The data is in: The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found that the caseload at USCIS, the government agency that processes immigration applications like applications to adjust status to become a permanent resident and naturalization applications, has increased by 85% over the past 5 years. Yikes.

Per the GAO, "policy changes, longer forms, staffing issues, and delays from COVID-19 contributed to longer processing times. Although USCIS has several plans to address the backlog, it hasn't implemented them and hasn't identified necessary resources."

What does this mean for me?

If you have a pending application with USCIS, then you likely will need to wait much longer than you would have in the past to see it approved. For example, right now we are seeing 18-24 month processing times for Applications to Adjust Status (to obtain a green card while residing in the US) in the San Francisco and San Jose California area. And processing time for a Petition for Alien Relative (the first step in the "green card" process when sponsoring a relative abroad) for the spouse, parent, or child of a US citizen can be as long as 32 months!

What does this mean moving forward?

We hope that USCIS will soon take action to address this frustrating backlog. In the meantime, we recommend filing your application as soon as possible to "get in line." If you are seeking assistance with a green card sponsored by a family member or employer, or an employment-based visa, contact us today at theteam@huwelaw.com or 415-413-8760 and let us help!