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Business Standard
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
US immigration backlog tops 11 million as Trump slows USCIS processing
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) processed fewer immigration cases and recorded a backlog surge in the second quarter of FY2025 (January–March), according to new data published on the agency's portal. This is the first major dataset released since the Trump administration returned to office. USCIS completed 2.7 million cases during the quarter—down 18 per cent compared to the same period in FY2024, when it had processed 3.3 million cases. From the previous quarter alone, completions dropped by 12 per cent. Meanwhile, pending cases climbed by 1.6 million, pushing the total backlog to a record 11.3 million. The last time pending cases came close to this number was over a decade ago. More than 34,000 cases unopened For the first time in over a year, the agency recorded a non-zero 'frontlog'—cases that are yet to be opened or assigned. As of the end of Q2, over 34,000 such cases were pending at the front of the pipeline. The data showed that this slowdown is already affecting key immigration services. < Form I-129, used for employment-based temporary visas including H-1B and L-1, saw a 25 per cent increase in median processing time quarter-on-quarter, and an 80 per cent rise compared to Q2 FY2024. < Form I-90, used to replace green cards, saw the sharpest jump: from a median wait time of 0.8 months to over 8 months—a 938 per cent increase within just one quarter. < Form I-765, for work permits, had its own crunch. Initial applications pending rose by 87 per cent since Q1. The total number of pending I-765s (including renewals and replacements) crossed 2 million, nearly doubling from under 1.2 million. The net backlog—cases delayed beyond USCIS standards for Form I-765 alone went up by nearly 181 per cent. One category, however, moved faster. The net backlog of I-129s dropped by nearly 75 per cent from the previous quarter, although the number of individuals under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programme continued to decline, falling by over 8,000. 'We will pine for a functioning system' Charles Kuck, founding partner at immigration law firm Kuck Baxter in Atlanta, said the shift was expected. 'The Trump administration has told USCIS to slow down processing of cases. Predictably, the system has quickly developed massive backlogs. By the end of 2028, we will pine for the days of a functioning legal immigration system because it will effectively not exist by the end of the Trump term,' Kuck told Newsweek. He added that the growth in backlog was '100 per cent predictable' given the new approach. 'Starting with the staff reductions ordered at the USCIS (which is funded by user fees, not tax dollars). Followed by seeking 'volunteers' from USCIS to assist ICE in enforcement efforts. Which then leads to the administration's effort to find fraud in every application, slowing down processing times,' said Kuck.
Newsweek
4 days ago
- General
- Newsweek
Green Card Holders Face Major Immigration Backlog: What to Know
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The U.S. immigration system has faced growing strain, with a backlog of pending applications reaching an all-time high of 11.3 million, according to data from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The slowdown in processing and rising delays have left millions of applicants in a state of legal and personal limbo, and green card replacement delays have added to the frustration. Form I‑90 processing times have increased dramatically, now taking more than eight months to complete. Despite this surge in wait times, experts say green card holders should not panic. "While it may be surprising, from a legal and practical perspective, the sharp increase in Form I-90 processing times is not of concern. There is already a policy fix in place," Morgan Bailey, a partner at Mayer Brown and former senior official at the Department of Homeland Security, told Newsweek. An information packet and an American flag are placed on a chair before the start of a naturalization ceremony at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Miami Field Office, Friday, August 17, 2018, in Miami.... An information packet and an American flag are placed on a chair before the start of a naturalization ceremony at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Miami Field Office, Friday, August 17, 2018, in Miami. More Wilfredo Lee/AP When a lawful permanent resident files a Form I‑90 to renew an expiring green card, USCIS immediately issues a receipt notice, which automatically extends the validity of the expired card for 48 months. "Presenting the expired green card alongside the receipt notice is legally equivalent to having an unexpired green card. The receipt notice itself includes language explaining that it extends the green card, so there should not be confusion on the part of employers, airlines, or others. "An expired green card does not mean an expired status." USCIS has long acknowledged that it prioritizes applications that impact an individual's immigration status more directly, diverting resources away from lower-risk tasks like card renewals. Still, for the millions caught in the backlog, the key is understanding that status remains intact, and the paperwork, though delayed, does not affect the right to live and work in the U.S. If green card holders need to prove their status to employers, airlines, or immigration officers while waiting for their new card, the receipt notice plus the expired card is fully valid. Those without either document can request an ADIT (I‑551) stamp at a local USCIS office, which serves as temporary proof of permanent residency for work, travel, or reentry to the country. "This is somewhat similar to a US citizen whose status remains unchanged even if they don't have a valid passport. We can think of it like an expired passport—you are still a citizen," Bailey said. While the backlog highlights wider strains in the immigration system, experts stress that understanding the protections in place can help green card holders avoid unnecessary worry—and stay legally covered until their new card arrives. "The filing of the Form I-90 does not actually confer an immigration benefit—it simply updates the physical proof of the individual's status. Permanent resident status doesn't expire, even if the card does—and is only lost through formal government action," Bailey said. The Trump administration has revoked visas and green cards of foreign students that they have alleged are connected to pro-Hamas activities. This includes participating in campus protests and distributing materials, such as flyers. The moves come amid an aggressive deportation agenda after President Donald Trump directed his administration to remove millions of undocumented immigrants as part of a hard line mass removal policy. Beyond targeting those without legal status, immigrants with valid visas and green cards have also faced detention under the government's sweeping enforcement operations. Newsweek has documented numerous cases involving green-card holders and applicants being caught up in the immigration raids.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Worrisome': US visa delays hit all-time high, 11.3 million cases pending
