US Green Card chaos: Immigration backlog hits record 11.3 million - thousands left in limbo

Time of India

3 days ago

Green card delays and visa backlog 2025 have hit record highs as USCIS backlog crosses 11.3 million pending cases, creating massive wait times and uncertainty for millions. Processing of green card applications, work permits, and employment-based visas has slowed drastically, with I-90 and I-765 forms now taking months longer. USCIS has paused automation efforts, adding to the delays. Meanwhile, lawsuits, federal subpoenas, and protests are erupting nationwide over immigration enforcement and detentions. From Harvard's student visa probe to ICE arrests during interviews, the crisis is intensifying. Read how these immigration delays are affecting real people and legal rights today.
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Why is the USCIS backlog hitting record highs in 2025?
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Who's being hit hardest by the green card processing crisis?
Employment-based green card seekers – Especially from India and China, some are stuck waiting decades due to outdated per-country quotas .
– Especially from India and China, some are stuck waiting due to outdated . Refugees and asylees – Thousands are stranded due to paused processing policies carried over from the Trump administration.
– Thousands are stranded due to carried over from the Trump administration. Family-sponsored applicants – Many are waiting 10+ years due to preference category limits and country-specific backlogs.
– Many are waiting due to preference category limits and country-specific backlogs. H-1B & H-4 visa holders – Many are living and working in the U.S. with no clear path forward, risking out-of-status scenarios.
What's causing the record 11.3 million immigration backlog?
1. Understaffing and underfunding at USCIS
2. Legacy Trump policies still in effect
3. Surging applications post-COVID
4. Per-country visa caps
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How long are green card and work permit delays taking now?
Indian nationals (EB-2 and EB-3) : Up to 80 years in some worst-case projections
: Up to in some worst-case projections Chinese professionals : Often waiting 20–25 years
: Often waiting Family-sponsored applicants from Mexico or the Philippines : Waiting 10–15 years
: Waiting Asylees/refugees: Processing largely suspended as of 2025
What's happening with advance parole and other relief categories?
What's being done to fix the U.S. green card backlog?
Visa Recapture
Eliminate per-country caps
Increase USCIS funding
Reopen closed streams
What are the real-life consequences of the green card backlog?
Travel internationally without risking re-entry
Change jobs or employers
Sponsor spouses or children
Buy homes or make long-term investments
Will immigration delays worsen before they improve?
Why did DHS issue subpoenas to Harvard over visa program violations?
Why is Los Angeles suing to stop federal immigration raids?
Who else is caught up in this growing immigration crisis?
Mandonna Kashanian, a 64-year-old Iranian mother living in New Orleans for 47 years, was detained by ICE while gardening. She was later released after intervention by House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, who said DHS needed to take a second look.
Mario Guevara, a journalist from El Salvador, remains in ICE custody despite being granted bond by a judge. His arrest during a protest livestream has drawn national concern over press freedom and alleged retaliation by ICE.
Cynthia Olivera, a Canadian immigrant married to a U.S. citizen and mother of three, was arrested during her green card interview. Her husband, a Trump voter, said: 'We feel blindsided. I want my vote back.' ICE says her previous deportation and illegal reentry made her subject to arrest.
What's next for immigration reform amid protests and lawsuits?
What does this mean for immigrants now?
FAQs:
United States is experiencing a historic immigration logjam, with the green card backlog ballooning to 11.3 million cases by the second quarter of FY2025. That figure, confirmed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), marks the largest pending case load in American immigration history.This backlog includes visa applications, asylum claims, green card renewals, and work permit requests. Only 2.7 million cases were processed during Q2, meaning more than 8.6 million applicants remain in bureaucratic limbo.And shockingly, over 34,000 applications haven't even been opened yet—stuck in physical mailrooms without digital entry into the system.The USCIS backlog hitting 11.3 million signals a serious strain on the agency's resources. That number includes all pending forms—from green card applications (Form I-485) and work permits (Form I-765) to travel documents (Form I-131) and employment-based visa forms like I-129.In Q2 of FY2025, USCIS completed just 2.7 million cases, a significant drop compared to prior quarters. Officials haven't provided a full explanation for the lag, but the suspension of the Streamlined Case Processing program has undoubtedly slowed things down. This program was originally launched to accelerate lower-risk applications but has now been paused indefinitely.Meanwhile, over 34,000 unopened applications have created a 'frontlog'—a queue of cases that haven't even been entered into the system yet. This marks the return of a problem USCIS previously said it had resolved in FY2024.The delays aren't affecting everyone equally. Here's a breakdown of the groups suffering the most:The causes are layered and systemic. Here's what's driving the gridlock:USCIS has been operating