Americans By Choice

As the Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and an American by choice, I find it satisfying that so many people want to become a part of the American fabric. The significant increase in the number of immigration applications and petitions filed is clearly welcome news as applicants demonstrate a deep desire to participate fully in our country’s civic life. I understand well that processing delays are not abstract numbers. Each case affects an individual’s or family’s dreams and aspirations. At USCIS, we are committed to providing immigration services and benefits to eligible applicants as expeditiously as possible.

In July and August, we received almost 2.4 million applications and petitions for immigration benefits, double the normal volume. During fiscal year 2007, the agency received approximately 1.4 million naturalization applications. That is more than the total naturalization applications filed in 2005 and 2006 combined. For the months of June and July of 2007, it represented an increase of nearly 350% compared to the same period in 2006.

This surge in filings initially resulted in receipting delays for many naturalization applicants. We have addressed this situation, and have returned to normal timeframes for issuing naturalization application receipt notices. USCIS projects this filing surge will impact overall processing times for naturalization applications received after June 1, 2007. USCIS is projecting that under current conditions, the average processing time for these applications is expected to be up to 18 months. It is likely, however, that some applicants in jurisdictions less heavily impacted by the filing surge will be processed sooner.

We are finalizing a plan to specifically address the application increase. It will detail how we expect to improve this situation by enhancing our information systems, realigning our internal processes, and expanding our workforce capabilities. In the interim, we are taking some immediate steps. Our new fee schedule (pdf) has provided the resources to expand our workforce by about 1,500 employees and invest in information technology, facilities, training and other areas to improve service. We now have more than 690 new staff members onboard, including more than 400 adjudicators, who have a direct effect on this workload. Many more will be arriving in USCIS offices this summer.

Our goal is to continue these efforts and accelerate them where possible to better meet demands. We will not shortcut our procedures or processes to the detriment of immigration integrity or national security. Processing applications fairly without sacrificing national security and public safety is our core mission, and the American people deserve our utmost dedication and commitment. USCIS remains committed to fulfilling its promise of maintaining the integrity of our immigration system while also providing world-class customer service.

Dr. Emilio T. Gonzalez
Director, USCIS