Declining N-400 Approvals

[sg_orl]

Over the weekend, I was reviewing the USCIS website and found out that actually there is a gradual decline in the number of N-400 approved on an annual basis:

2004 N-400 approvals = 450,000 (approx.)
2003 N-400 approvals = 456,063
2002 N-400 approvals = 573,708
2001 N-400 approvals = 608,205
2000 N-400 approvals = 888,788
1999 N-400 approvals = 839,944

I know this does not take into account the total number of application filed and total number of applications denied. But with a growing backlog of N-400 cases, and reduced number of N-400 approvals, it seems like the backlog is only going to get worse. It's hard to imagine how the USCIS would reduce the N-400 processing time to 10 months in 2005, and to 6 months in 2006, as reported in the Backlog Reduction Plan.

These are the links that I was looking at:
http://uscis.gov/graphics/publicaffairs/newsrels/citizenship10Sep04.pdf
http://uscis.gov/graphics/aboutus/repsstudies/BEPFinal-signed.pdf
http://www.dhs.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/Celebrating_a_Nation_of_Immigrants.pdf

 

[phillydude]

Thanks for the data. That is useful.
There are pretty much only 2 ways to reduce the backlog: hire more people, or shift people from other areas to work on N-400s. In the past, INS and CIS have done the latter, which resulted in longer delays for I-485s and other application. I don't see that changing

]


I did read a comment on another forum for I130 processing. This person was told by USCIS, that they would hire new trainees and the catch date for I 130 was 11/1. This probably explains the movement of dates for I 130 for US citizens. Look for comments by D & K.



http://www.mediabrew.com/k3/list.php?orderby=129f

 

[Swani]

Does this number (450, 000) include people who are stuck with the name check. Any statistics on the number of people who learn during their Naturalization Interview that their Name in being checked by FBI.

 

[sg_orl]

These numbers reflect only who have completed the naturalization, i.e. taken the oath and are US citizens now. People who haven't completed the interview or completed the oath due to name check delays are part of a number that is probably much higher that 450,000. USCIS counts them under backlogged/pending cases.

As you can see from the page 9 from the report below that at the end of 2003, there were 627,270 pending N-400 cases and out of which 358,580 (57%) were classified as backlogged.

http://uscis.gov/graphics/aboutus/repsstudies/BEPFinal-signed.pdf

This reports states that USICS needs to improve their productivity by 19.6% annually to reach their goal of 6 months less cycle time for these cases.