USCIS Q3 FY2025 Backlog Reaches 11.5 Million Pending Cases

United States immigration services ended the third quarter of Fiscal Year 2025 with a new record caseload, as the agency reported more than 11.5 million total pending cases and a rising Net Backlog of 5.4 million. The data, covering April through June, shows the pressure on case processing has grown even as policy shifts under President Trump have scaled back certain Biden-era parole programs and narrowed some uses of Temporary Protected Status.

USCIS also reported a sharp jump in its “frontlog”—the queue of applications received but not yet opened or receipted—reaching about 60,000, up from 34,000 the prior quarter. Together, these figures point to mounting operational strain heading into the final quarter of USCIS FY2025, with ripple effects across family, employment, and humanitarian case types.

Why the headline figures matter

The headline figures matter for families and employers because they indicate both service demand and internal capacity. A rising Net Backlog—cases that have aged beyond normal processing times—often translates to longer waits for green card processing, delayed work permits, and stalled travel plans. The latest quarter confirms that trend: USCIS completed fewer cases than in prior quarters, which compounded delays.

While family-based adjustment of status applications—known as AOS I-485 cases—are still moving through interviews quickly, the overall net reduction in that queue was only about 1,000 cases this quarter. That pattern matches reports from many applicants: interviews are scheduled fast, but final decisions take much longer, leaving cases in limbo.

Work permit and filing trends

One of the most striking data points is on work permit filings. Receipts for Form I-765 (Employment Authorization Document, EAD) fell from about 1.5 million in Q2 to 1.1 million in Q3—an abrupt drop that lines up with a nearly 30% monthly decline in total applications observed in August.

For a fee-funded agency, fewer new filings mean less revenue to hire, train, and retain staff. USCIS faced a similar financial pinch in early 2020 at the start of the pandemic, when it nearly furloughed a large share of its workforce. The agency is in better shape today than it was then, but the combination of a larger backlog and shrinking receipts is a warning sign as USCIS enters the last quarter of the fiscal year.

Processing-time pressures across form types

USCIS data shows wider processing time stress across multiple form types:

• Form I-129 (employment petitions): processing times rose 25% from Q1 and 80% year-over-year.
• Form I-90 (green card renewals/replacements): processing times surged more than 900%, now averaging over eight months.

These trends matter for workers and lawful permanent residents who rely on timely approvals to keep jobs, maintain proof of status, and avoid gaps in benefits. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, these delays reflect system-wide constraints that are not resolved simply by changing a single policy area. Instead, they show a workload that keeps outpacing completion capacity, even when certain pipelines—like AOS I-485 interviews—appear to move faster in early stages.

The importance of the “frontlog”

The “frontlog” is an important signal of basic intake health. When tens of thousands of cases sit unopened or unreceipted, applicants can’t track their files, confirm filing dates, or request service.

• The intake pile doubled from last quarter, growing from about 34,000 to roughly 60,000.
• This affects families waiting for receipt notices to enroll in benefits, students needing to prove timely filing for F-1 work authorization, and asylum seekers counting days toward EAD eligibility.

In practical terms, a growing frontlog means more people are stuck at the very start of the process, before an officer even reviews their file.

AOS I-485: fast interviews, slow final approvals

For families pursuing permanent residence through marriage or other qualifying relationships, AOS I-485 cases show a mixed picture:

• USCIS appears to be scheduling interviews quickly in many field offices.
• Yet the net backlog in that category dropped only marginally—by about 1,000 cases—suggesting that final approvals lag behind the pace of interview scheduling.
• Applicants report leaving interviews with positive signs only to wait months for the welcome notice or card production.

Delays at this stage can stall work plans and travel, since many applicants rely on interim benefits from Form I-765 (EAD) and advance parole to work and leave the country while the green card decision is pending. When EAD receipts fall and pending EAD volumes remain high—exceeding 2 million by earlier measures this year—the risk of gaps in work authorization grows.

Operational strain and financial risks

Within the USCIS FY2025 Q3 picture, several operational markers point to stress that extends beyond one form type:

• Total pending case inventory climbed to more than 11.5 million, up from 11.3 million last quarter—a new record.
• The Net Backlog rose to about 5.4 million, compared with 4.9 million in Q2.
• The frontlog nearly doubled to roughly 60,000 cases awaiting intake.
• Case completions fell quarter-over-quarter, continuing a downward trend.
• EAD receipts dropped from about 1.5 million to 1.1 million between Q2 and Q3; August filings showed an almost 30% monthly decline across all applications.

