US citizenship application backlog swells to 742,138 cases

The backlog of pending US citizenship applications has reached 742,138 cases, reflecting a significant imbalance between new filings and case resolutions, according to the latest quarterly data from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

During the April-to-June period, USCIS received 145,872 citizenship applications, more than double the 70,539 cases the agency decided during the same quarter. This widening gap underscores growing delays in the naturalization process for applicants seeking to become American citizens.

The mounting backlog comes as immigration authorities across the United States continue grappling with resource constraints and increased demand for citizenship services. The disparity between application intake and case completion suggests processing timelines are likely to extend further in coming months.

For Indian immigrants and others seeking US citizenship, the growing backlog means extended waiting periods before naturalization decisions can be finalized. Many applicants have already reported delays spanning several months to over a year in some cases.