080 $620 135% I-129 H-2B – Named Beneficiaries (small employers and nonprofits) $460 $1,080 $540 $80 17% I-129 H-2B – Unnamed Beneficiaries $460 $580 $580 $120 26% I-129 H-2B – Unnamed Beneficiaries (small employers and nonprofits) $460 $580 $460 $0 0% I-129 Petition for L Nonimmigrant workers $460 $1,385 $1,385 $925 201% I-129 Petition for L Nonimmigrant workers (small employers and nonprofits) $460 $1,385 $695 $235 51% I-129 Petition for O Nonimmigrant workers $460 $1,055 $1,055 $595 129% I-129 Petition for O Nonimmigrant workers (small employers and nonprofits) $460 $1,055 $530 $70 15% I-129CW CNMI-Only Nonimmigrant Transitional Worker and I-129 Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker: E, H-3, P, Q, R, or TN Classifications $460 $1,015 $1,015 $555 121% I-129CW CNMI-Only Nonimmigrant Transitional Worker and I-129 Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker: E, H-3, P, Q, R, or TN Classifications (with biometric services) $545 $1,015 $1,015 $470 85% I-129CW Petition for a CNMI-Only Nonimmigrant Transitional Worker and I-129 Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker: E, H-3, P, Q, R, or TN Classifications (small employers and nonprofits) $460 $1,015 $510 $50 11% I-129CW Petition for a CNMI-Only Nonimmigrant Transitional Worker and I-129 Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker: E, H-3, P, Q, R, or TN Classifications (small employers and nonprofits) (with biometric services) $545 $1,015 $510 -$35 -6% I-129F Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) $535 $720 $675 $140 26% I-130 Petition for Alien Relative (online filing) $535 $710 $625 $90 17% I-130 Petition for Alien Relative (paper filing) $535 $820 $675 $140 26% I-131 Application for Travel Document $575 $630 $630 $55 10% I-131 Application for Travel Document (with biometric services) $660 $630 $630 -$30 -5% I-131 Refugee Travel Document for an individual age 16 or older $135 $165 $165 $30 22% I-131 Refugee Travel Document for an individual age 16 or older (with biometric services) $220 $165 $165 -$55 -25% I-131 Refugee Travel Document for a child under the age of 16 $105 $135 $135 $30 29% I-131 Refugee Travel Document for a child under the age of 16 (with biometric services) $190 $135 $135 -$55 -29% I-131A Application for Travel Document (Carrier Documentation) $575 $575 $575 $0 0% I-140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers $700 $715 $715 $15 2% I-191 Application for Relief Under Former Section 212(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) $930 $930 $930 $0 0% I-192 Application for Advance Permission to Enter as Nonimmigrant (CBP) $585 $1,100 $1,100 $515 88% I-192 Application for Advance Permission to Enter as Nonimmigrant (USCIS) $930 $1,100 $1,100 $170 18% I-193 Application for Waiver of Passport and/or Visa $585 $695 $695 $110 19% I-212 Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission into the U.S. After Deportation or Removal $930 $1,395 $1,175 $245 26% I-290B Notice of Appeal or Motion $675 $800 $800 $125 19% I-360 Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant $435 $515 $515 $80 18% I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status $1,140 $1,540 $1,440 $300 26% I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (with biometric services) $1,225 $1,540 $1,440 $215 18% I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or … Read more

