USCIS Impact: 2021–2025

Strengthened USCIS Fiscal Health and Management

Ensured USCIS has the resources to responsibly manage its existing workload and execute key administration priorities.

• As a predominantly (96%) fee-funded agency, USCIS must maintain sufficient cash reserves to cover the agency’s immediate anticipated expenses. By February 2020, actual cash reserves had decreased to only $176 million, far below the targeted $1 billion safe reserve level. Since 2021, USCIS has returned to a firm fiscal footing, with cash reserves back to the designated target level.
• In January 2024, USCIS published a final rule to adjust the fees for certain immigration and naturalization benefit requests. The final rule resulted in the first fee adjustments since 2016. The final rule allows USCIS to recover a greater share of its operating costs and support more timely processing of new applications and improve customer experience.

Increased Hiring and Improved Employee Morale

Attracted, recruited, trained, and retained a diverse and resilient workforce and implemented a multifaceted workforce engagement plan that improves employee morale and gives employees a voice in shaping USCIS.

• The 2024 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) 2024 results for USCIS hit an all-time high with a score of 79% positivity on the employee engagement index (EEI), 2 points higher than in 2023 and 6 points above the government-wide average. The agency’s 2024 FEVS data results shows improvement across all core areas, from leadership and supervision to performance, recognition, and accountability.
• USCIS is nearly 23,000 employees strong, more than at any other time in our history. In early 2021, we lifted the hiring freeze that was instituted during the previous year and have engaged in ambitious recruitment and retention efforts ever since.
• USCIS crafted a new mission statement based on feedback from our employees: “USCIS upholds America’s promise as a nation of welcome and possibility with fairness, integrity, and respect for all we serve.”
• USCIS created a new insignia featuring the Statue of Liberty designed to link the agency’s culture, values, and long-term goals with how USCIS defines our agency, and represents the collective contributions of USCIS and the embodiment of the American dream.

Promoted Efficiency in USCIS Adjudications

Developed and implemented a robust strategy that gives our workforce the tools to efficiently adjudicate cases and reduce the time individuals wait for decisions on their applications, petitions, and requests, while enhancing the integrity of our operations.

• In FY 2023, USCIS reduced its backlog for the first time in over a decade, even in the face of a record number of filings–from 9 million filings in FY 2021 and FY 2022, to 10.9 million in FY 2023, to 13.6 million in FY 2024. Progress on reducing the backlog continued in FY 2024, with a decrease of 11.2% (approximately 479,000 cases) compared with the prior fiscal year thanks to a record high 13.2 million case completions.
• We have reduced many processing times across the board. Our median processing time for employment authorization documents was nearly cut in half, dropping from 2.1 months in FY 2023 to just 1.1 months in FY 2024. And we effectively eliminated the backlog of naturalization applications, reducing median processing times to just 5 months from 11.5 months four years ago.

Delivered on our Humanitarian Mission

Ensured USCIS is resourced and well positioned to fulfill its ever-growing humanitarian mission and respond to humanitarian emergencies.

