On Tuesday, USCIS announced new actions aimed at speeding up processing times
and set a deadline for when they expect to end the case backlog.
These actions include establishing new internal processing time
goals, expanding premium processing, and providing
temporary relief to immigrants affected by work authorization delays.
Keep watching
because we are going to do a closer look at what actions USCIS has announced,
when you can expect them to take effect and the deadline
the agency has set to end the current case backlog.
And if this is your first time on my channel, be sure to subscribe
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One of the ways USCIS is working to improve processing times
and reduce the case backlog is by expanding premium processing.
This gives applicants the option to pay an additional fee,
usually between $1,500 to $2,000 to expedite their application.
Currently, processing is only available for certain I-129
nonimmigrant worker petitions and I-140 employment based green card applications.
This announcement by USCIS expands eligibility for premium processing
to include additional I-140 employment based green card applications, form I-765
work permits, and form I-539 Temporary Immigration Status Extension Requests.
Note that implementation of premium processing will occur slowly
and in a phased approach starting in June of 2022, with employment
based green card applications for EB1 multinational executives
and EB2 immigrants seeking a national interest waiver.
USCIS will then continue to expand premium processing eligibility over
the next three years, eventually making it available for work permits in 2025.
The second action the USCIS announced is a plan
to increase the automatic extension period for work permit renewals.
Currently, work permits are automatically extended
for 180 days once a person applies for renewal in certain categories,
allowing them to continue working while the application is being processed.
But due to current delays,
that is not enough time causing many immigrants to quit working
or even lose their jobs as a result of their work permit being expired.
USCIS is working towards finalizing a new rule that would increase
the automatic extension period and provide relief
for the many immigrants stuck in limbo as they wait for permission to work.
The third action the USCIS announced is the establishment of new cycle time goals.
Cycle time is used internally to track the agency's caseload
and is similar to the publicly posted median processing times.
Their goal is to process applications for temporary work programs
such as H-1B and H-2A visas within two months.
Applications for work permits, travel documents and temporary
status changes will be reviewed within three months,
and all of their applications, such as citizenship, DACA renewals
and family sponsored green cards will be reviewed within six months.
I will put the specific cycle
time goals for each form on the screen for you to review.
These new goals signal a return to baseline processing times and an end
to the case backlog, which USCIS plans to achieve by September 30th, 2023.
To meet this goal they are hiring thousands of caseworkers
and implementing new processing technology.
As they make these changes,
they will use internal cycle times to track their progress
in reducing the backlog of cases and speeding up processing times.
Boundless immigration CEO Xiao Wang said of the announcement: "I am encouraged
by the increased levels of transparency and accountability from USCIS.
What will truly move the needle is the speed by which USCIS
is able to fill its 3000+
open positions and adopt new technologies."
If you want to hear about the additional technologies and internal changes
USCIS is making to help speed up case processing,
I will include a link to my other video here.
I will also continue to bring you additional immigration news as it becomes
available, so be sure to subscribe and turn on notifications
if you haven't done so yet.
Click here to watch this video next and I will see you there.