As of April 2024, the green card interview backlog in the U.S. remains concerning, with 421,358 pending interviews, a slight decrease from the 436,700 in March. This decrease of only 3.5% highlights that the efforts to address the backlog are still moving too slowly, with the total number of scheduled interviews increasing by a mere 0.4% (from 32,317 in March to 32,439 in April). This pace is much slower than the 18% increase seen from February to March, signaling that the backlog will continue to be a challenge for years to come.
Despite ongoing efforts, the backlog is not expected to return to pre-COVID levels anytime soon. It could take ten or more years to clear the current backlog if the pace of processing doesn’t significantly improve. The pandemic continues to affect visa processing, especially since the shutdowns of U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide began in March 2020.
For applicants who have recently received their green card interview notice, it is essential to prepare well in advance to ensure a smooth process. For more details, Boundless recommends referring to their guide on what to expect at the interview.
Stay updated by checking the National Visa Center (NVC) reports, as they offer monthly updates on visa processing timelines and changes to the backlog.
