Slowdown in USCIS N400 Processing

[spottymax 45]

USCIS released the latest data set for form N-400 applications.   There was an obvious slowdown in number of applications that were processed in the 4th quarter of 2016 (Oct 1 - Dec 31), but not because of an increase in the number of applications during that time (which I have seen speculated because of the election in November).

 

Here are the overall numbers for 2016 reports (the reports breaks up the numbers by field office in case you are interested)

1st QTR (Jan 1 - Mar 31):  Total Applications Received: 252,254 | Approved: 177,713 | Denied: 19,688 | Pending: 446,545

2nd QTR (Apr 1 - Jun 30):  Total Applications Received: 286,036 | Approved: 188,999 | Denied: 20,961 | Pending: 524,014

3rd QTR (Jul 1 - Sep 30):   Total Applications Received: 245,317 | Approved: 229,081 | Denied:26,178  | Pending: 522,565

4th QTR (Oct 1 - Dec 31):  Total Applications Received: 239,628 | Approved: 112,640 | Denied: 18,700 | Pending: 636,164

 

Maybe the election last year had more effect on the work ethic of the USCIS than people applying for citizenship.

[ChristianZane 70]

1 hour ago, spottymax said:

USCIS released the latest data set for form N-400 applications.   There was an obvious slowdown in number of applications that were processed in the 4th quarter of 2016 (Oct 1 - Dec 31), but not because of an increase in the number of applications during that time (which I have seen speculated because of the election in November).

 

Here are the overall numbers for 2016 reports (the reports breaks up the numbers by field office in case you are interested)

1st QTR (Jan 1 - Mar 31):  Total Applications Received: 252,254 | Approved: 177,713 | Denied: 19,688 | Pending: 446,545

2nd QTR (Apr 1 - Jun 30):  Total Applications Received: 286,036 | Approved: 188,999 | Denied: 20,961 | Pending: 524,014

3rd QTR (Jul 1 - Sep 30):   Total Applications Received: 245,317 | Approved: 229,081 | Denied:26,178  | Pending: 522,565

4th QTR (Oct 1 - Dec 31):  Total Applications Received: 239,628 | Approved: 112,640 | Denied: 18,700 | Pending: 636,164

 

Maybe the election last year had more effect on the work ethic of the USCIS than people applying for citizenship.

They shift manpower and resources all the time, when I applied for a K1 they didn't look at any K1s for six months because they were told to process and prioritize DACA applications in 2012, it took almost 9 months for them to render a decision when it used to take 12 weeks.  I suspect same thing now, they are probably concentrating on something else.

[spottymax 45]

On 4/5/2017 at 0:53 AM, ChristianZane said:

They shift manpower and resources all the time, when I applied for a K1 they didn't look at any K1s for six months because they were told to process and prioritize DACA applications in 2012, it took almost 9 months for them to render a decision when it used to take 12 weeks.  I suspect same thing now, they are probably concentrating on something else.

Probably don't want a lot of immigrants voting in the next couple of election cycles.

[Jamaican_Gooner 36]

On 4/4/2017 at 10:22 PM, spottymax said:

USCIS released the latest data set for form N-400 applications.   There was an obvious slowdown in number of applications that were processed in the 4th quarter of 2016 (Oct 1 - Dec 31), but not because of an increase in the number of applications during that time (which I have seen speculated because of the election in November).

 

Here are the overall numbers for 2016 reports (the reports breaks up the numbers by field office in case you are interested)

1st QTR (Jan 1 - Mar 31):  Total Applications Received: 252,254 | Approved: 177,713 | Denied: 19,688 | Pending: 446,545

2nd QTR (Apr 1 - Jun 30):  Total Applications Received: 286,036 | Approved: 188,999 | Denied: 20,961 | Pending: 524,014

3rd QTR (Jul 1 - Sep 30):   Total Applications Received: 245,317 | Approved: 229,081 | Denied:26,178  | Pending: 522,565

4th QTR (Oct 1 - Dec 31):  Total Applications Received: 239,628 | Approved: 112,640 | Denied: 18,700 | Pending: 636,164

 

Maybe the election last year had more effect on the work ethic of the USCIS than people applying for citizenship.

A serious slowdown , no wonder it seems like Memphis isn't moving, only 533 applications approved in one quarter, there were 61 working days in Q4, meaning only 9 per day whoa!!! at that rate we need 602 business days to clear the current n-400 backlog of 5,419 applications. This must have been a strategic slowdown and hopefully they get back to normal.

[charmander 692]

I think they are slowing down for all petition types. This link shows the data for FY17 Q1 https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Resources/Reports and Studies/Immigration Forms Data/All Form Types/ECN_1893_-_Quarterly_-_All_Forms_FY17Q1_Final.pdf

 

and for comparison this one shows the data for all of FY16 https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Resources/Reports and Studies/Immigration Forms Data/All Form Types/all_forms_performancedata_fy2016_qtr4.pdf

[MyJourney 276]

The USCIS has so horrible service because they are accountable not to the petitioners but to the US citizens/taxpayers (although we pay taxes too) who are more interested in NOT approving these petitions.

[Bugs 455]

On 4/6/2017 at 11:10 AM, charmander said:

I think they are slowing down for all petition types. This link shows the data for FY17 Q1 https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Resources/Reports and Studies/Immigration Forms Data/All Form Types/ECN_1893_-_Quarterly_-_All_Forms_FY17Q1_Final.pdf

 

and for comparison this one shows the data for all of FY16 https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Resources/Reports and Studies/Immigration Forms Data/All Form Types/all_forms_performancedata_fy2016_qtr4.pdf

The sum total of all form types and approvals this quarter look to be the same as in 2016.  So the differences must be found among the application types themselves - one type is obviously going to have greater apps and approvals to account for the large reduction in N-400 types.

 

DACA appears to be the culprit.  DACA apps and approvals doubled this quarter.

[ChristianZane 70]

10 hours ago, Leon & Mylen said:

The sum total of all form types and approvals this quarter look to be the same as in 2016.  So the differences must be found among the application types themselves - one type is obviously going to have greater apps and approvals to account for the large reduction in N-400 types.

 

DACA appears to be the culprit.  DACA apps and approvals doubled this quarter.

DACA has always bogged down USCIS, in 2012 my K1 went from 12 weeks to 8 months because they had to deal with a flood of DACA petitions.

[zooropa 30]

Has anyone notice their "last updated" on the ELIS site?  Just looking for soft LUDs,  and if anybody had a real change right afterwards in their cases.