

In fiscal year 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) achieved significant milestones in the following areas:
- Reducing Backlogs
- Improving Customer Experience
- Strengthening Immigration for Workers and Employers
- Humanitarian Efforts
- HART Service Center
Reducing Backlogs
USCIS completed almost 10 million pending cases and received a record-breaking 10.9 million files, resulting in an impressive 15% reduction in backlogs overall. Notably, the organization conducted the Oath of Allegiance for over 878,500 newly naturalized citizens, thereby eradicating the backlog of citizenship applications. For applicants seeking U.S. citizenship, the median processing time dropped from 10.5 months to 6.1 months, a considerable improvement in waiting periods.
Improving Customer Experience
To enhance the customer experience, USCIS implemented technological solutions. Online biometrics appointment rescheduling was made possible by a self-service interface; in FY 2023, approximately 33,000 new appointments were scheduled. Over 430,000 address changes submitted online were made possible by enterprise change of address capabilities. An online form was used to boost the number of requests for field office appointments, and a new text-ahead function made the 1-800 number’s call-back predictability more reliable.
Strengthening Immigration for Workers and Employers
In comparison to pre-pandemic levels, USCIS issued more than 192,000 employment-based immigrant visas. For applicants seeking adjustment of status, the maximum validity period of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) has been increased to five years. It was made clearer who is eligible for what immigration services, such as the International Entrepreneur Rule and the EB-1 immigrant visa.
For those applying for a non-immigrant status change or extension, USCIS eliminated the need for an appointment and the biometrics fee. To stop child beneficiaries of noncitizen workers from “aging out” of child status, the Child Status Protection Act’s interpretation was modified.
Humanitarian Efforts
After more than 100,000 applications for asylum were interviewed, more than 60,000 of them were accepted and resettled. Processing asylum cases for members of the Afghan alliance was given priority by the agency, which also finished 146,000 credible fear and reasonable fear screenings. Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) was maintained by USCIS, which also supported safe and orderly processing for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans (CHNV). The Central American Minors Program has been improved, and children who want to apply for the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program now have more eligibility options.
HART Service Center
Set up by USCIS, the HART Service Center (Humanitarian, Adjustment, Removing Conditions and Travel Documents). This center is dedicated to deciding benefit requests from disadvantaged groups. At the HART Service Center, employment increased by nearly 90% in FY23.
Explore more on: