USCIS Update on Processing Time Goals

The USCIS has provided an updated chart of its processing time goals and the current progress towards meeting these goals.  The report also provides a very useful update on the current average processing times for certain petitions and the number of petitions in backlog status.

The goals are intended to be met  by the end of Fiscal Year 2009 (FY2009) which ends on September 30, 2009.  There are many goals which are met (indicated in blue on the chart) but there are many goals, in some very popular categories which (in our opinion, which is based on demand and on our experience) may not be met by September 30th.

Below we provide a brief analysis and comments on some of the more popular petition types.

• I-130 family-based immigrant petitions currently take an average of 6.2 months (goal is 5 months) with a backlog of ~60,000 cases;
• I-129 fiancee petitions currently take an average of 6.1 months (goal is 5 months) with a backlog of ~5,000 cases;
• I-131 reentry permit applications currently take an average of 3 months (goal is 3 months) and no backlog;
• N-400 naturalization petitions currently take an average of 8.4 months (goal is 5 months) with a backlog of ~75,000 petitions;
• I-129 temporary worker petitions currently take an average of 2 months (goal is 2 months) and no backlog;
• I-140 employment-based immigrant petitions currently take an average 9 months (goal is 4 months) with a backlog of ~31,000 cases;
• I-539 applications to change status currently take an average of 2.6 months (goal is 2.5) months with a backlog of ~1,000 cases;
• I-485 employment-based adjustment of status applications processing times are not provided (goal is 4 months) but the backlog is a significant ~221,000 cases;
• I-485 family-based adjustment of status applications take an average of 7.3 months (goal is 4 months) with a backlog of ~80,000 cases;
• I-131 advance parole and I-765 EAD applications take an average of 3 months (goal is 3 months); and
• FOIA requests take an average of 20 business days (goal is 20 business days) with a backlog of ~56,000 cases.

We will continue monitoring USCIS’s processing time goals and provide updates on trends.   While we remain skeptical that USCIS will be able to meet these goals by the end of FY2009 on September 30th, we see encouraging signs of improvement in many case categories.