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Why is USCIS taking so long to process 2020?

Author

Emily Ross

Published Jan 14, 2026

This backlog is largely due to the USCIS office closures amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Form I-131 (“Application for Travel Document – Advance Parole”): Applications for advance parole saw a large increase in processing times, from 4.6 months in FY 2020 to 7.7 months in FY 2021.

How long does it take USCIS to make a decision 2020?

Technically, the USCIS has to provide you with a decision on your naturalization application within 120 days of your naturalization interview. In a green card application, the USCIS is supposed to provide you with an official notification of their decision within 30 days of your interview.

Why is USCIS taking so long?

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resource constraints resulting from the prior administration, USCIS inherited a significant number of pending cases and increased processing times.

Is USCIS processing time improving?

USCIS Sets Goals to Reduce Backlogs, Expand Premium Processing Services, and Improve 'Cycle Times' for Pending Cases. On March 29, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it would implement three new actions to reduce lengthy processing times that resulted from COVID-19–related delays.

Is USCIS taking longer than expected?

The dramatic increase in processing times occurred despite USCIS experiencing a ten percent drop in cases received from the end of fiscal year 2017 to fiscal year 2019. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the times USCIS processing rates have continued to increase since fiscal year 2019-FY20212.

22 related questions found

Why is USCIS taking so long to process 2021?

This backlog is largely due to the USCIS office closures amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Form I-131 (“Application for Travel Document – Advance Parole”): Applications for advance parole saw a large increase in processing times, from 4.6 months in FY 2020 to 7.7 months in FY 2021.

How far behind is USCIS?

It can take up to 72 months for USCIS to process a petition for unmarried son or daughter over 21 years of age (F2B), And 139 months to process a petition for a married child (F3). That's almost 11 years, just to get the petition approved. Employment based petitions at some Service Centers can take up to a year.

What is the processing time for green card?

In most cases, it takes about two years for a green card to become available, and the entire process takes around three years. It can take slightly longer for citizens of Mexico, China, India, and the Philippines.

Does I-130 have premium processing?

Premium Processing isn't available for I-130 petitions, but you can send a special request to USCIS if you want to expedite processing for Form I-130. USCIS will usually only consider the request if there are urgent humanitarian or U.S. government interests.

How long does I-130 take to process?

After filing Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, the approval process can take anywhere from 5 to 12 months for immediate relatives and could take several years for family preference categories. This is an approximation. It may be shorter for some and longer for others.

Can I sue USCIS for delay?

Yes. If there have been unreasonable delays in your case, you may file a complaint against the Immigration Service in the Federal Court, and the Court can force the Immigration Service to make a decision in your case.

Which Uscis office is the fastest?

The most efficient U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services field office is also stated to be in Cleveland. The USCIS office efficiency is reflected in the highest backlog completion of 71.3%, and the nation's shortest average processing time, which is only four months. Almost nobody waited longer than 12.3 months.

How long does it take USCIS to review a case?

Although some cases may take longer, USCIS field offices and service centers try to adjudicate motions within 90 days. The AAO strives to complete its review of motions within 180 days from the time it receives a complete case file.

How long does USCIS take to process I 90?

After filing Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, the I-90 processing time typically takes from 6 to 10 months. This is an approximation. It may be shorter for some and longer for others. In rare cases, USCIS will make a request for additional information or even schedule an additional interview.

Which USCIS Service Center is processing my case?

You will know which center is processing your case by looking at the first three letters of your receipt number on your receipt notice. If you are waiting for your case to be sent to your local office for an interview you must review the processing times for your local office by city and state.

Can USCIS expedite my case?

You may ask USCIS to expedite adjudication of a benefit request (such as an application or petition) for an immigration benefit. USCIS: Considers all expedite requests on a case-by-case basis; May require additional documentation to support a request; and.

How long does it take for USCIS to send receipt notices 2021 premium processing?

The government-issued Notices will still be delivered within 4 to 8 weeks. Per the Premium Processing program, we fully expect to receive responses from USCIS in 15 calendar days from when Premium Processing was received.

Will USCIS extend premium processing?

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a final rule on March 30, 2022 that will increase access to its premium processing service, under which applicants for certain immigration benefits can obtain expedited processing by paying additional fees.

How do I know if my I-130 is approved?

You can check your I-130 petition's status, and if you notice that your online case status is “approved,” but you still haven't received your NOA2, you can contact USCIS at 1-800-375-5283.

How do you know if your green card is approved?

You can check your case status by calling the USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283. You will need your receipt number when you call in. This is useful if you do not have access to a computer to check your green card status.

Why have I not received my green card after 120 days?

If you have not received your green card in a timely manner (90 – 120 days for immigrants who recently entered the United States, or 60 days for immigrants applying for adjustment of status), the first step is to call the USCIS Contact Center.

How often does USCIS update case status?

As of December 2020, the processing time for a green card holder sponsoring a spouse or a child under 21 years is between 15.5 to 20 months if USCIS received the form on or after April 21, 2019. All the times are considered estimates. The USCIS Processing Times page is updated once a month.

How many cases does USCIS process a day?

According to documents obtain by The Washington Post, USCIS is creating the “Organization of Professional Responsibility” to enhance oversight of the way its employees handle the more than 26,000 cases the agency decides each day.

How often does USCIS update case status 2021?

This does not mean that there is no update on your case. It is possible: That your case has been approved but the status is not yet reflecting online on the USCIS website. Usually, it gets updated in about 1-5 days as shared by many Reddit users.

How long does USCIS take to respond to messages?

Online Messages

Benefit requestors can send messages and inquiries directly to the USCIS Contact Center, without an online account, and receive an email or phone response within 24 to 48 hours.