• International Offices: In fiscal year 2024, we opened four international field offices in Honduras, Qatar, Turkey, and Ecuador, bringing the total number of USCIS international field offices to 12.
• T Nonimmigrant final rule: In 2024, USCIS announced a final rule to strengthen the integrity of the T nonimmigrant status (T visa) program and ensure eligible victims of human trafficking can access protections and stabilizing benefits in a timely manner.
• Noncitizen Victims of Crime (U visa): Launched the Bona Fide Determination review process, which provides employment authorization and deferred action for eligible principal petitioners for U nonimmigrant status in the United States, and qualifying family members in the United States, with pending, bona fide petitions who merit a favorable exercise of discretion.
• Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) Deferred Action Policy: Announced an update to the USCIS Policy Manual to consider deferred action and related employment authorization for noncitizens with approved SIJ petitions who are ineligible to apply for adjustment of status solely because a visa number is not immediately available. 
• SIJ Final Rule: Published the SIJ Final Rule, which took effect on April 7, 2022. This rule contains significant clarifications and changes to align with existing federal statutes, solidify longstanding practice and policy, and create greater efficiency and effectiveness within the program.
• Safe Address Guidance: Implemented policy guidance on safe mailing address procedures for forms filed by persons protected under 8 U.S.C. 1367 (including VAWA/T/U benefit requestors). This guidance helps to ensure a uniform approach within USCIS, reducing administrative burdens and facilitating access to immigration relief.
• Refugee Resettlement: In FY 2024, interviewed over 159,000 refugee applicants – more than double the previous fiscal year – contributing to the resettlement of over 60,000 refugees. Deployed officers to 76 countries and significantly reduced the overall processing time for refugee applicants, both by using remote processing and concurrent processing with U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) partners. During the Biden Administration, 224,232 refugees resettled in our country.
• Safe Mobility Office Initiative: Worked with other U.S. government agencies, international organizations, and regional partners to open Safe Mobility Offices (SMO) in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Guatemala to provide information and referrals to various lawful pathways. Interviewed over 61,000 individuals through the SMOs, resulting in over 25,000 arrivals.
• Supported the Security of the Southwest Border:
  • Completed more than 215,000 credible fear and reasonable fear screenings for noncitizens arriving at the southwest border who expressed a fear of persecution or torture in FY 2024.
  • Established new capabilities to create and share electronic A-files across agencies at the Southwest Border, reducing the administrative burden on government personnel. This cut U.S. Customs and Border Protection file creation time in half while saving on administrative and other related costs.
  • Implemented call center capabilities that provide asylum officers a single contact point to connect with agents providing interpreter services in four primary languages: Spanish, Mandarin, Russian, and French.
• Promoted Safe and Orderly Migration:
  • Implemented new parole processes through which nationals of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (referred to as the CHNV processes) may request to come to the United States temporarily. Beginning in FY24, DHS implemented updated safeguards to these processes, including enhanced vetting of supporter applications, to enhance process integrity. As of the end of CY 2024, the following CHNV nationals and their immediate family members have entered the United States: 110,240 as part of the process for Cubans; 211,040 as part of the process for Haitians; 93,070 as part of the process for Nicaraguans; and 117,330 as part of the process for Venezuelans.
  • Implemented new family reunification parole processes for individuals from Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala, and modernized family reunification processes for Cuba and Haiti.
  • Joined the U.S. Department of State to announce enhancements to the Central American minor parole process and expand eligibility criteria for those who may request USRAP access for qualifying children.
• Operation Allies Welcome (OAW), Enduring Welcome, and Afghan Support Centers:
  • Extended fee exemptions and expedited immigration filings for certain Afghan nationals, as authorized and supported by Congressional funding.
  • Created a streamlined process for Afghan nationals who were paroled into the country between July 2021 and September 2023, to request consideration of a new period of parole, commonly referred to as re-parole.
  • Supported 20 Afghan Support Centers in cities with large numbers of resettled Afghan nationals and providing assistance to over 26,000 individuals, an effort made possible through Congressional funding.
  • Prioritized processing of asylum and refugee cases for Afghan allies and their families.
  • Partnered with the U.S. Public Health Service Corps to provide free medical exams to OAW parolees to facilitate final adjudications of Green Card applications.
• Uniting for Ukraine: Provided significant support to the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) process, including assessing the financial suitability of supporters for the U4U process. As of the end of FY 2023, more than 150,000 Ukrainian nationals and their immediate family members have entered the United States under the U4U process.
• Temporary Protected Status (TPS): Accepted TPS initial and re-registration applications under new designations, extensions, or redesignations for Afghanistan, Burma, Cameroon, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Haiti, Honduras, Lebanon, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Yemen. 
• HART Service Center: Opened the Humanitarian, Adjustment, Removing Conditions, and Travel Documents (HART) Service Center, to adjudicate applications affecting some of the most vulnerable noncitizens.
• Statelessness: Assisted vulnerable stateless noncitizens by announcing centralized USCIS resources to support consideration of noncitizens as stateless for immigration purposes.

