- The immigration backlog reached 11.3 million pending cases at the end of 2025, a 16.5% increase.
- Agency case completions dropped by 40.8% in early fiscal year 2026 despite rising application volumes.
- New security vetting and asylum rule changes are further complicating processing times and due process.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ended 2025 with 11.3 million pending cases, reversing earlier backlog reductions as case completions fell and new reviews slowed adjudications.
The total rose from 9.7 million a year earlier, a 16.5% increase. Unofficial mid-2026 trackers estimate that the inventory has since passed 11.6 million.
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The agency completed 40.8% fewer cases in the first quarter of fiscal year 2026 than in the same period of fiscal year 2025. It has processed fewer applications than it receives for the eleventh consecutive quarter.
Applicants for green cards and work permits now face waits ranging from 8 months to over 2 years. The overall caseload includes cases at different stages, while the net backlog measures applications within the agency’s control that have exceeded target processing times.
The net backlog reached 6.3 million cases. A separate buildup of unopened applications has also emerged.
Security reviews and unopened mail are adding separate layers of delay
On April 27–28, 2026, the agency placed broad adjudication holds on millions of pending cases for “enhanced vetting.” Some applicants must resubmit fingerprints as part of the additional security checks.
The agency also faces a frontlog of approximately 197,700 to 247,000 applications received but not yet entered into its system as of August 2026. Those cases can remain without receipt notices while they await intake.
| Caseload measure | Figure | Time reference |
|---|---|---|
| Total pending cases | 11.3 million | End of 2025, FY2026 Q1 |
| Previous-year total | 9.7 million | One year earlier |
| Net backlog | 6.3 million | Latest quarterly data |
| Unopened applications | 197,700 to 247,000 | August 2026 |
| Case-completion change | 40.8% decline | FY2026 Q1 compared with FY2025 Q1 |
Budget restructuring and staffing reductions at field offices have also contributed to the agency’s throughput problem. Incoming applications have continued to outpace completed cases.
Premium processing fees increased on March 1, 2026, as the agency sought to address resource gaps.
July asylum changes send some applications directly to immigration court
A new interim final rule issued July 27, 2026, allows the agency to refer affirmative asylum applications directly to Immigration Judges without an initial interview. The agency says the process will “shorten total time,” while critics and stakeholders say it bypasses due process and shifts additional work to an already overwhelmed court system.
The change came as the administration emphasized asylum reform. USCIS Director Joseph Edlow defended the change as a way to reserve resources for people with legitimate protection claims.
“For far too long the asylum system has been exploited for purposes of delay and work authorization, not legitimate claims of protection. America's asylum system exists to protect individuals who genuinely fear persecution and this rule will help ensure that resources are directed to the timely adjudication of those claims instead of to those seeking to use the system as a loophole.”
DHS General Counsel James Percival said delays also obstruct immigration enforcement and described the administration’s approach as an effort to improve efficiency.
“One of the greatest barriers to effective immigration enforcement is intentional delay by illegal aliens and the open borders attorneys who represent them. My office works every day with the immigration components of DHS to improve efficiency and fulfill the [administration’s] mandate to enforce our laws.”
Receipt delays and longer form processing leave applicants without clear proof
The frontlog can delay receipt notices after an application arrives. Without that notice, some applicants lack proof of a legal filing during encounters with immigration enforcement.
Some individual form categories have worsened sharply. Processing times for Form I-90, used to replace a green card, increased by over 1000% in the last year.
Green card and work permit applicants face waits from 8 months to over 2 years, depending on the filing and case stage. The combination of intake delays and adjudication holds can leave applicants waiting first for confirmation that the agency accepted a filing, then for a decision.
International students face an additional uncertainty. New four-year limits on international student visas, proposed or finalized in July 2026, combined with processing delays and have left thousands uncertain about maintaining lawful enrollment.
The increased premium-processing fees, effective March 1, 2026, add another cost consideration for applicants eligible to request faster handling.
Applicants should verify current timelines before relying on a filing estimate
The agency published an Immigration and Citizenship Data update on August 4, 2026. Applicants can use the Immigration and Citizenship Data page to review caseload information and the historical national median processing times for selected forms and fiscal years.
Before filing or paying for expedited handling, applicants should:
- Check the current processing information for the relevant form and office.
- Confirm the applicable filing and premium-processing fee as of August 2026.
- Keep proof of delivery and copies of the submitted application while waiting for a receipt notice.
- Review new agency announcements through the USCIS Newsroom.
Processing times and fees are subject to change. Applicants should verify current information at uscis.gov before relying on a timeline or filing-cost figure.
