Nikobe

Yes, as much as Trump had the power to slow down processes, the Committee on Homeland Security oversees the activities of the USCIS and can propose legislation to literally force USCIS to meet targets, like they do for emoployment based visas. So yes, it’s part of the job, specifically it is Rep. Bennie Thompson’s job.

The guy who did this surely achieved what’s most important on Youtube - clicks. Linear extrapolation of trends is easy in non-dynamic subjects - not so much for the processing times of the Uscis, which is heavily dependent on funding etc. It is very easy statistics (also eliminating essential sample points (filers before May21)) that has nothing to do with reality fortunately. Unfortunately at the same time, it does neither help nor hurt. 🙈 We are in the hands of the uscis.

I know that you were. I addressed those who confirmed the 26 months to you - that’s bonkers and makes you panic more! They will address the backlog following closing of targets for EB-visas, which they have as recent as last week (for all categories). I hope an uptick in closed cases in October or November, but I would not be surprised by a constant backlog until end of next year!

It is fine to be frustrated about the process, however, it is not fine to spread out panic to those who have just filed. Please be realistic. The USCIS will not let this thing to slide up to 26 months processing unless there is another pandemic I have not yet heard of. They have recently picked up speed on touched case, expect the same to happen with closed cases. Keep your calm and calculate with at end of next year. If the USCIS does not meet any of their cycle goals by FY23 (next Sep), Congress will hold them accountable.

At the current pace of 150-160 daily cases worked on, it should be. They are finally doing enough to work on the backlog 🤠

I just read about it, too. That is indeed great news. I have also fact checked myself and it is indeed employment based visas, but also diversity visas that they have to fulfill their targets for. I have no view where they stand with these targets but once both is done, we should see an uptick in the right direction (hopefully, because nothing is ever secure with USCIS).

A realistic view is that they will ramp up processing of K1s following the fulfillment of their financial year’s employment based visa targets (financial year ends in September). Also, please note that 728 touched cases means that they touched new cases, they simultaneously closed substantial numbers in March, April and May that were previously touched. 650-700 cases closed last week seem like a good guess. If the numbers don’t change substantially in October, I would be panicking myself :D USCIS Analyst is definitely just analyzing numbers, but he has less of a full picture than what you get from the helpers on this site e.g. he ignores numbers pre-mid May, which makes no sense. It is definitely a very pessimistic view.

They have seemingly started with some early July filers, too.

You could try to inquire through a State Representative. Send an email to your Congress(wo)man and they may help you.

The picture is similar all across the June cases. The USCIS is prioritizing the fulfillment of other category goals such as employment based visas until September (USCIS fiscal year end). These categories have the caveat that they entail lawsuits if a certain number is not processed by fiscal year end. Therefore, I personally do not expect the USCIS to put much focus on K1s/I129F until October even though it sounds really sad. If they do not speed up with I129Fs in October or November, I would be shocked and would personally switch to other opportunities (I am a May 22 filer).

I am unfortunately not even a July 21 filer - probably that is why any good news for you just means that you will have to wait "only" one more month. For me, the video shared above was almost heartbreaking because with current processing speed, it would take more than two years for us.

I really hate to be that guy but even 153 cases is not good progress. There is a current backlog of roughly 48.000 cases through August 2022. With the processing of 153 cases per day (each and every working day), they would merely hold the 14 months processing time until next year. In order to effectively cut down on processing times, they would need to break the 200s mark. I am currently getting all facts together and will write to some big newspapers to put some pressure on politics. Given the fact that this is a Democratic political cycle, family-based immigration should be something in focus. Unfortunately, all reps are busy with other (sometimes understandably), more important topics. However, in my eyes, this is becoming a social crisis with even more room to grow if there is no immediate action.

This is not true. June marked the first month that the USCIS stopped the backlog from growing another month. So far, July looks slightly higher than or on the samel level of daily June levels with roughly 120 on average with some outliers. Slow June days were 40-50 cases, now slow days are 80-90 cases (don't forget to add up March, April, July approvals/RFEs being sent out).

September '23 is what I meant, so yes - it will not be 6 months for us. It may however be 8-10 months.

I understand that and we see all these people going nuts in the forum because the process has been horrible for March through June 2021 filers. However, please bear in mind that by September 23, the USCIS aims at 6 months processing. I have a lot of hope that we will hear from them in the first quarter of 2023.

Seemingly not. We are halfway through June and they have yet to really get started on May filers. I feel like CSC will go up to 14 months processing on the USCIS website very soon.