Strengthened Public Engagement and Improved Customer Experience

Inspired trust in USCIS by rebuilding relationships and communications with the communities we serve and ensuring applicants have timely, meaningful access to assistance and resources.

• Online PDF Filing: As part of an ongoing effort to improve customer experience, USCIS introduced an online PDF filing option for certain applications. Noncitizens with a pending asylum or adjustment of status application, as well as certain parolees and Temporary Protected Status applicants and beneficiaries now have the option of applying for an employment authorization document (EAD) by uploading and submitting a PDF version of a completed Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, through a USCIS online account.
• Online Biometrics Rescheduling: USCIS launched a new self-service tool allowing noncitizens, along with their attorneys and accredited representatives, to reschedule most biometric services appointments before the date of the appointment, and without having to call our Contact Center. Since launch, we have rescheduled 174,000 biometric services appointments using the tool, with nearly one third of eligible customers choosing to reschedule online.
• myProgress Expansion: USCIS expanded myProgress (formerly known as personalized processing times) to Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization; Form I-131 Application for Travel Document; Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status; and Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. This new tool delivers more accurate, personalized processing time estimates for those who choose to set up a myUSCIS account.
• Online Appointment Request Form: USCIS launched a new online process for individuals, attorneys, and accredited representatives to request an in-person appointment at their local field office without having to call our Contact Center. Since launch, we received more than 163,000 appointment requests through this new online tool.
• Enterprise Change of Address: The new Enterprise Online Change of Address tool allows most customers to provide real-time address updates to USCIS online. This tool is expected to reduce USCIS Contact Center phone inquiries by up to 31%, or approximately 1.5 million inquiries annually. Since publicly releasing this tool in October 2023, over 1.4 million address changes have been completed.
• Text-Ahead Feature: USCIS launched a text-ahead capability in English and Spanish for callers to our 800 number that gives them a more predictable call-back window and reduces the number of missed calls. This also provides an ease of reference for attorneys and accredited representatives with multiple cases.
• Expansion of Online Filing: In FY 2023, we added a guided online filing experience for several forms:
  • Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal (659,000 online filings, comprising 53% of the total).
  • Form I-134, Declaration of Financial Support (303,000 online filings).
  • Form I-134A, Request to be a Supporter and Declaration of Financial Support (3.2 million filings, exclusively online).
  • Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, with certain exceptions (56,000 online filings).
  • Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, for concurrent filing with certain Forms I-765 and with certain Forms I-539 (115,000 online filings).
  • Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, expanded to asylum applicants (1.2 million online filings; approximately 50% of the total) and parolees (854,000 online filings; approximately 67% of the total).
• Self-Selection of Gender Markers and Introduction of X marker: USCIS updated its guidance to clarify that it will accept the self-identified gender marker for individuals requesting immigration services. Additionally, USCIS introduced use of an additional gender option, which is denoted by “X,” consistent with other federal and state agencies that have introduced a third gender option. USCIS also revised policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify the availability of an “X” gender marker option on certain USCIS forms and secure documents.
• Organizational Accounts and Online Filing of Form I-129 for H-1B: Ahead of the FY 2025 H-1B cap season, USCIS released a new organizational myUSCIS account and an enhanced legal representative account. Both account types have new features that allow petitioners and their representatives to share access to form drafts for collaboration on the H-1B registration and Form I-129 H-1B petition, as well as Form I-907 for premium processing, if applicable. Representatives are also able to share access to form drafts with their paralegals and legal assistants for these form types.
• Victim-Centered Customer Service Enhancements: USCIS announced that persons protected by 8 U.S.C. 1367 may seek customer service through the USCIS Contact Center so that they may have greater access to information and be provided a more efficient customer service experience. USCIS established specialized identity verification procedures for this population to and support victim safety and autonomy consistent with statutory confidentiality protections.
• Updated and improved the forms for applicants for naturalization (Form N-400) and adjustment of status (Form I-485).

