RE: New Projected N400 Processing Times

[rick92]

http://www.uscis.gov/files/article/Local Processing Times_FINAL_11Aug08.pdf

News Release August 11, 2008

USCIS UPDATES PROJECTED NATURALIZATION PROCESSING TIMES
WASHINGTON –

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that it continues to make steady progress in reducing the significant number of naturalization applications it received last year. USCIS now anticipates naturalization application processing will average 10-12 months nationally by the end of September 2008 – a substantial improvement from its estimated average processing time of 16-18 months first announced last year. “USCIS is committed to providing customers with clear expectations and regular updates about the agency’s progress to reduce its backlog,” Acting USCIS Director Jonathan Scharfen said. “We are working steadily toward achieving our goal of processing all naturalization applications within five months by this time next year.”

During Fiscal Year 2007, USCIS received 1.4 million naturalization applications, nearly double the normal annual volume. In July alone, USCIS received 460,000 applications for naturalization prior to the implementation of its July 30, 2007 fee increase. As a result, average processing times significantly increased.

In response to the surge in applications, USCIS implemented a work plan to reduce the backlog, including implementing an aggressive hiring plan and expanded work hours. As a result of this effort, USCIS anticipates completing more than one million naturalization applications by the end of this fiscal year, including most of the applications received during the summer of 2007. Last year’s application surge did not impact USCIS offices evenly across the country. Although most offices have already processed cases received during the 2007 filing surge, a handful of offices will have a small percentage of their 2007 cases pending at the end of Fiscal Year 2008. That will result in processing times longer than the 10-12 month national average. USCIS will continue to shift resources to ensure that all local offices achieve the goal of five month processing times.

USCIS field office projections are listed below. These projections indicate the average time it will take to complete a naturalization case as of the end of September 2008.

Estimate of Local Office Naturalization Processing Times by September 2008

Office Months
Agana, Guam..................................5.0
Memphis, Tenn..............................8.4
Albany, N.Y...................................5.6
Miami, Fla....................................12.0
Albuquerque, N.M..........................8.4
Milwaukee, Wis.............................6.6
Anchorage, Alaska.........................5.0
Mount Laurel, N.J..........................5.0
Atlanta, Ga......................................6.7
New Orleans, La..........................14.5
Baltimore, Md................................7.0
New York, N.Y............................10.0
Boise, Idaho..................................10.5
Newark, N.J....................................7.4
Boston, Mass..................................8.8
Norfolk, Va....................................7.2
Buffalo, N.Y...................................7.0
Oklahoma City, Okla.....................8.6
Charleston, S.C.............................14.1
Omaha, Neb...................................5.0
Charlotte Amalie, Virgin Islands....7.2
Orlando, Fla...................................9.5
Charlotte, N.C...............................14.9
Philadelphia, Pa............................10.0
Chicago, Ill.....................................5.1
Phoenix, Ariz.................................8.6
Cincinnati, Ohio.............................7.0
Pittsburgh, Pa.................................6.0
Cleveland, Ohio..............................6.8
Portland, Maine..............................5.5
Columbus, Ohio..............................5.7
Portland, Ore..................................5.4
Dallas, Texas................................11.0
Providence, R.I...............................6.7
Denver, Colo..................................5.2
Reno, Nev.......................................5.0
Des Moines, Iowa...........................5.7
Sacramento, Calif...........................5.0
Detroit, Mich..................................5.0
Salt Lake City, Utah.......................5.0
El Paso, Texas................................7.9
San Antonio, Texas........................5.0
Fort Smith, Ark...............................7.6
San Diego, Calif.............................5.0
Fresno, Calif...................................6.7
San Francisco, Calif.......................5.5
Harlingen, Texas............................5.0
San Jose, Calif................................5.0
Hartford, Conn..............................14.3
San Juan, Puerto Rico..................10.4
Helena, Mont..................................5.0
Seattle, Wash..................................9.0
Honolulu, Hawaii...........................5.0
Spokane, Wash...............................5.0
Houston, Texas...............................5.1
St Albans, Vt..................................9.5
Indianapolis, Ind.............................5.0
St Louis, Mo.................................10.3
Jacksonville, Fla.............................7.4
St Paul, Minn..................................5.5
Kansas City, Mo.............................7.0
Tampa, Fla.....................................8.6
Las Vegas, Nev...............................9.0
Tucson, Ariz.................................12.0
Los Angeles, Calif........................12.5
Washington, D.C..........................12.7
Louisville, Ky.................................7.1
West Palm Beach, Fla....................5.0
Manchester, N.H.............................5.3
Yakima, Wash................................5.0
– USCIS –