These indicators all pull in the same direction: more cases entering or lingering in the system, fewer cases leaving it, and less fee revenue coming in to finance staff and technology.

Meanwhile, several time-sensitive benefits depend on predictable processing intervals:

• Students rely on Form I-765 for Optional Practical Training and STEM OPT.
• Families filing for Form I-485 often bundle EAD and advance parole requests to avoid job and travel disruptions.
• Employers filing Form I-129 need timely outcomes to onboard or extend workers.
• Lawful permanent residents count on Form I-90 to keep current proof of status.

When processing times lengthen across these pillars, the daily costs add up: job offers expire, internships fall through, and drivers’ licenses tied to EADs or green cards lapse.

Policy changes vs. capacity constraints

Policy changes under President Trump—scaling back some parole programs created during President Biden’s term and narrowing certain TPS pathways—did not shrink the backlog. USCIS data shows the overall pending inventory keeps growing despite these reversals. That outcome suggests the main drivers now are workload and capacity rather than a single program’s volume.

Examples of bottlenecks:

• Interviews for AOS I-485 may move faster, but final decisions slow, clogging the pipeline at later stages.
• Fewer EAD receipts reduce fee revenue, which can constrain staffing and overtime, further slowing adjudication.

For readers tracking official numbers, USCIS posts quarterly updates on its public data portal. The agency’s Immigration and Citizenship Data page is the main hub for these releases and related reports, including detailed form-by-form charts and completion counts. Readers can review those updates at the USCIS data page here: USCIS Immigration and Citizenship Data.

Impact on applicants and employers — who is affected and what to do

The USCIS FY2025 Q3 numbers touch almost every part of the system. Below are the groups most affected and practical steps they can take now.

• Family-based green card applicants filing AOS I-485:
  • What the data shows: Interviews are happening quickly in many places, but the net backlog fell by only about 1,000 cases in Q3.
  • What this means: Expect a faster start but a long tail after the interview. Work and travel benefits filed with the green card package may be essential during the wait.
  • Practical steps:
  1. File a complete AOS package with required civil documents and medicals (if available) to reduce post-interview requests.
  2. If work is needed, include an EAD through Form I-765 with the Form I-485 filing.
  3. Track processing times and case status. If your case passes typical timeframes, consider a service request or, where allowed, an inquiry through your congressional office.
• Workers and employers relying on Form I-129:
  • What the data shows: Form I-129 processing times rose 25% from Q1 and 80% year-over-year.
  • What this means: New hires and extensions may face longer waits, adding pressure to project timelines and start dates.
  • Practical steps:
  1. Build extra lead time into petition planning.
  2. Where available, consider premium processing to avoid gaps.
  3. Monitor receipt-to-decision intervals by category, not just overall office times.
• Lawful permanent residents renewing or replacing green cards:
  • What the data shows: Form I-90 processing times surged by more than 900%, now over eight months on average.
  • What this means: Applicants may face longer periods before physical cards arrive, which can affect I-9 verification and travel.
  • Practical steps:
  1. File renewals well ahead of expiration.
  2. Keep receipt notices and extension notices handy for work and travel checks.
  3. If urgent travel or job verification is at risk, contact USCIS or seek an appointment to request temporary proof where policy allows.
• People depending on EADs:
  • What the data shows: EAD receipts fell from 1.5 million to 1.1 million between Q2 and Q3; pending EADs remained very high, previously topping 2 million.
  • What this means: The agency will collect less fee revenue as the backlog rises, which can slow adjudication if staffing and overtime tighten.
  • Practical steps:
  1. File renewals as early as the rules allow and confirm if automatic extensions apply to your category.
  2. Keep employers informed about renewal timelines and automatic extension rules to avoid payroll or I-9 issues.
• All applicants facing intake delays:
  • What the data shows: The frontlog rose to about 60,000 unopened or unreceipted cases.
  • What this means: Receipt notices may take longer to arrive, delaying the ability to track cases or use filing receipts for benefits.
  • Practical steps:
  1. Use trackable mail services to confirm delivery.
  2. Save copies of everything filed, including checks or fee payments, to help confirm the date USCIS received the package.
  3. If no receipt arrives after a reasonable period, consider contacting USCIS or, where appropriate, a congressional office.

