USCIS Processing Delays and Why Your Immigration Case is Taking so Long

Processing delays continue to persist within USCIS, holding thousands of individuals out of status every day. These delays are frightening for families awaiting visas and protection with no information regarding their uncertain future. Over the past two years, case processing time has increased by 46 percent, and up to 91 percent from 2014. We have found it such that as case volumes decrease, the delays continue to increase. USCIS has officially reached a level of crisis with these delays under the Trump Administration, affecting millions of lives.

The consequences of the processing delays include setbacks for businesses losing talent, families continuing to be separated and survivors of violence and torture remaining in dangerous situations. There was recently a USCIS “net backlog” that exceeded over 2.3 million delayed cases at the end of 2017. This total has increased over 100 percent within one year while the case volumes have only increased by four percent in the same period of time. Congresses aim was initially to have USCIS serve as a service-oriented benefits entity that fairly reviews and adjudicates immigration cases.

USCIS handles the backlogs by implementing inconvenient policies and practices such as interview requirements and excess Requests for Evidence, overall reducing efficiency. Such practices feed into the Trump Administration's agenda of creating an “invisible wall” and discouraging legal immigration to the United States. AILA, or the American Immigration Lawyers Association, is currently asking individuals to drive Congress into holding USCIS accountable for these destructive measures during the April 11th, 2019, National Day of Action in Washington, D.C.

If you have any questions regarding the delays, please contact Attorney Nicholas J. Mireles, Esq. at Attorney@loonjm.com.