Reports indicate that due to a decrease in application volume and increased staffing at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the wait time for naturalization applications has now shrunk to its lowest point since August 2007, requiring just over six months. In San Diego, California, it has been reported that the wait time for certain applications has even dropped to three to four months.
One year ago, the wait time for naturalization applications exceeded 12 months, but it has now been reduced by approximately half. USCIS is working to further shorten the wait times. Spokesperson Marie Sebrechts stated, “It is possible that processing times could be reduced to less than five months, but we cannot guarantee this.”
In 2006, the total number of naturalization applications was over 823,000, but it surged to 1.4 million in 2007. This was due to the launch of naturalization campaigns, ongoing public immigration debates in Congress, and an increase in application fees in July of that year, which led immigrants to rush to file their applications before the price hike.
The spokesperson said that in order to accelerate the processing of naturalization applications, USCIS hired over 1,600 additional full-time staff members and arranged more naturalization ceremonies. Although the number of naturalization applications dropped to 525,000 in 2008 (the lowest figure since 2003), the additional staff members were retained, ensuring that USCIS remains well-staffed.
Advocates note that many immigrants interested in naturalization cannot afford the $750 application fee. Norma Chavez, an immigrant rights activist in the San Diego, California area, stated that despite the economic recession, immigrants still have the desire to naturalize, and her organization will hold consultation events at local churches in the coming months. She said that even if they cannot afford the application fee right now, immigrants interested in naturalization should begin preparing for the naturalization test. She added, “We see immigrants coming in to request information and fill out forms, preparing while they wait.”