Even as case volumes rise, the experience can vary by field office and service center. Some offices have kept interviews moving quickly and cleared local interview queues. But the national Net Backlog shows that progress in one stage can be offset by delays in another—e.g., interviews completed locally but files then awaiting final review, security responses, or card production.

Human and operational costs

There is a human cost when backlogs lengthen:

• A spouse may miss a job start because an EAD renewal is late.
• An employer may lose a candidate because a petition approval did not arrive in time.
• A permanent resident may delay travel to see a sick relative because a new card or temporary proof is not available on time.

These moments rarely show up in a chart, but they are central to why the USCIS FY2025 numbers matter to people’s plans and livelihoods.

Policy observers will watch how USCIS balances rising inventories with falling receipts in the final quarter of the year. If August’s nearly 30% monthly drop in total filings continues, the agency could face tighter budgets just as pressure to reduce the backlog mounts. While USCIS is in a stronger position than in 2020, the agency’s reliance on fee revenue means it must keep case completions high to sustain operations and reinvest in technology and staffing. If completions fall for several quarters, the Net Backlog can rise even without a big jump in new filings.

Practical takeaways for families and employers

• Expect longer waits in categories with rising processing times, including Form I-129 and Form I-90.
• For marriage-based and other family-based AOS I-485 cases, plan for a potential gap between interview and final approval.
• For EADs, file renewals early and know your category’s automatic extension rules to avoid work gaps.
• For filings sent in Q3 and Q4, prepare for slower receipt notices due to the larger frontlog.

Applicants who need to file now should make sure each form is complete and properly supported:

• For Form I-485: Include a clean set of civil documents, medical exam if available, and organized evidence to reduce post-interview requests.
• For Form I-765: Check your category, fees, and whether you qualify for automatic extension; keep a copy of your last approval notice.
• For Form I-129: Build in more time for adjudication; where timelines are tight, consider premium processing and careful coordination for Requests for Evidence.
• For Form I-90: File well in advance and carry valid extension notices for work and travel.

Data transparency and where to follow updates

The operational signals in Q3 also highlight the need for transparent public data. USCIS’s quarterly reports help families, employers, and schools plan around average timelines and identify bottlenecks. They also give lawmakers and agency leaders a clearer view of where resources could make the biggest difference.

• The rise in frontlog suggests intake functions may need added support—whether through staffing, automation, or process changes.
• The limited drop in the AOS I-485 net backlog points to late-stage constraints—final reviews, card production, or background check responses—as areas worth targeted attention.

Some observers hoped that policy limits on certain parole pathways and tighter TPS decisions under President Trump would reduce incoming volume and ease pressure inside USCIS. The Q3 numbers show the system-wide backlog continues to grow anyway. That suggests demand from other channels—family, employment, and humanitarian filings that remain available—is sufficient to keep officers fully loaded. Sustained reductions in wait times may depend more on consistent staffing and technology improvements than on short-term shifts in policy scope.

For readers seeking official figures, USCIS posts quarterly releases on its data portal: USCIS Immigration and Citizenship Data. Those who plan to file soon can review form instructions and requirements at the links below:

• Adjustment of Status: Form I-485
• Employment Authorization: Form I-765
• Nonimmigrant Worker Petition: Form I-129
• Green Card Replacement/Renewal: Form I-90

What to watch in Q4 and beyond

As USCIS FY2025 moves into the fourth quarter, the key metrics to watch are:

• Total pending inventory
• Net Backlog
• Case completions
• EAD receipts

If completions rise and receipts stabilize, the backlog could level off or shrink in targeted areas. If not, families and employers should brace for longer waits into early FY2026.

For now, the Q3 report delivers a blunt message: the system is processing a record number of pending cases, the frontlog is larger, and the agency has less new revenue coming in. From AOS I-485 family cases to I-129 worker petitions and I-90 renewals, applicants will feel the squeeze in longer timelines and the need for careful planning, stronger documentation, and early filing to safeguard work, travel, and family plans.