What is causing the processing delays at the USCIS?
Posted by Harsharn Makkar
Based on the testimony prepared for the Director of USCIS, Emilio T. Gonzalez, the cause of processing delay is the increase in naturalization filings before the filing fees increased on July 31, 2007. According to this testimony, in the summer of 2007, USCIS received in excess of three million applications. The Service claims that such an increase in filing within a couple of months is unprecedented and it represents increase of almost 350 percent compared to the previous year increase in workload. Although the general talks such as naturalization filing increase contemporaneous with the opening of the employment-based visa window does help to understand the current backlog, it does not explain the delays that have existed prior to the rate increase. In other words, the director did not provide any concrete answers as to why increase in applications and petitions alone ought to cause such delays. He admitted that the processing time for the naturalization applications has increased from seven months to eighteen months and for family-based adjustment-of-status applications from six months to twelve months.
In essence, rather than answer the questions; he outlined the steps that the USCIS has taken to remedy the situation. According to the Director, the Service has increased the manpower to process the applications. The Service is also expanding the automation process for those who already qualify such as those with expired permanent resident cards or temporary employment authorization. They are also promising to improve the background check process and centralize the intake of naturalization application before the end of 2010.
