{"id":1366,"date":"2022-07-07T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-07T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/norrismclaughlin.com\/ib\/2022\/07\/07\/uscis-and-its-massive-case-backlog-what-comes-next\/"},"modified":"2022-07-07T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-07-07T00:00:00","slug":"uscis-and-its-massive-case-backlog-what-comes-next","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/norrismclaughlin.com\/ib\/citizenship\/uscis-and-its-massive-case-backlog-what-comes-next\/","title":{"rendered":"USCIS AND ITS MASSIVE CASE BACKLOG: WHAT COMES NEXT?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has an ambitious goal this year. Its primary objective is to reduce the backlog of cases and its impact on Immigration Services. This past year, USCIS has felt the harmful effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic turned what were already significant processing delays into unprecedented backlogs across the entire system. In fact, as of 2022, numbers are very high, with a backlog nearing 5.2 million cases and approximately 8.5 million pending cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a stark contrast from July 2019, when the backlog was only around 2.7 million. With the increase of millions of cases in only a few years and the inevitable delays it has caused in immigration processing, this new development could bring long-anticipated good news to many applicants who have been waiting for prolonged periods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Phyllis A. Coven<\/a>, the seventh Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (in that role, she identifies issues in the immigration system and makes recommendations to USCIS on how to address these problems), said the worst backlog of all is USCIS\u2019s affirmative asylum backlog, which stands at over 430,000 cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asylum: Defensive vs Affirmative<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An asylum is a form of protection that allows an individual to remain in the United States instead of being removed to a country of feared persecution. There are two paths to asylum in the U.S.: the affirmative asylum process for individuals who are not in removal proceedings, and the\u00a0defensive asylum<\/a>\u00a0process for individuals who are in removal proceedings.\u00a08 USC 1158.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is <\/em><\/strong>Affirmative Asylum<\/em><\/strong><\/a>?<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A person who is not in removal proceedings may proactively apply for asylum with the USCIS. An applicant may file an affirmative application for asylum if he or she currently holds a valid immigration status (such as a visitor or student visa or Temporary Protected Status), his or her status has lapsed or expired (except for Visa Waiver Program entrants), or even if he or she holds no immigration status (for example, if he or she entered the country without inspection).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To obtain asylum through the affirmative asylum process, the applicant must be physically present in the United States and apply for asylum within one year of their last arrival in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

USCIS Affirmative Asylum\u2019s Current Backlog<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned, USCIS\u2019 existing asylum system cannot significantly reduce its backlog, let alone keep pace with incoming applications. This delay is having a devastating impact on asylum seekers and their family members. They are losing valuable time in their immigration journey, their jobs, livelihoods, etc.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, the agency is considering approaches to improve the quality and efficiency of asylum adjudications, leading to a more effective and efficient system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

USCIS proposes the following solutions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n