USCIS on Backlog Elimination Plan
Posted Nov 12, 2004

The plan described in our June 25, 2004 MurthyBulletin article entitled USCIS Releases Backlog Elimination Plan to Congress, has been followed up. On November 5th, the USCIS released its 2004 Third Quarter update to Congress. That report reveals that the case processing backlog was reduced by nearly 340,000 applications during the last quarter.

The USCIS monitors specific application and petition types. These forms represent approximately 94% of the USCIS workload. USCIS processing-time goals were surpassed for nine of these forms,: I-90s, I-129s, I-130s, I-131s (advance paroles and refugee travel documents), I-539s, I-751s, I-765s, N-400s, and I-881; were on target for I-589s and I-867s; and were running behind for I-140s, I-485s, and I-821s.

The USCIS reports that requests for evidence (RFEs) in I-485 cases were down 22.3 percent in the third quarter of 2004 from those issued during the second quarter. I-129 RFEs dropped 14 percent and I-140 RFEs dropped three percent. Denial rates for I-485s dropped 2.3 percent, I-140 denial rates dropped 1.6 percent, and I-129 denial rates remained the same.

I-130s with a priority date not yet available are no longer considered part of the backlog due to USCIS policy to not process such cases until the priority dates are current. The USCIS has not indicated whether it will initiate the same policy with I-140s, should the priority dates retrogress in January 2005 as anticipated.

The USCIS has begun the design phase of the Tracking Applications for Benefits System (TABS), a new technology system for delivering consolidated end-to-end data on an individual's immigration benefits application process. The computer program, CLAIMS3, at the National Benefits Center has also been upgraded and plans are to do the same at the four USCIS Service Centers.

We at The Law Office of Sheela Murthy, P.C. are pleased to know that our government, particularly the USCIS, is taking strides to approve more cases on a faster basis through the use of technology. While much more needs to be done, this is a good start towards the elimination of backlogs.