The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is facing significant delays in processing immigration applications, as revealed in new data about the agency’s operations. Key points from the report highlight:
- Increased Processing Time: USCIS is now taking longer than ever to review applications. According to the data, 82% of forms are now taking longer to process, significantly contributing to the agency’s massive backlog. These forms account for 86% of the current backlog.
- Form Complexity: One major reason for the delays is the increased complexity and length of immigration forms. Over the last 20 years, the total length of USCIS forms has grown from fewer than 200 pages in 2003 to over 700 pages in 2023. In fact, 93% of USCIS forms have become longer since their inception, requiring more time for adjudicators to review each application.
- Impact on Visa Interviews: Longer forms also mean longer visa interviews. Immigration officers now have more information to review, which can extend the time needed for both the interview and the overall adjudication process.
- Digitization Challenges: Although USCIS has been pushing for digital filings to streamline the process, it has had a counterproductive effect. Adjudicators, many of whom were trained to process paper forms, are struggling to keep up with the digital format. This is slowing down the review process instead of speeding it up.
- Consequences of Delays: The inefficiencies in processing are having a staggering impact, with estimates indicating it will take nearly 10 million man-hours to clear the current backlog — 3.3 million more hours than if adjudicators were processing at the previous pace.
Overall, the growing complexity of immigration forms, combined with challenges in digital transition, has exacerbated the already significant delays in visa processing, contributing to the enormous backlog facing USCIS.
