USCIS Processing Times Delays: Growing Concerns for Applicants Nationwide

Families, businesses, and individuals across the country continue to face long waits due to USCIS processing times delays. Millions of applicants are waiting months, and sometimes years, for the agency to review and approve their immigration benefits. These delays affect nearly every category of immigration filing.

Changes to How USCIS Displays Processing Times

Over recent years, USCIS has adjusted how it presents processing time information. The agency updated its public tools, changed how it calculates timelines, and revised how applicants can follow up. In May 2022, USCIS announced updates to its processing times page to simplify how customers view this data.

The processing times page shows how long it took USCIS to complete 80% of similar cases. It organizes this information by form type, category, and service center. USCIS also maintains historic processing time pages and myProgress pages, which offer personalized estimates based on similar cases.

These tools help applicants understand general timelines, but they do not always reflect when someone can actually request help.

A Clear Example of USCIS Processing Times Delays

Consider an I‑485 Adjustment of Status application filed on March 4, 2021. The category is “Based on grant of asylum more than 1 year ago,” and the case is at the National Benefits Center. The posted processing time shows that 80% of similar cases were completed within 31.5 months. That timeline ends on October 18, 2023.

However, when entering the receipt date into the “When can I ask about my case” tool, the system states the case is “processing normally.” It also says the earliest inquiry date is April 1, 2024. This means the real wait time is closer to 37 months, not 31.5 months.

This gap illustrates the confusion many applicants and attorneys face when trying to understand actual timelines.

Why USCIS Processing Times Delays Continue

Past USCIS data shows a clear trend. In FY 2017, the average case took about 6.4 months to process. By FY 2022, the average time exceeded twelve months. These delays affect nearly everyone: family‑based applicants, employment‑based applicants, and individuals seeking travel documents or work authorization.

According to the American Immigration Lawyers Association, several factors contribute to slowdowns. These include inefficient processing, understaffing, and restrictive policies implemented during the previous administration. Although the current administration has reversed some policies, the COVID‑19 pandemic created additional backlogs.

These combined issues continue to slow progress across many form types.

Options for Applicants Facing Long Waits

Applicants who believe their case falls outside normal timelines may have options. Some may qualify to request expedited processing. Others may be eligible for premium processing, depending on the form type. Applicants can also contact their congressional representative for assistance.

These steps may help reduce the impact of USCIS processing times delays and provide clearer guidance during long waits.

 If you have a pending case with USCIS that you think outside the processing times, you can ask USCIS to expedite your case, if you qualify, or if applicable, to premium process your case. You can also talk to your congressperson’s office for assistance. For more information, contact our office today.