- Lawmakers are demanding answers as the USCIS pending workload reached nearly 12 million cases in 2026.
- A clear distinction exists between the backlog and the frontlog of newly filed immigration applications.
- Processing times for green cards and work permits remain significantly uneven across different service centers.
(UNITED STATES) — USCIS case processing remains uneven as of May 2026, with many major form types still taking months and some stretching past a year, as Democratic lawmakers press the agency over a growing backlog, a so-called frontlog, and rising fee revenue.
Rep. Seth Moulton led 18 Democratic lawmakers in a letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow seeking answers about the agency’s pending workload. The lawmakers said pending cases have risen by nearly 2 million since January 2025, reaching nearly 12 million. They asked why processing times have worsened even as USCIS has collected more fee revenue and received added congressional funding.
The letter draws a distinction between the backlog and the frontlog. In USCIS practice, backlog usually refers to pending cases that have passed normal processing windows. Frontlog is used more loosely for the large volume of newly filed cases waiting to enter active adjudication. Together, those piles shape how long petitioners wait for decisions, receipt notices, biometrics, interviews, and final approvals.
Lawmakers also asked how USCIS spends its fee revenue. Their questions focus on how much of that money goes to direct adjudications, compared with non-adjudicative work. They also asked whether any USCIS staff, funds, or contracts have been redirected since January 2025 to enforcement-related work or other DHS priorities outside the agency’s core benefits mission.
The letter also asks USCIS to identify policy or procedural changes since January 2025 that have slowed adjudication. That can include revised intake procedures, added screening steps, interview scheduling limits, new evidence rules, or staffing shifts between form types. USCIS has not publicly tied one single change to the full rise in pending inventory.
The issue reaches beyond one form category. Delays can affect family-based adjustment cases filed on Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, naturalization cases on Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, work permits on Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, and travel documents on Form I-131, Application for Travel Document. The Moulton press release describes the workload as pressure on the legal immigration system and links to the full letter at the Moulton press release.
USCIS processing times are estimates, not guarantees. They vary by service center, local field office, and case type. Requests for Evidence, interviews, background checks, and file transfers often add months. Cases handled through the National Benefits Center can also wait for interview space at a local field office before final action.
| Form / Center | Purpose | Typical Processing | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form I-485 at NBC/local field office | Adjustment of status | About 8 to 14 months | $1,440 as of May 2026 |
| Form I-765 at TSC/NSC/CSC | Employment authorization | About 3 to 7 months | $520 paper, $470 online in many categories, as of May 2026 |
| Form I-131 at NBC/TSC | Travel document | About 6 to 14 months | Varies by category; check fees |
| Form N-400 at local field office | Naturalization | About 5 to 8 months | $760 paper, $710 online, as of May 2026 |
Those ranges reflect USCIS estimates as of May 2026 from processing times. A case can finish sooner or later than the posted range. Service center abbreviations still matter in many filings: TSC is Texas Service Center, NSC is Nebraska Service Center, CSC is California Service Center, and NBC is National Benefits Center.
⏱️ Processing Time: USCIS posts form-by-form estimates at processing times. Check the exact form, category, and office before filing an inquiry.
💰 Current Fee: Use the exact fee listed at fees. A wrong amount can trigger rejection. Some applicants can request a fee waiver on Form I-912.
Anyone checking a pending case should follow three steps. 1. Find the receipt number on Form I-797. 2. Check status at egov.uscis.gov. 3. Compare the filing date with the posted processing time for the correct office. If the case is outside normal time, submit an online inquiry or call 1-800-375-5283.
Expedite requests remain limited. USCIS generally considers expedited review only in narrow situations, such as severe financial loss, urgent humanitarian need, nonprofit interests, government interests, or clear USCIS error. A request works better with documents: eviction notices, medical records, employer letters, deployment orders, or proof of lost income. Expedite approval does not waive the underlying eligibility rules.
⚠️ Common Mistake: Applicants often compare their case with the wrong office or wrong category. That produces false delay alarms and failed service requests.
People filing adjustment packages should also watch linked benefits. A pending Form I-485 often travels with Form I-765 and Form I-131. Delays in one filing can affect work authorization or travel plans. Leaving the United States without approved advance parole can create serious problems in many adjustment cases.
Anyone waiting on a USCIS case should keep the mailing address current, respond to RFEs by the listed deadline, and save every receipt notice. Download the correct form edition from forms, review the filing instructions for the correct lockbox or online option, and check processing times before sending a case inquiry.
📋 Official Resources: Download forms at uscis.gov/forms. Check processing times at egov.uscis.gov. Fees and processing times are subject to change; always verify current information at uscis.gov.
