USCIS backlog hits 12 million
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ended March 2026 with a record 12 million pending cases, despite receiving 45% fewer forms.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) had over 12 million pending cases at the end of March 2026, according to an August 2026 analysis from the Niskanen Center. This record backlog grew despite a 45 percent decrease in incoming forms compared to the same period in 2025. The analysis notes that delayed data releases have obscured how federal immigration agencies are currently operating, limiting public insight.
Comprehensive processing data for all USCIS forms is only available through March 2026. A smaller dataset provides details through July 2026, revealing sharp declines in case completions and rising denial rates. For a full breakdown of agency performance, see our stats page.
USCIS processing data for July 2026
In July 2026, USCIS received 48 percent fewer forms among a reported subset of form types. The agency completed 53 percent fewer cases among these same types.
Naturalization cases saw a dramatic drop. USCIS completed just 20,674 naturalization cases in July 2026, down from 80,077 in July 2025. From January to July 2026, the agency completed an average of 27,077 naturalization cases per month. The comparable average for 2025 was 86,044 per month.
The denial rate for completed naturalization cases more than doubled. It rose from 10 percent in July 2025 to over 20 percent in July 2026. Applications pending for over six months increased by 338 percent in the same period.
Processing times for employment authorization applications rose by 132 percent between July 2025 and July 2026. For refugee green card applications, the denial rate was 40 percent in June 2026, compared to 14 percent in June 2025.
FY2026 Q2 backlog and completion rates
The backlog ballooned in the second quarter of fiscal year 2026, which covers January through March. USCIS completed just 1.5 million cases in that quarter. That figure is 44 percent lower than the year prior and 17 percent lower than the preceding quarter.
The net backlog, representing cases within the government's control, grew by 42 percent year-over-year. It surpassed 7 million cases in FY2026 Q2. The frontlog, or unopened cases, stood at 38,500 at the quarter's end, down from nearly 200,000 at the end of Q1.
The active DACA population dropped by over 40,000 individuals between Q1 and Q2 of FY2026. Processing times for DACA renewals and DACA-based work authorization applications both increased by 388 percent between FY2025 Q2 and FY2026 Q2.
Median processing times through May 2026
Median processing times have generally increased or stayed the same. The Niskanen Center analysis provides specific figures for several forms as of May 31, 2026.
| Form Type | FY2025 Median Time | FY2026 Median Time (as of May 31) | Percent Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asylum-based green card | 10.3 months | 17.2 months | 67% |
| Petition to adopt an orphan (U.S. citizen) | 13.8 months | 18.2 months | 32% |
| I-730 (family member of an asylee) | 10.9 months | 22.1 months | 103% |
Department of State visa issuance
The Department of State issued 26 percent fewer nonimmigrant visas in February 2026 than in February 2025. Consulates issued 74 percent fewer H-1B visas and 81 percent fewer H-4 visas compared to the year prior. H-2B visa issuances fell by 80 percent.
Immigrant visa issuances dropped by 48 percent in February 2026 compared to February 2025. In absolute terms, consulates issued 24,575 fewer immigrant visas. The largest drop by category was among parents of U.S. citizens, who received nearly 6,000 fewer visas.
Other agency updates
The Department of Labor reported PERM processing times of 372 days as of August 27, 2026. This marks an improvement from 501 days at the end of May.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement data shows a continued decline in active international student records. As of August 2026, there were over 70,000 fewer active international student records overall compared to August 2025. Records for STEM-enrolled students fell by over 47,700. The Niskanen Center calls this the single largest year-over-year drop since the Trump administration took office. For more on agency-specific data, check our injuries page for operational impacts.
