Immigration Benefits: Several Factors Impede Timeliness of Application Processing

摘要

This document reviews Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) applicationworkload, quantify the resources expended adjudicating applications, determine the factors affecting INS ability to process applications, and identify INS actions to improve processing. This report addresses the following questions: (1) Since 1994, to what extent have INS' adjudications budget, staffing, and workload changed; (2) Since 1994, to what extent has INS experienced backlogs in processing applications for immigration benefits; (3) How long does it take INS to process applications from the time the application is received until it is completed; (4) What factors affect INS' application backlogs and processing times, and what actions has INS taken or planned to address them; and (5) What other actions has INS taken or planned to improve application processing.