![](media/image1.png){width="6.25in" height="1.0416666666666667in"}May
26, 2000

**Adjudications Update---Second Quarter, FY 2000\
(January 1, 2000 -- March 31, 2000)**

The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) continued to make
steady progress in the number of immigration benefit applications
completed during the second quarter of fiscal year (FY) 2000. This
growth in production is a direct result of INS' diligent efforts to
better manage its challenging workloads.

**Background**

On October 28, 1999, INS Commissioner Doris Meissner and Attorney
General Janet Reno announced that the INS completed more than 1.2
million naturalization applications during FY 1999---a 105-percent
increase from FY 1998 (610,547). The agency also fulfilled its
commitment to cut the national average length of time it takes to
process a naturalization application to 12 months---down from 28 months
at the beginning of the fiscal year. *(This means applications filed in
October 1999 would be processed, on average, within 12 months from the
date filed.)*

To increase production for the naturalization program, the agency
implemented a number of initiatives in FY 1999, which included:
eliminating processing bottlenecks, improving the performance of new
automated systems and their interfaces with other systems, allocating
additional funding for application processing needs (i.e., contract
support, overtime), and hiring 200 additional adjudicators.

In FY 2000, as the agency continues to make progress in handling the
naturalization backlog, it is extending naturalization initiatives to
the adjustment-of-status backlog and to the Green Card (Form I-551)
renewal program, thereby expanding progress to these vital immigration
services.

**Naturalization**

**Production Levels**

Preliminary data indicates that the agency completed 289,014
naturalization applications during the second quarter of FY 2000. This
is a 29**-**percent increase over the same time period last year
(224,081 completions during second quarter, FY 1999). This completion
level shows a 10-percent increase from the first quarter of FY 2000
(261,568 completions). The naturalization caseload stood at 1,170,233
applications as of the end of the second quarter, FY 2000--the lowest it
has been since April 1997.

By the end of the second quarter, the national average projected
processing time for naturalization applications was 12 months. *(This
means applications filed at the end of March 2000 would be processed, on
average, within 12 months from the date filed.)*

The agency remains confident that it will be able to complete 1.3
million naturalization applications this fiscal year. By achieving this
goal, and if application receipts stay steady at a projected rate of
500,000 this year, INS will reduce the national average projected
processing time to approximately six months by the end of FY 2000.

**Adjustment of Status**

Adjustment of status refers to the procedure that allows certain aliens
already in the United States--who are eligible to receive an immigrant
visa and for whom one is immediately available--to apply for immigrant
status with INS.

The agency's adjustment-of-status application workload nearly doubled
between FY 1994 and FY 1995 when Section 245(i) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act was implemented. This provision applies to illegal
aliens residing in the United States who, although otherwise eligible
for an immigrant visa abroad, are barred from adjusting their status in
the United States. Section 245(i) allows such individuals to pay a
penalty fee and apply with INS for adjustment of status in the United
States, instead of acquiring their visa abroad from the Department of
State. *(Because Section 245(i) expired on January 14, 1998, this
provision is currently available only to those aliens who are the
beneficiary of either an immigrant visa petition or application for
labor certification filed on or before the expiration date.)* The
pending workload of adjustment-of-status applications increased almost
eight-fold from FY 1994 to FY 1999 (from 121,000 to 951,000).

**Production Levels**

Preliminary data indicates that the agency completed 137,916 adjustment
of status applications during the second quarter of FY 2000. This is a
74-percent increase over the same time period last year (79,433
completions during second quarter, FY 1999) and a 60-percent increase
over last quarter (86,180 completions during first quarter, FY 2000).
The adjustment-of-status caseload stood at 1,003,931 applications at the
end of the second quarter, FY 2000.

The agency is confident that if application receipts remain at a
projected rate of 483,000 this year, by extending initiatives
implemented last fiscal year to boost naturalization production, INS
will be able to achieve its goal of completing 500,000
adjustment-of-status applications in FY 2000.

By the end of the second quarter, the national average projected
processing time for adjustment-of-status applications decreased to 22
months--down dramatically from the 36-month processing time at the end
of the first quarter, FY 2000. While projected processing times will
continue to fluctuate from month to month, INS expects to end FY 2000
with a national average projected processing time of 24 months or less.

**Green Card Renewal**

In the fall of 1989, INS began issuing Green Cards with 10-year
expiration dates indicated on the front of the card. INS estimates that
up to 660,000 lawful permanent residents will need to renew their Green
Cards during FY 2000. INS is implementing new procedures to handle this
volume of work and improve customer service. *(See **New Initiatives**
below.)*

Procedures are currently in place to accommodate Green Card renewal
applicants and ensure one-stop service--which means that applicants will
only need to visit their local INS office once, if their application is
complete and correct. The agency continues to enhance these procedures
to improve the renewal process and reduce the wait time for a new card.
INS remains committed to achieving a 90-day national average processing
time for Green Card renewal applications by the end of this fiscal year.

**Production Levels**

INS is in the process of developing accurate tracking methods to
differentiate Form I-90 Green Card renewal applications from all other
Form I-90 applications (i.e., for a lost, mutilated or destroyed card,
or for a change in name). Currently, however, Green Card renewals are
processed and counted with all the other Form I-90 applications; thus
second quarter data relate to all Green Card applications--not just
renewals.

According to informal reporting from INS Service Centers, on average,
INS is processing Form I-90 applications, including Greed Card renewals,
within 5 months--down considerably from a 12-month average processing
time at the end of FY 1999. *(These processing time estimates cover the
period from the date INS receives the completed application until the
date the new Green Card is mailed to the applicant.)*

**New Initiatives**

To boost efficiency and customer service, INS plans to move all Green
Card renewal processing to INS Application Support Centers this summer.
With this initiative and the agency's continuous efforts to streamline
application processing and improve production, INS remains on track to
achieve its goal of a 90-day turnaround for Green Card Renewal
applications by the end of FY 2000---a significant drop from the current
five-month average time.

-- INS --