On March 29, 2022, the USCIS announced several efforts it plans to implement to increase efficiency and reduce backlogs and burdens in the overall legal immigration system. These planned process improvements include:
Setting new agency-wide backlog reduction goals - USCIS is establishing new internal cycle time goalsbeginning shortly. These goals are internal metrics that guide the backlog reduction efforts of the USCIS workforce and affect how long it takes the agency to process cases. As cycle times improve, processing times will follow, and applicants and petitioners will receive decisions on their cases more quickly. USCIS will increase capacity, improve technology, and expand staffing to achieve these new goals by the end of FY 2023.
Expanding premium processing to additional form types – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced in these measures a final rule that aligns premium processing regulations with the Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act. This final rule shall expand the categories of forms ultimately eligible for premium processing services, including Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status; Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization; and additional classifications under Form I-140, such as Form I-140 filers requesting EB-1 immigrant classification as a multinational executive or manager, or EB-2 immigrant classification as a member of professions with advanced degrees or exceptional ability seeking a national interest waiver.
Working to improve timely access to employment authorization documents - USCIS continues to make progress toward a temporary final rule currently named “Temporary Increase of the Automatic Extension Period of Employment Authorization and Documentation for Certain Renewal Applicants.”
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