U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services released a new fact sheet with data spanning fiscal years 2016-2024 that shows the progress made in reducing processing times.

Key Points:

• According to the data, median processing times were significantly lower in the first six months of the 2024 fiscal year than in the previous fiscal year.
• FY2024 median processing times include:
  • Just over 3½ months for employment authorization documents from adjustment applicants, the lowest since 2017.
  • Less than 30 days for employment authorization documents from asylum applicants and certain parolees.
  • Slightly over five months for naturalization processes.
  • Just under 4½ months for advance parole documents.
  • Less than three months for Form I-129 petitions for nonimmigrant workers.
• Processing times and net backlogs remained higher than processing goals for other forms, including Form I-601, Application for Provisional Unlawful Waiver; Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition; and determinations related to Form I-918, Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status.

Additional Information: The agency said the opening of the new Humanitarian, Adjustment, Removing Conditions and Travel Documents (HART) Service Center will help in further reducing processing times for Form I-601, Form I-730 and Form I-918. It added that progress has been made in reducing processing times for EB-5 immigrant investor forms with the hiring of new staff. Individuals can refer to the Check Case Processing Times page to help determine how long processing will take.