01/11/2012

The USCIS initially announced to launch the transformation program beginning from I-539 applications at the end of December 2011. However, the USCIS announced afterwards that the schedule has been delayed. 

The DHS Inspector General released its audit report of the USCIS transformation program in November 2011 confirming delays in implementation of the transformation program (online account-based filing, processing, and management of applications) with recommendations to fix some inherent problems with the program to abate current problem of processing delays of paper applications and its inability to perform sufficiently the required integrity and security work in processing of applications.

The USCIS has been delaying updating monthly processing times of petitions and applications on its website for unknown reasons. The national trend and volume of the USCIS processing of applications reflect a growing backlog lately. Consumers must have noticed that nowadays applications and petitions have been taking longer time. 

Forthcoming update of the monthly processing time report may reflect such delays. It is hoped that the processing times be returned to earlier target for each type of application and petition in the near future. Part of the problem could have been derived from longer year-end holidays last year, limited resources, and last-minute flood of FY 2012 H-1B cap cases.