USCIS Tests New Method to Calculate Processing Times for Immigration Applications

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is testing a new way to estimate the time to process several forms of immigration such as green cards and U.S. citizenship. USCIS said that with this change, it will be possible for the agency to give a better, quicker, and more comprehensive processing time estimate. The change is part of a broader process to make immigration case handling more transparent and efficient.

Why Is USCIS Changing Their Processing Time Method?

This trial run of a new processing time approach comes as the Biden administration deals with a backlog of nearly 2.6 million visa applications. Some visa categories have backlogs 50-100 times bigger than four years ago.

To deal with this, USCIS is testing the new process times calculation on a number of standard immigration forms. Processing times will be more transparent and predictable for applicants.

What USCIS Forms Would Be Covered By the New Processing Time Protocol?

The following immigration forms are the new method USCIS will be trying out:

  • Formulary I-485 (Form to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status)
  • Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization)
  • Form I-90 (Renewal of Permanent Resident Card)
  • Form I-751 (Petition to Eliminate Limits On Residence)
  • I-765 (Request for Work Permit)
  • Form I-102 (Replacement Request/First Arrival-Descending Record)
  • Formula I-526 (Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur)
  • I-817 (Apply for Family Unity Benefits)
  • I-824 (Request to Take Action on a Preceded Application or Petition)
  • I-829 (Petition by Entrepreneur to Exclude Exceptions)
  • I-914 (Application for T Nonimmigrant Status)
  • I-924 (Application for Regional Center Designation Under the Immigrant Investor Program)
  • N-600 (Form N-600, Certificate of Citizenship Application)
  • N-600K (Citizenship Application and Certificate Issue Under Section 322)Form N-600K (Approval for Citizenship And Certificate Under Section 322)

What Is the Processing Time Estimate and Display By USCIS?

In the new process, USCIS will report processing times as a range. The range will include:

  • The first number is the amount of time to work on 50% of cases (the average time).
  • The second number corresponds to the processing time of 93% of cases.
  • These times are from a review of the entire cases last month unless otherwise indicated by USCIS. The agency will change these processing times every month based on current data.
  • But this will not be applied to all forms. If you have immigration forms that don’t fall under this test, USCIS will still use the old process time calculation.

Please Note: processing times vary. USCIS is calculating these times based on historical time for cases settled so it cannot tell you how long it might take to consider an application submitted today. Every app is different and there are many reasons for the processing time.

Where Can I Find the Processing Time for My Application?

How long it will take to process your immigration application, you will have to research the local USCIS field office or service center where you are working. There are several different processing times at different offices and centers depending on where you are located and the type of form being processed.

What Affects USCIS Processing Times?

Some variables can affect the amount of time it takes for USCIS to consider your application, such as:

Application type

App types take different times. For example:

  • I-130 (Form I-130 (Alien Relative Petition)).
  • I-129F (Form I-129F (Form I-129F – Petition for Alien Fiancé(e))
  • Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization)
  • Form I-485 (Request to Adjust Status)
  • I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker)
  • The first number is the time it takes to process 50% of cases (average processing time).
  • The second number is the time it takes to get 93% of cases completed. That means the majority of applications will get processed in this timeframe.
  • Premium Processing: Check premium processing is available for your case. Premium processing assures some employment-related applications are processed in 15 calendar days.

Checking Your Case Status

  • You Need Your Receipt Number: The receipt number is from your USCIS receipt notice.
  • Enter the Number: Head to USCIS Case Status Online and enter your receipt number. Once you have successfully passed the quick security check (captcha), hit “Check Status” and you can see the status of your application (e.g., “received”, “pending review,” etc. ).

USCIS is now automatically computing and reporting immigration processing times to give more transparent estimates of processing time. While this changes some important forms, processing times will still vary based on many factors, including the type of application, the agency doing the processing, and service center location. Keep up to date with your processing time and case status on the USCIS website — process times can change. Premium processing can be available for some forms if the applicants would like it processed faster. Make sure to always check the information on the current time to keep your expectations and schedule in place.