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is struggling to keep up with a piling number of immigration cases, reaching an all-time high of 11.3 million pending applications. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Immigration attorneys said the Trump administration's efforts to find fraudulent cases have set back the pace of the process and resulted in 'massive backlogs' across an immigration system that is already grappling with a growing number of cases, as reported by Newsweek. The data from USCIS from January to March indicates that, with backlogs growing in number every quarter, certain immigration categories are going through worsening delays as processing times are stretched. Applicants have to wait for months or even years in the end. Charles Kuck, the founding partner at Kuck Baxter in Atlanta, told Newsweek, 'The Trump administration has told USCIS to slow down processing of cases. Predictably, the system has quickly developed massive backlogs. By the end of 2028, we will pine for the days of a functioning legal immigration system because it will effectively not exist by the end of the Trump term." USCIS is funded solely by fees from immigrants applying for services like green cards and work permits. For years, reports have pointed to problems with this model, including ongoing staffing shortages that cause long delays. Processing times for Form I-90 (Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card) and Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization, with the EAD card issued via Form I-766) have risen compared to the previous quarter. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This increase is partly due to USCIS suspending its Streamlined Case Processing (SCP) program, an automated system that sped up approvals without officer review. The suspension aims to allow for more thorough vetting, though no timeline has been set for reinstating the program. Certain categories, however, have shown signs of improvement with the backlog of Form 1-131 (advance parole application) reduced by almost 60,000 cases this fiscal year, but 260,000 cases are still pending. "It is still early to draw firm conclusions from the data, as processing trends may shift based on staffing, litigation, or new policy guidance. However, outside the boundaries of congressional mandates or statutory requirements, what may appear to be backlogs may be better described as policy choices," Morgan Bailey, a partner at Mayor Brown and former senior official at the Department of Homeland Security, told Newsweek
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Why are US visa and Green Card applications delayed? Immigration system under growing strain
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) stated that only 2.7 million immigration cases have been processed in the second quarter of FY2025, marking an 18% year-on-year drop and a 12% slip from the previous quarter, reported Financial Express. US immigration system under increasing strain with visa, Green Card delays (Unsplash - representational image) From green cards to work permits, applicants across categories are surely in a limbo right now. The sharp slowdown signals not just bureaucratic delays but also rising human stakes in an already shaken immigration landscape. What we know The situation has affected over 34,000 immigration cases, which remain untouched, reported Newsweek. That's not it, as processing times for green card replacements (Form I-90) have ballooned to over eight months, leaving thousands of lawful permanent residents without valid documentation. Meanwhile, delays for work permits (Form I-765) have more than doubled in just one quarter, affecting immigrants' ability to legally earn a living and placing additional strain on employers and families alike, the report added. Even the employment-based visa space is struggling to keep up. Form I-129 delays are slowing down the approval of H-1B and L-1 visas, leading to both skilled workers and companies who are depending on them. To make matters worse, USCIS has paused its Streamlined Case Processing program, halting a key automation effort that once sped up simpler cases. This has led to a ripple effect: slower approvals, fewer decisions and growing uncertainty. Also, to note, the advance parole applications (Form I-131) are a rare exception. Indeed, for immigrants, the consequences aren't just bureaucratic—they're deeply personal, affecting everything from their work and travel to safety and stability. FAQs Why are US immigration delays worsening in 2025? USCIS is facing record backlogs and has paused automation. Which immigration forms are hit hardest by the slowdown? Forms I-90, I-765 and I-129 are seeing the longest processing delays this quarter. immigration category seen improvement this quarter? As per data, advance parole applications (Form I-131) saw a slight reduction in pending cases.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Green Cards in limbo: What to know as replacement wait times surge across the US
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is experiencing a mammoth backlog, and the green card holders are getting the brunt of it. Newly-released information indicates that the processing time of Form I-90 has soared by almost 1,000 per cent between the second quarter of fiscal year 2025. (Representational image) USCIS is struggling with a backlog as I-90 processing times jump to 8.3 months in Q2 FY2025, up from 0.8 months. From 1 January to 31 March 2025, USCIS took an average of 8.3 months to process an I-90 application. Just a few months earlier, between October and December 2024, the median wait time was less than a month, about 0.8 months. ALSO READ| World's most expensive golden visa costs $6.2 million. It is not UK, France, or Italy US immigration system is under immense pressure Immigration courts currently face a record-breaking 3.7 million pending cases. Green card holders are required to file Form I-90 every 10 years or sooner if their cards are lost, damaged, or contain errors. The agency's website currently states that '80 per cent of cases for 'initial issuance or replacements' for I-90 are completed within 21.5 months,' while 10-year renewal cases are completed in '12.5 months' for 80 per cent of applicants. Notably, between January and March 2025, USCIS received over 285,000 I-90 applications. That's a significant increase from the 189,000 submitted in the previous quarter. By the end of March, there were more than 356,000 I-90 applications still pending up from 265,000 just three months earlier. This isn't the first time USCIS has struggled with fluctuating processing times. In FY2024, the agency had dramatically improved processing, bringing the average down to 1.1 months from 9.1 months in 2023. In 2022, the average was 1.2 months, while it stood at 5.2 months in 2021. Interestingly, USCIS announced in September 2024 that green cards would remain valid for 36 months beyond the listed expiration date for lawful permanent residents who had filed for renewal. ALSO READ| Marrying for Green Card? Here's what USCIS warns could happen 'These receipt notices can be presented with an expired Green Card as evidence of continued status and employment authorization. This extension is expected to help applicants who experience longer processing times, because they will receive proof of lawful permanent resident status as they await their renewed Green Card,' USCIS noted.
