How long does USCIS interview take?
Technically, the USCIS has to provide you with a decision on your naturalization application within 120 days of your naturalization interview. In a green card application, the USCIS is supposed to provide you with an official notification of their decision within 30 days of your interview.
It is common for United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) to take quite some time to issue a formal decision in a Naturalization case after the applicant has his/her interview. As a matter of regulation, USCIS has 120 days to issue a decision.
"Case in Review" After Interview - What Does That Mean For You?
A typical citizenship interview lasts about 20 minutes, but the exact timeframe varies by applicant.
The reasons for these delays are twofold: (1) the COVID19 pandemic impacted the efficiency and productivity of USCIS and all government functions, including mail delivery, and (2) the Trump Administration delayed processing of visa petitions as a way to reduce the number of legal immigrants entering the United States.
Technically, the USCIS has to provide you with a decision on your naturalization application within 120 days of your naturalization interview. In a green card application, the USCIS is supposed to provide you with an official notification of their decision within 30 days of your interview.
If you did not receive a decision at the end of your interview, you should expect to receive a decision from USCIS within 30 days.
Once your card is ready, USCIS will mail your Green Card, around six months from the date of the interview, to the address that you had provided, in both cases.
How long does it take for USCIS to complete an active review case? Ideally, it takes 120 days to process if no document is missing. But it can take months (sometimes years, depending on the case to get in the hand of someone that will handle it.
According to documents obtain by The Washington Post, USCIS is creating the “Organization of Professional Responsibility” to enhance oversight of the way its employees handle the more than 26,000 cases the agency decides each day.
What should you not say in an immigration interview?
THE DON'Ts. DON'T joke around with the USCIS officer. In particular, avoid joking or sarcasm related to drug dealing, communicable diseases, bigamy, or smuggling people into the country. DON'T argue with your spouse or other family members in the middle of an interview.
It doesn't. The best strategy is simply to assume that anything you post online will be seen and examined by immigration authorities. Some immigration attorneys may even recommend that you refrain from social media use entirely while your visa or green card application is pending.
There are two primary opportunities to prove that your marriage is authentic: By providing documents in your I-130 petition package (the first step of the marriage-based green card process). By answering questions at your green card interview.
There is a net trend from FY 2017 until FY 2021 of increasing processing times, with an average increase of 1-2 months until FY 2022, where processing times average 9.8 months.
The most efficient U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services field office is also stated to be in Cleveland. The USCIS office efficiency is reflected in the highest backlog completion of 71.3%, and the nation's shortest average processing time, which is only four months. Almost nobody waited longer than 12.3 months.
You can generally request expedited processing by calling the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833) or by asking Emma after you have obtained a receipt notice.
After making the decision, the official decision notification should arrive via mail within thirty days after the interview. If it is an approval, it includes notification of approval and a welcome notice. This letter contains crucial information about the rights and duties of the new permanent resident.
Once your card is ready, USCIS will mail your Green Card, around six months from the date of the interview, to the address that you had provided, in both cases.
How long does it take for USCIS to complete an active review case? Ideally, it takes 120 days to process if no document is missing. But it can take months (sometimes years, depending on the case to get in the hand of someone that will handle it.
After the Interview
Regardless, USCIS will process the new green card and mail it to your address on record. However, not all adjustment of status interviews end with a decision. The USCIS officer may tell you that you will receive a decision in the mail. Don't be discouraged.