Strengthened Immigration for Workers and Employers

Took critical steps to ensure that noncitizen workers, a cornerstone of the U.S. economy, can fully contribute and fulfill their potential with U.S. employers within the statutory framework of our legal immigration system.

Operational improvements

• Over the last three fiscal years, USCIS allocated each and every employment-based Green Card available under the law to an eligible applicant, so that no visas were wasted; issued over 50% more Green Cards to workers and their families; and cut processing times by 40%, so that most eligible employment-based Green Card applicants are now waiting only about 6 months or less for their application for adjustment of status to be adjudicated.
• Increased the maximum validity period of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) to 5 years for adjustment of status applicants and brought back “combo cards” that provide evidence of both employment authorization and advance parole.
• Expanded premium processing to all filers of Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Noncitizen Workers, as well as certain filers of Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, and Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status.
• Updated policy guidance on expedite requests, including when USCIS may expedite adjudication of Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, when an applicant demonstrates a pressing or critical need to leave the United States, whether the need to travel relates to a planned or unplanned event. In addition, the guidance clarifies expedite requests supported by a government agency.
• Removed the unnecessary biometrics fee and appointment requirement for applicants for a change or extension of nonimmigrant status (Form I-539), which allows near-simultaneous adjudication of the derivative form I-539 with the principal Form I-129.
• Implemented process enhancements for deferred action requests by workers to support labor and employment agency investigations.

Policy improvements

• Strengthened the integrity of the H-1B program with a final rule that created a new beneficiary-centric selection process for the FY 2025 H-1B registration period. This new rule has resulted in dramatically fewer attempts to game the system, as evidenced by H-1B registration data. In addition, under the new beneficiary-centric selection process, if a worker has multiple legitimate job offers and any of these registrations are selected, then the worker may choose which employer to work for. Another final rule modernized the H-1B program by streamlining the approvals process, better allowing employers to retain talented workers, and improving the integrity and oversight of the program.
• Permanently increased the automatic extension period for certain employment authorization documents (EADs) from up to 180 days to up to 540 days, building on extensive modernization efforts that have streamlined and improved access to work permits for eligible noncitizens and helped ensure continuity of operations for U.S. employers.
• Through joint rulemakings with the Department of Labor, made available more supplemental H-2B nonagricultural worker visas than ever before, including nearly 65,000 for FY 2025, in addition to ensuring robust protections for U.S. and foreign workers alike. Also, the H-2B Worker Protection Taskforce (PDF) was created to focus on addressing possible threats to H-2B program integrity, H-2B workers’ fundamental vulnerabilities, and the impermissible use of the program to avoid hiring U.S. workers.
• Modernized and improved the H-2 nonimmigrant visa programs with a final rule that allows qualified U.S. employers who are unable to hire qualified U.S. workers to petition for foreign nationals to fill temporary or seasonal agricultural and nonagricultural jobs. The final rule significantly strengthens worker protections, imposing new consequences on companies that charge prohibited fees or violate our labor laws, and provides greater flexibility for H-2A and H-2B workers.
• Updated policy guidance for international students, including clarification that F and M students must have a foreign residence that they do not intend to abandon, but that such students who are the beneficiary of a permanent labor certification application or immigrant visa petition may still be able to demonstrate their intention to depart after a temporary period of stay. In addition, the guidance specifies how F students seeking an extension of optional practical training (OPT) based on their degree in a science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) field may be employed by startup companies.
• Updated the agency’s interpretation of the Child Status Protection Act to provide additional protection for child beneficiaries of noncitizen workers from “aging out” of child status and allowing them to seek permanent residence along status with their parents, including clarification of the “sought to acquire” requirement.
• Published updated guidance on when a Form I-140 beneficiary may transfer, or “port,” to a new job, providing clarity to those seeking to change employers during the lengthy process of becoming a lawful permanent resident.

