Quick Bytes
- USCIS reduced its net backlog for the first time in years, despite a record 10.9 million filings in FY 2023.
- Significant progress includes over 1 million citizenship cases completed and employment-based visa utilization.
- Technological improvements and new online tools aim to increase USCIS efficiency and processing times.
- Challenges remain with a growing humanitarian caseload and the need for additional congressional funding.
USCIS Makes Progress Amid Challenges
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has achieved a milestone by reducing its net backlog for the first time in several years, as reported in its recent progress data for fiscal year 2023. Despite receiving a historic high of 10.9 million filings, the agency managed to decrease the backlog from 5 million to 4.3 million cases.
The agency’s success is attributed to increased hiring, new efficiencies in case processing, and the use of all available employment-based visas. Notably, USCIS completed over 1 million citizenship cases, reducing median processing times significantly. Additionally, the agency processed 192,000 employment-based green card applications, ensuring no visa was left unused.
USCIS also addressed work permit backlogs by extending the validity period for certain categories and made strides in reducing work permit processing times. Technological advancements, such as the introduction of ”MyProgress” and new online forms, have been implemented to further improve efficiency.
However, USCIS continues to face challenges, particularly with its growing humanitarian caseload, which includes a record-breaking 1 million asylum applications. The agency’s efforts to address this include an “Asylum Program Fee” and a request for additional funding to hire more asylum officers, though congressional action is pending.
While USCIS has proposed new fees to cover the full costs of its services, it still requires congressional support to eliminate current backlogs and address the increasing demand for humanitarian processing.
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