 

[Bobsmyth]

It confirms that Charlotte DO is heavily understaffed to handle the workload.

 

[Nimche]

They were just waiting for us to pass. Now it will be OK after all of us got our NC.

 

[rick92]

You know, I think this posting from USCIS is all marketing, advertising and public relations. I Hope I am wrong.-

 

[Huracan]

What I cannot believe with my own eyes is that according to this report San Jose is faster than San Francisco. I can attest that in the San Jose thread there are many people posting pretty fast naturalization timelines. San Jose used to be the slowpoke of the nation. I hope other slow places like New Orleans and others can pick up speed too. Kudos for San Jose!

 

[LolaLi]

They have Buffalo as 7 month processing time!! HA - if it takes them 7 months, then why do they have oath ceremonies that consist of 60 persons or less? It took me less than 9 months (from submission to oath) with the 2007 backlog fiasco?! So I am not certain we can trust these numbers.

 

[ucheojo1]

you are right about that. you cannot trust the numbers.

Especially Philly DO.

The problem is the election. They are trying to slow you all from voting for

the DNC. They say they are under staff but i know new citizens who are willing to work for USCIS. you think they will hire? PLEASE..... the delay is
all politics.

When they Jacked uo the price, they thought a lot of people wouldn't apply
for N-400; but they forgot IMMIGRANTS built this country and will do anything to become citizens. EVEN if they increase N-400 to $2000 or $5000
i know people will continue to apply.

 

[Ramsis]

How come some DOs are not listed like San Bernardino?

 

[cafeconleche]

I hope these times still hold at the end of next year. I'm under the San Francisco DO.

 

[cregan]

My Phoenix AZ and its now been 16 months not 8.6 months.

 

[Bobsmyth]

My Phoenix AZ and its now been 16 months not 8.6 months.

Sounds like you're stuck in name check.

 

[Bobsmyth]

I hope these times still hold at the end of next year. I'm under the San Francisco DO.

By end of next year they should actually improve seeing that the summer backlogs from last year are a thing of the past.

 

[rick92]

By end of next year they should actually improve seeing that the summer backlogs from last year are a thing of the past.

It's funny to see how year after year, USCIS political appointees invent a new and revolutionary way to end the backlog either by asking more money from taxpayers or from applicants or from Congress and they end up standing in the same place they started before.

It is year after year the same telltale, and then when they find a good Director, they do like they did two years ago, they named him ambassador to Spain. It's like saying, we don't want this US Govt Unit working A-OK, or else we lose our jobs.

Ironic, isn't it???

 

[Vorpal]

It's funny to see how year after year, USCIS political appointees invent a new and revolutionary way to end the backlog either by asking more money from taxpayers or from applicants or from Congress and they end up standing in the same place they started before.

It is year after year the same telltale, and then when they find a good Director, they do like they did two years ago, they named him ambassador to Spain. It's like saying, we don't want this US Govt Unit working A-OK, or else we lose our jobs.

Ironic, isn't it???

Agreed. However, they did manage to eliminate most of the summer 2007 backlog. The only DOs I can think of that are still processing applications from summer 2007 are D.C., Charlotte and Hartford. I think that it's a direct result of all the attention from the media and politicians.

 

[rick92]

Agreed. However, they did manage to eliminate most of the summer 2007 backlog. The only DOs I can think of that are still processing applications from summer 2007 are D.C., Charlotte and Hartford. I think that it's a direct result of all the attention from the media and politicians.

