Last Updated on February 23, 2023
In an effort to decrease processing times for Form N-400 and Form I-485, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is implementing an updated interview process for these applications. The increased filing volumes did not affect USCIS field offices equally, so USCIS is shifting caseloads between field offices to decrease processing times.
USCIS stated that processing times have increased as a result of higher than expected volumes received during fiscal years 2016 and 2017:
- FY 2017 receipts increased 15.6% from FY 2016
- FY 2016 receipts increased 25.5% from FY 2015
With this new process, applicants may receive an interview appointment notice or other types of notices, such as a request for evidence, from a field office outside their normal jurisdictions.If this occurs, the applicant will need to appear at the field office as requested or send the information. USCIS has confirmed that this new process will not affect where applicants attend biometrics appointments.
Envoy is pleased to provide you this information, which was prepared in collaboration with Sara Herbek, who is the Managing Partner at Global Immigration Associates, P.C. (www.giafirm.com), Envoy’s affiliated law firm.
