The 'Real' Story Behind USCIS

Anyone preparing to immigrate to the U.S. has thought about this at least once.
"Why on earth does this take so long?"
PERM, I-140, I-485, interviews, AP (administrative processing)…
Every step slows down, replies never come, and it's gotten to the point where people say "no news is good news."

But the current pace isn't simply because "government workers are slow."
It's the result of layered structural reasons: USCIS's operating model, budget structure, policy changes, tightened security, and staffing challenges.
Below, we take an expert look at why USCIS is inevitably slow.

1. USCIS Is Funded by "Filing Fees," Not "Taxes"

There's a fact many people don't know.
Unlike most U.S. government agencies, USCIS is not funded by federal taxes.

Core structure
- About 95% of operating costs come from applicant-paid filing fees
- In other words, even staffing is funded by filing fees
- When immigration demand surges → workload exceeds the budget
- Conversely, when filing fee revenue drops → staffing becomes impossible

Because of this structure, USCIS
"speeds up when the budget is ample, and immediately slows down when the budget is tight."
In fact, when filing volume dropped during the pandemic, USCIS even faced a risk of bankruptcy.

2. USCIS Review Isn't Just Document Checking — Half of It Is "Security Procedures"

Many applicants think, "My documents are all ready, so why is this taking so long?"
But a significant portion of the USCIS review process is security screening.

Procedures involved
- FBI fingerprint / biometrics matching
- Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS) checks
- Multiple queries across Department of Homeland Security (DHS) databases
- Review of prior immigration status history, stay records, and any removal orders
- Cross-checking information with other federal agencies

In other words, it's not simple document review but a multi-layered process to confirm whether the applicant poses a threat to the country.
This process is difficult to automate, and if even one step is delayed, the entire case comes to a halt.

3. The Surge in Immigration Demand Is "the Core of the Backlog"

Recently, immigration demand in the U.S. has increased significantly due to labor shortages, global talent competition, and post-pandemic industry restructuring.

Growth trends
- Record numbers of H-1B applicants every year
- Surging demand for EB-3 and EB-2
- Sharp increase in family-sponsored, refugee, and asylum cases
- The backlog built up during the pandemic still hasn't fully recovered

Staff numbers at USCIS have stayed roughly the same, while the workload has grown exponentially.

4. Staffing Is "a Political Issue"

USCIS cannot simply hire more staff at will.
It must receive budget approval and is heavily affected by politics.

Why is this a political issue?
- Immigration policy direction varies greatly from administration to administration
- Some administrations support staffing increases
- Others tighten immigration review while cutting staff

As a result, USCIS staffing structurally lags behind its growing workload.

5. Cases Are Not "Processed in Order"

Many applicants ask, "I filed first, so why is someone who filed after me getting approved first?"
The reason is that USCIS processes cases based on "priority criteria" rather than simple filing order.

Examples of priority criteria
- Grouping and processing the same category together (e.g., EB-2 NIW)
- Processing cases assigned to the same office together
- Processing speed varies depending on the assigned officer's workload and specialty
- Countries or occupations requiring additional review take longer

In other words, your case being delayed is often not because "you were pushed back" but because "your turn within the same group came later."

6. Increased RFEs and Interview Requirements Slow Things Down

Recently, USCIS has been issuing more RFEs (requests for additional evidence) citing security risks.
Also, interviews that used to be waived are now being required more often, reducing the number of cases each officer can handle.

The vicious cycle
- RFEs increase
- Officers spend more time per case
- Overall capacity decreases
- The backlog grows
- Ultimately, the entire system slows down

7. The Most Important Reason: "There Are Fewer People Than Cases"

In the end, the reason USCIS is slow comes down to a very simple conclusion.
The workload is simply too large relative to the staff.

USCIS is
- the federal agency whose workload is growing the fastest
- one of the hardest agencies to staff up
- an agency with an especially high share of security review

The backlog is a systemic problem, not a matter of individual officers' diligence.

8. USCIS's Pace Won't Easily Speed Up — That's Why "Preparation" Is Decisive

USCIS is structurally destined to be slow.
Political climate, budget structure, staffing shortages, security procedures, and surging demand—all combined.

So the most realistic strategy for applicants is "not to try to control the speed, but to maximize what you can control (complete documentation, minimizing errors, proactive preparation)."
- Preventing missing documents
- Lowering the chance of an RFE
- Preparing for the interview
- Reviewing CP ↔ AOS strategy
- Accurately tracking your priority date

The key to the immigration process isn't "making USCIS faster" but "making sure your case doesn't create delay factors."