USCIS Achieves Unprecedented Milestones and Significantly Shrinks Processing Backlogs in Fiscal Year 2023.

Setting New Records and Clearing Backlogs

In an extraordinary endeavor, USCIS managed an excess of 10.9 million case filings and successfully concluded over 10 million, resulting in a commendable 15% reduction in its backlog. A noteworthy achievement includes administering the Oath of Allegiance to over 878,500 new U.S. citizens, eradicating the backlog of naturalization applications. This accomplishment also led to a significant reduction in the processing time for naturalization applicants, dropping from 10.5 months to 6.1 months.

Over the past decade, USCIS has processed a total of 7.7 million citizenship applications, with nearly a quarter of them occurring in the years 2022 and 2023.

Elevating Customer Experience

USCIS has implemented various technological enhancements aimed at simplifying the immigration process for applicants. Introductions like a self-service tool for rescheduling biometrics appointments and a new online address change system have significantly improved applicant interactions with USCIS, diminishing the reliance on phone inquiries and streamlining the overall process.

Empowering Employment-Based Immigration

USCIS has made substantial strides in supporting U.S. employers and foreign workers. By issuing over 192,000 employment-based immigrant visas and extending Employment Authorization Document validity to five years, USCIS addresses the needs of the U.S. labor market, ensuring no available visas go unused.

Advancing Humanitarian Initiatives

The agency has redoubled efforts in humanitarian work, conducting interviews for over 100,000 refugee applicants and admitting more than 60,000 refugees for resettlement. USCIS’s commitment to offering protection to those fleeing oppression is evident through a record number of credible fear and reasonable fear screenings, along with support for initiatives facilitating safe and lawful pathways for those seeking refuge in the U.S.

Looking Ahead

As USCIS enters fiscal year 2024, it remains committed to reducing processing delays and sustaining efficient service. With new fee schedules introduced to support operational costs and workforce expansion, USCIS is poised to uphold its mission of enhancing the immigration system. The agency’s dedication to processing a historically high number of protection screenings and increasing refugee admissions underscores its ongoing commitment to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for immigrants.

This year’s achievements underscore USCIS’s unwavering commitment to embodying America’s promise as a nation of welcome and opportunity. Through innovative solutions and a targeted approach to addressing both employment-based and humanitarian needs, USCIS is establishing a new benchmark for excellence in immigration services.

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