Greater clarity

• Published detailed information on the full range of options for STEM professionals and entrepreneurs to work in the United States.
• Published resources for nonimmigrant workers following termination of employment, to ensure that nonimmigrant workers who are laid off are aware of options that may permit them to remain in the country past the regular 60 day grace period.
• Issued guidance on the eligibility criteria for compelling circumstances Employment Authorization Documents (EADs). For example, a principal applicant with an approved immigrant visa petition in an oversubscribed visa category or chargeability area, who has lived in the United States for a significant amount of time, could submit evidence such as school or higher education enrollment records, mortgage records, or long-term lease records to support a potential finding of compelling circumstances. Compelling circumstances could include, if, due to job loss, the family may otherwise be forced to sell their home for a loss, pull their children out of school, and relocate to their home country.
• Issued new policy guidance to provide greater clarity for:
  • Individuals of extraordinary ability seeking O-1 nonimmigrant status, including a focus on STEM fields and other evidentiary criteria;
  • Individuals of extraordinary ability and outstanding professors and researchers seeking EB-1 immigrant status;
  • Individuals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability who can self-petition for EB-2 immigrant status with a National Interest Waiver, including a focus on STEM fields and entrepreneurs and other evidentiary criteria;
  • Start-up founders growing their companies in the United States under the International Entrepreneur Rule, including comprehensive guidance and evidentiary criteria;
  • Cultural and educational exchange visitors, including graduates of foreign medical schools (J-1);
  • Physicians working in an underserved area or at a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs facility (Physician NIW); and
  • Individuals of extraordinary ability in the arts and extraordinary achievement in the motion picture television industry (O-1B).

Reduced Barriers and Promoted Family Unity

• Issued a fair and humane public charge final rule, so that lawfully present immigrants and their U.S. citizen family members can safely access health and other essential services available to them under the law.
• Streamlined family reunification, including new guidance for family-based immigrant visas.
• Fortified DACA by finalizing a new regulation, reducing renewal processing times, and ensuring consistency in advance parole adjudications.
• Launched the Keeping Families Together process, to help eliminate the risk of separating families and to create government efficiencies in the Green Card application process for spouses and children of U.S. citizens. 

Promoted Citizenship and Naturalization

In March 2022, the Office of Citizenship, Partnership, and Engagement was established to elevate and unify USCIS efforts to promote citizenship and naturalization and expand our efforts across the Administration to engage in partnership with stakeholders.

• Approached 3 million naturalization completions from 2022 to 2024, the highest three-year total in over 20 years. In fiscal year 2024 alone, we received over 1 million naturalization applications and welcomed 818,500 new U.S. citizens.
• Collaborated with the Department of Defense on the “Natz at Basic” initiative. In FY 2024, we expanded our partnership to eight military bases and naturalized 16,290 service members, the highest number of annual military naturalizations since 1947.  
• Awarded $64.7 million in Congressionally appropriated grant money, including announcing and funding new grant opportunities, including the new Citizenship and Integration Grant Program grants in 2024, which provide funding and rigorous training to enable organizations that have not previously received USCIS grant funding to establish new high-quality citizenship programs. 
• Led the Interagency Working Group on Naturalization, a 16-agency effort that developed and implemented a national strategy to promote naturalization. Read the full report. USCIS is committed to empowering immigrants to pursue citizenship and the rights and opportunities available to them as they embark on their journey.
• Launched the Citizenship Ambassadors initiative and continued to honor Outstanding Americans by Choice. During FY 2024, USCIS recognized 16 Outstanding Americans by Choice, the most ever in the agency’s history. 
• Published new Citizenship Preparation publications, including One Nation, One People, the first USCIS civics test textbook published in 30 years, and Color Me Civics, a coloring book designed for use as a two-generational educational resource targeting low literacy readers. 
• Hosted the National Immigrant Integration & Citizenship Education Conference in October 2023, bringing together stakeholders from the public and private sectors together to help understand immigrant integration indicators, address barriers to integration and gaps in assistance and access, and develop strategies to build a better road for the full inclusion and integration of newcomers.