The latest data from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) highlights a growing challenge for immigrants pursuing family-based petitions, green cards, and naturalization. Processing delays and backlogs are worsening, creating serious obstacles for applicants and separating families for extended periods.
Longer Wait Times for Family Petitions
The I-130 Petition for Alien Relative, a crucial step in family reunification, has seen its average processing time increase to 17.4 months as of January 2025, compared to 16.8 months in December 2024. This petition is essential for U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who wish to bring family members to the country.
In January, 94,739 new I-130 petitions were filed, while USCIS processed 49,395 approvals and denied 8,332 applications. However, this was not enough to keep pace with the growing backlog. The number of pending I-130 applications reached 2,355,271, marking a 1.8% rise from December’s 2,313,876. Among these, 1,872,469 cases had been delayed for over six months.
Immigration advocates warn that these delays are having a devastating impact on families. Many applicants, including spouses, children, and parents, remain separated for years, with no certainty about when they will be reunited. The prolonged wait times are adding to the emotional and financial strain on affected families.
Green Card Applications Face Increasing Delays
Applicants seeking adjustment of status through the I-485 form also experienced mounting challenges. The number of pending cases under this category increased from 1,102,338 in December to 1,124,021 in January, reflecting a 2% rise.
Processing times varied depending on the type of green card application. Across different subcategories, such as family-based, employment-based, and asylum-based adjustments, the average processing time climbed to 12.2 months, up from 11.8 months. However, Cuban Adjustment Act applications saw some improvement, with processing times dropping to 8.3 months.
Efforts to accelerate case processing led to a 14.3% rise in approvals, reaching 65,107 in January. Despite this, the backlog continued to grow as 92,424 new applications were submitted during the month.
One notable development was a slight decline in long-pending cases—those delayed for over six months—which dropped to 681,771. While this offers a glimmer of hope, overall backlogs remain a significant problem for green card applicants.
Naturalization Processing Slows Amid High Demand
For immigrants applying for U.S. citizenship through the N-400 naturalization form, the situation presented a mixed picture. The average processing time remains the fastest among major immigration forms at 6.4 months, but this marks an increase from 6.1 months in December.
At the same time, the backlog of naturalization cases grew from 535,601 in December to 540,820 in January. This was driven by a surge in applications, which rose by 16.4% to 87,174. Approvals also increased, reaching 74,957, but they were insufficient to counterbalance the influx of new cases.
Long-pending naturalization applications—those delayed for over six months—jumped by 6.8%, reaching 127,193. These figures suggest that while the naturalization process remainsrelatively efficient, it is also under increasing pressure as more immigrants seek U.S. citizenship.
The Expanding USCIS Backlog
USCIS continues to struggle with rising caseloads across multiple immigration categories. The overall backlog for major immigration forms grew from 5.56 million in December 2024 to 5.67 million in January 2025.
A significant portion of this backlog comes from employment authorization applications (I-765), which alone account for over 1.2 million pending cases. The continued increase in processing times has left many applicants in limbo, affecting their ability to work and support themselves while waiting for USCIS decisions.
Advocates Call for Policy Changes
As the backlog grows, immigration advocates are calling for systemic changes to improve efficiency and reduce wait times. Many argue that USCIS needs additional resources, staffing, and policy adjustments to handle the increasing volume of applications effectively.
Advocates stress that prolonged processing times are not just bureaucratic hurdles but have real-life consequences for immigrants. Delays in family petitions mean extended separations for loved ones, while green card and work permit backlogs can disrupt careers and financial stability.
Impact on Families and Communities
For families waiting on I-130 approvals, the emotional toll of separation continues to mount. Many applicants face years of uncertainty, unable to plan their futures due to unpredictable wait times. Parents are forced to live apart from their children, and spouses remain separated by borders without a clear timeline for reunification.
For green card applicants, processing delays mean prolonged uncertainty regarding their legal status. Those seeking permanent residency through employment-based applications often experience career disruptions, as delays in work authorization prevent them from advancing in their fields.
Similarly, immigrants seeking naturalization must navigate longer processing times, delaying their ability to vote, obtain U.S. passports, and access other benefits of citizenship.
Challenges in Addressing the Backlog
USCIS has acknowledged the backlog issue and has implemented various measures to improve processing speeds. However, the sheer volume of applications, combined with staffing limitations and complex adjudication requirements, makes it difficult to achieve significant reductions in wait times.
Efforts such as streamlining forms, increasing electronic processing, and expanding USCIS staffing have had limited success in reversing the backlog trend. The demand for immigration benefits continues to outpace the agency’s capacity to process cases efficiently.
Calls for Congressional Action
Some immigration experts believe that congressional action is necessary to address the backlog crisis. Potential solutions include increased funding for USCIS, policy changes to expedite certain categories of applications, and broader immigration reform to modernize the system.
Several lawmakers have proposed measures to improve USCIS processing times, such as hiring additional adjudicators and expanding digital services to reduce paperwork bottlenecks. However, immigration reform remains a politically sensitive issue, and progress has been slow.
Looking Ahead
As USCIS continues to grapple with rising caseloads, applicants seeking family reunification, green cards, and citizenship face prolonged uncertainty. While some measures have improved processing speeds for specific categories, overall delays remain a major challenge.
For many immigrants, the growing backlog represents more than just administrative inefficiencies—it impacts their families, careers, and future aspirations. Advocates continue to push for policy changes to reduce wait times and create a more efficient immigration system.
Until significant reforms are enacted, millions of applicants will remain stuck in a system struggling to keep up with demand, facing unpredictable delays that shape their lives and futures.