September 18, 2006

USCIS Achieves Significant Naturalization Backlog Elimination

On September 18, 2006, USCIS announced that it had significantly reduced the backlog of N-400 Applications for Naturalization after completing 342, 290 backlogged cases. In 2004, the number of backlogged Naturalization applications was at an astounding 3.8 million. The USCIS significantly reduced this figure by July 2006 to 1.1 million. Approximately 140,000 of these cases are considered under USCIS control , meaning that they are ready for processing. Cases that are out of the control of the USCIS include those that have pending ‘name checks,’ naturalization candidates awaiting oath ceremony scheduling, candidates required to retake the naturalization examination and those in which applicants have failed to respond to Requests for Evidence.

USCIS announced that N-400 Application for Naturalization processing times will now take approximately five months. Greenberg Traurig will continue to monitor the processing times of these and other applications and petitions filed with the USCIS.