withfor years. Despite record case loads, hiring has, leading to processing delays across all case types.Many immigration categories, especially those for, wereor severely restricted during Trump's presidency. Some of those shutdowns haven't been reversed in 2025.Pent-up demand from the COVID years has resulted in an, especially for family reunification and employment-based immigration.The Immigration and Nationality Act limits green cards to—which disproportionately affectslike India and China.Delays for essential immigration documents are getting worse. The Form I-90, used for green card replacements, now takes more than eight months to process—far longer than the average wait time of four to six months seen in prior years.Work permits, particularly Form I-765, are also seeing mounting delays. Pending applications have more than doubled since the last quarter. These permits are vital for immigrants who need legal authorization to work while awaiting their green cards or other decisions.The backlog in Form I-129 applications is directly impacting employment-based visa holders—especially H-1B and L-1 applicants—causing job losses, visa expirations, and anxiety for employers and foreign professionals alike.Depending on the applicant's category and country of origin, green card wait times vary drastically:These long waits are not just a paperwork issue—they disruptNot all news is bad. One bright spot is the Advance Parole (Form I-131) category, which saw a slight reduction in pending cases in recent months. Advance parole allows immigrants to re-enter the U.S. after traveling abroad while waiting for their green card or asylum decisions. Though still slow, this is one of the few areas showing improvement.But overall, the immigration system continues to struggle with severe delays, which is creating ripple effects in legal, employment, and humanitarian pathways.Several proposals and policy ideas are circulating, but few have gained real traction:Millions of green cards godue to administrative delays. Immigration advocates are pushing Congress to 'recapture' these unused visas and apply them to today's backlog.Bills like the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act aim to remove or raise the per-country cap, allowing fairer distribution and shorter wait times.More money for staffing, tech upgrades, and infrastructure could help the agency speed up case handling.Restoring suspended categories like refugee and asylum green card pipelines would provide relief to the most vulnerable.Behind the numbers are. Many immigrants stuck in this limbo are unable to:A recent documentary, "Broken System," by filmmaker Shalini Kantayya shows the toll of the backlog on, particularlywho have lived in the U.S. for over a decade but remain 'temporary' on paper.As of mid-2025, immigration experts sayunless urgent reforms are passed. With, immigration policy has again shifted toward, not backlog reduction.Until major legislative or executive action occurs, themay be just the beginning of a much larger crisis in legal immigration.Adding to the chaos, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) escalated its conflict with Harvard University by issuing administrative subpoenas related to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). DHS claims Harvard repeatedly ignored requests for information and failed to prevent students from allegedly misusing their visas to promote violent behavior.Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, said bluntly: 'We tried to do things the easy way with Harvard. Now... we have to do things the hard way.'The subpoenas demand access to records, emails, and communications dating back to January 1, 2020.Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has joined a growing class-action lawsuit to block federal immigration raids, calling them unconstitutional and reckless. The lawsuit, Vasquez Perdomo v. Noem, accuses ICE of racially profiling immigrants, detaining people in inhumane conditions, and violating their legal rights.The ACLU of California and Public Counsel are leading the legal fight, saying ICE operations are targeting people with 'brown skin' and denying them legal counsel. DHS has rejected the allegations, calling them "disgusting and categorically false."Mayor Bass emphasized: 'We will not be intimidated... Los Angeles is taking a stand for American values.'Several recent cases illustrate how the immigration crackdown is affecting lives:Nationwide protests are planned on July 17 under the banner 'Good Trouble Lives On', commemorating the late Rep. John Lewis and denouncing President Donald Trump's immigration policies. The demonstrations follow similar actions held on June 14 and over the Fourth of July weekend, which criticized ICE raids and new travel bans.Meanwhile, Iranian green card applicants have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration, arguing that national interest waivers under the travel ban are being denied without reason. The State Department has declined to comment on ongoing litigation.The immigration delays and visa backlog aren't just statistics—they're disrupting lives, careers, families, and basic rights. As the green card delays worsen, and visa processing slows, the pressure is mounting for a more transparent, fair, and functional system.From lawsuits and subpoenas to protests and personal tragedies, the immigration debate in 2025 is unfolding across courtrooms, campuses, and communities—and it's far from over.Green card delays are rising due to USCIS backlog, automation pauses, and processing slowdowns.The visa backlog is caused by record-high pending cases, limited resources, and policy changes.