How to Update Your Personal Information With USCIS

by
Updating Personal Information with USCIS

Changing Personal Information With USCIS If there are changes to your personal information that you need to update with USCIS such as your name and/or gender you have two potential options. If you have been scheduled for an interview at a USCIS Field Office, you can update your information at that interview. Otherwise, you can follow the procedures from the USCIS website, which are described below. Name Change If you would like to update the name reflected on your document, you must provide sufficient evidence of your name change, such as: — a court order; — marriage certificate; — divorce decree; or — other vital document record. For more information, see USCIS Policy Manual Volume 12, Citizenship and Naturalization, Part K, Certificates of Citizenship and Naturalization, Chapter 4, Replacement of Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization. Gender Change As of March 31, 2023, you do not need to provide supporting evidence to change the gender listed on your immigration documents (with a limited exception). Note: As of April 1, 2024, USCIS provides the option “X” for gender in addition to “m” for male and “f” for female on the Form N-400 Application for Naturalization. USCIS has stated that this option will be coming to more of their forms in the future. If you want to update your gender information on a Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship, you must still provide the required supporting documentation of the change, as listed in the Form N-565, Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document instructions (PDF, 263.39 KB). For more information, see USCIS Policy Manual Volume 12, Citizenship and Naturalization, Part K, Certificates of Citizenship and Naturalization, Chapter 4, Replacement of Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization. Changing Your Personal Information on Immigration Documents The table below provides information on how to request a biographic change on a specific document.   If your benefit request is still pending with USCIS, and you have not received a final decision notice or USCIS-issued document If you have already received your USCIS-issued document Employment Authorization Document (EAD) If you received a Request for Evidence (RFE) or interview notice: Provide the following in response to the RFE or at your interview:A letter explaining the change requested; andSupporting documentation of the change (if required).If you have an online account:Upload the following as new evidence to the pending application:A letter explaining the change requested; andSupporting documentation of the change (if required).If you do not have an online account:Email USCIS-updategenderinfo@uscis.dhs.gov  and request to change your name or gender marker or both.If you are seeking to make a correction due to a typographical error, please visit the “How to Request a correction to your notice or document (based on USCIS error)” section on this page. This email only handles formal name or gender marker changes.If you have Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) related matter or T or U visa related matter:Refer to the Contact Us webpage (Inquiries for VAWA, T, and U Filings section). Submit the following to USCIS:A new Form I-765;Applicable fees (see note);The EAD containing the incorrect information;A letter explaining the change requested; andSupporting documentation of the change (if required).File online (if eligible) or refer to the filing locations for Form I-765 webpage for mailing address information if filing by paper.Note on fees: If you are requesting a replacement EAD for an eligibility category based on a pending Form I-485 filed after July 30, 2007, that you paid a fee for, then you do not need to pay the Form I-765 filing fee. Green Card (Permanent Resident Card) If you received an RFE or interview notice:Provide the following in response to the RFE or at the interview:A letter explaining the change requested; andSupporting documentation of the change (if required).If you have an online account:Upload the following as new evidence to the pending application:A letter explaining the change requested; andSupporting documentation of the change (if required).If you do not have an online account:Email USCIS-updategenderinfo@uscis.dhs.gov and request to change your name or gender marker or both.If you are seeking to make a correction due to a typographical error, please visit the “How to Request a correction to your notice or document (based on USCIS error)” section on this page. This email only handles formal name or gender marker changes.If you have Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) related matter or T or U visa related matter:Refer to the Contact Us webpage (Inquiries for VAWA, T, and U Filings section). Submit the following to USCIS:Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Green Card);Applicable fees;The Green Card containing the incorrect information; andSupporting documentation to show what the correct information should be (see Form I-90 instructions (PDF, 361.11 KB) for examples).File online or refer to the Where to File section of the Form I-90 webpage for mailing address information if filing by paper. Travel Document (Such as an Advance Parole Document or Refugee Travel Document) If you received an RFE or interview notice: Provide the following in response to the RFE or at the interview:A letter explaining the change requested; andSupporting documentation of the change (if required).If you have an online account:Upload the following as new evidence to the pending application:A letter explaining the change requested; andSupporting documentation of the change (if required).If you do not have an online account:Email USCIS-updategenderinfo@uscis.dhs.gov and request to change your name or gender or both.If you are seeking to make a correction due to a typographical error, please visit the “How to Request a correction to your notice or document (based on USCIS error)” section on this page. This email only handles formal name or gender marker changes.If you have Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) related matter or T or U visa related matter: Refer to the Contact Us webpage (Inquiries for VAWA, T, and U Filings section). Submit the following to USCIS:A new Form I-131 (select the filing category for the type of travel document being requested);Applicable fees (see note);The travel document containing the incorrect information; andSupporting documentation of the change (if required).Refer to the filing addresses for Form I-131 webpage for mailing address information. (Online filing is currently not available for Form I-131.) Note on fees: If you are requesting a replacement Advance Parole Document and have a pending Form I-485 filed after July 30, … Read more

New Filing Fees Starting April 1, 2024

by
USCIS Updated Filing Fees 2024

The new fees will go into effect on April 1, 2024. Click here for the New Filing Fee Schedule or download the pdf. Final Rule U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a final rule to adjust certain immigration and naturalization benefit request fees for the first time since 2016. The final rule will allow USCIS to recover a greater share of its operating costs and support more timely processing of new applications. The press release from USCIS states quotes USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou, “For the first time in over seven years, USCIS is updating our fees to better meet the needs of our agency, enabling us to provide more timely decisions to those we serve. Despite years of inadequate funding, the USCIS workforce has made great strides in customer service, backlog reduction, implementing new processes and programs, and upholding fairness, integrity, and respect for all we serve.” The fees were initially posted for review and public comment in January 2023. USCIS received over 5,400 unique public comments in response, which they claim to have taken into consideration when deciding on the final amounts. Every fee in the final rule is the same or lower than in the proposed rule. For most individual filers, the final rule limits how much newly established fees may increase. Under the final rule, the new fees will not increase by more than 26%, which is equivalent to the increase in the Consumer Price Index since the last fee rule was issued in 2016. NOTEWORTHY CHANGES There will be no grace period for the following new forms. Filers should click the links below to access a preview version of each new form edition before the April 1, 2024, effective date: See full list of USCIS Forms updated filing fees.

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

by

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.