Adjustment and Naturalization Case Processing Picks Up Speed
Posted Aug 25, 2000

In a bit of good news, INS data shows improvements in processing times for both adjustment of status (I-485) and naturalization (N-400) cases.

During the second quarter of 2000, the INS completed 10 percent more naturalization applications than it did during the first quarter of the year, and 29 percent more than this time last year. The backlog is now down to the lowest level since April 1997, but still exceeds 1.1 million cases. The INS is now projecting processing times of about one year. The INS hopes to complete a total of 1.3 million applications for fiscal year (FY) 2000 (October 1, 1999 to September 30, 2000). Unless there is a dramatic increase in the number of cases filed during FY2001, projected N-400 processing time could go down to six months.

Adjustment-of-Status applications have also been the focus of a backlog reduction effort. The number of I-485 cases completed in the second quarter of 2000 represents a 60 percent increase over the first quarter of the year. As of about June of 2000, there were still approximately one million I-485 applications pending. The goal for FY2000 is to complete 500,000 cases. Processing times are also starting to improve for some other petitions and applications.

We at The Law Office of Sheela Murthy, P.C. hope these encouraging trends will continue, so that people will be able to have their applications processed on a timely basis. We applaud INS's efforts, and hope that the next federal budget provides enough funding to continue these important backlog reduction initiatives.