USCIS naturalization approvals and processing times shift

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) data indicates a significant decline in naturalization case resolutions. Between April and June 2026, the agency resolved approximately 71,000 cases, a 73% decrease compared to the 265,000 cases resolved during the same period in 2025.

As a result of these changes, average waiting times for citizenship applications have increased, rising from just over seven months at the beginning of the year to more than 12 months by August. This shift occurs alongside tightened federal immigration controls and modified procedures for applicants.

Separately, many immigration applicants have reported receiving informative letters from USCIS regarding FBI privacy requirements for biometric collection. These notices explain how fingerprints and biometric data are used for continuous background checks. Legal experts clarify that receiving these letters does not indicate a problem with a pending application or a negative finding; rather, they inform applicants that the FBI maintains their records to notify USCIS of any new criminal activity, such as an arrest, while a case is pending.