Yes, but look at the rate of rejections of N400's based on some many different reasons.

I mean, I have friends from Bangladesh who were rejected because they said they were not married or they could not prove it, and they had to pay an addtl $650 to appeal the decision, get a lawyer, after which they were instantly approved.-

Come on, it is a game for these people. No accountability. There is nobody at the helm in Congress who is asking, there are no heads rolling, no people getting fired and no respect.

Some people think, well, the sytem still works better than anywhere else. One reason why the USA has always been ahead, is not because of that, it is because it has done what needs to be done to get the job done regardless.

Are we doing it ??? Certainly NOT !!!

 

[Vorpal]

Yes, but look at the rate of rejections of N400's based on some many different reasons.

I mean, I have friends from Bangladesh who were rejected because they said they were not married or they could not prove it, and they had to pay an addtl $650 to appeal the decision, get a lawyer, after which they were instantly approved.

Actually, the rate of rejections is pretty much in line with the rate of approvals. If you take a look at the June 2008 N-400 stats (http://www.uscis.gov/files/article/N-400 NATURALIZATION BENEFITS_June08.pdf), 65% more applications were approved in 06/08 than in 06/07 and 57% more applications were denied.

 

[rick92]

Actually, the rate of rejections is pretty much in line with the rate of approvals. If you take a look at the June 2008 N-400 stats (http://www.uscis.gov/files/article/N-400 NATURALIZATION BENEFITS_June08.pdf), 65% more applications were approved in 06/08 than in 06/07 and 57% more applications were denied.

Remember that if you fall into the game of percentages, you fall into the USCIS game, they want to tell you that they are doing better, when in reality is not about percentages, because those numbers are about real people being denied an opportunity to become US Citizens, for reasons no other than to say that we are doing better, and the backlog is being reduced.

Remember, these people are Professionals at playing with numbers !!!

 

[Vorpal]

Remember that if you fall into the game of percentages, you fall into the USCIS game, they want to tell you that they are doing better, when in reality is not about percentages, because those numbers are about real people being denied an opportunity to become US Citizens, for reasons no other than to say that we are doing better, and the backlog is being reduced.

Remember, these people are Professionals at playing with numbers !!!

I'm not disagreeing one bit. I'm sure that certain applications that get denied should have gotten approved, but I'm also sure that many of those applications got denied for a reason. Believe me, I'm the last person to defend anything that involves USCIS.

On a different note, I noticed your updated signature. If you need any help with your WOM, let me know. Also, have you contacted anyone other than your Senators?

 

[rick92]

I'm not disagreeing one bit. I'm sure that certain applications that get denied should have gotten approved, but I'm also sure that many of those applications got denied for a reason. Believe me, I'm the last person to defend anything that involves USCIS.

On a different note, I noticed your updated signature. If you need any help with your WOM, let me know. Also, have you contacted anyone other than your Senators?

I have contacted Senator Schumer from New York, member of the Sub -commitee on Immigration (my senator) and Senator Leahy from Vermont, (home of the Vermont Service Center or VSC) Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Commitee and filed my INFOPASS. I did not contact Senator Clinton, bcs I think you said she never responded back, right?

And thank you for your offering, YES, I am going to need help filing the WOM bcs it is going to be a lenghty paper process.-

 

[Vorpal]

I have contacted Senator Schumer from New York, member of the Sub -commitee on Immigration (my senator) and Senator Leahy from Vermont, (home of the Vermont Service Center or VSC) Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Commitee and filed my INFOPASS. I did not contact Senator Clinton, bcs I think you said she never responded back, right?

And thank you for your offering, YES, I am going to need help filing the WOM bcs it is going to be a lenghty paper process.-

Ok, you're off to a good start. I doubt that Senator Leahy would be able to help you, as you're not his constituent. You can contact Hillary Clinton as well, just to have another exhibit to add to your WOM. Also, make sure to contact your congressman/woman. You can find yours here: https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml

I kept my WOM complaint, just for the hell of it. Let me know when you're ready to file, I'll scan it for you. Also, there's a good "no interview" WOM template on the lawsuit thread.