EXPECT EVEN LONGER DELAYS IN THE PROCESSING OF YOUR PETITIONS AND APPLICATIONS
By Michael J. Gurfinkel

Recently, the USCIS put out a press release, advising people who have filed for immigration benefits to expect even greater delays in the processing of their cases, with naturalization applications taking up to 18 months to process.

According to USCIS, in recent months, there was an avalanche of filings for various immigration benefits. This was caused by recent fee increases (so people were hurrying up to file before the increase went into effect) and in July and August when the priority date for skilled and professional workers was “current” for about a 30 day period. (Therefore, all skilled and professional workers, no matter what their priority date, were able to file for adjustment of status during that 30-day window period if they had labor certification already.) In fact, in July and August 2007, USCIS reported that nearly 2.5 million applications and petitions of all types were received, compared to only 1.2 million applications and petitions received in the same time period last year. For fiscal year 2007, USCIS received 1.4 million applications for naturalization alone, which is nearly twice the number they received the previous year. As a result, average processing times for certain applications may increase, with naturalization applications filed after June 1, 2007 taking up to 18 months.

USCIS is attempting to improve its service, including hiring approximately 1,500 new employees to address this workload.

I know every few years, fees increase, with the promise of faster and better service. That was the whole reason or justification behind the recent fee increase. But it seems that despite the increases in fees, processing and service are slower.

Therefore, I know how frustrating it can be for people who are anxiously awaiting their immigration benefits, whether it is an approved petition, application for adjustment of status, or naturalization. Everyone is hoping and waiting for things to move “faster”. However, this recent notice from USCIS means that things may now take even longer.

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