USCIS Immigration Data
Beyond the immigration courts, USCIS processes millions of immigration applications each year. As of June 2025, USCIS has a backlog of 5,408,000 applications.
Application Backlog by Form Type
As of June 30, 2025. Source: USCIS Net Backlog Report.
| Form | Description | Net Backlog |
|---|---|---|
| N-400 | Application for Naturalization | 998,700 |
| I-765 | Employment Authorization (Work Permit) | 718,400 |
| I-485 | Adjustment of Status (Green Card) | 710,100 |
| I-130 | Petition for Alien Relative (Immediate) | 524,900 |
| I-539 | Extension/Change of Status | 486,100 |
| I-751 | Remove Conditions on Residence | 168,500 |
| I-140 | Employment-Based Immigrant Petition | 103,500 |
| I-601A | Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver | 67,500 |
| I-129 | Nonimmigrant Worker Petition | 19,400 |
| I-129F | Fiancé(e) Visa Petition | 14,700 |
| TOTAL | 5,408,000 | |
Why This Data Matters
USCIS processes the legal immigration system — green cards, work permits, citizenship, and family petitions. The 5.4 million application backlog means millions of people who are following the legal process are stuck waiting months or years for decisions. This isn't about illegal immigration; these are people doing exactly what the system asks, and the system can't keep up.
The backlog has cascading effects. Delayed work permits mean people can't legally work while waiting. Delayed green cards mean people remain in precarious visa status. Delayed naturalization means eligible permanent residents can't vote or access the full protections of citizenship. Each delay creates vulnerability — and some of those vulnerabilities lead to immigration court.
Understanding the USCIS backlog is essential context for the immigration court crisis. The two systems are deeply interconnected: USCIS processing delays can push people out of status and into removal proceedings, while immigration court backlogs can delay USCIS applications that require court clearance. Fixing one without addressing the other is incomplete.
🛡️ DACA Recipients
515,570 active recipients by state and country.
🪪 Green Card Data
I-485 adjustment of status processing data.
🇺🇸 Naturalization
N-400 citizenship application data.
Source: USCIS Quarterly Backlog Report, USCIS Immigration and Citizenship Data. Data current through February 2026. Learn more →