AAO Processing Times as of January 1, 2017

In January 2017, the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) modified how it presents processing time information. Previously, the AAO reported, by form type, the average completion time for the month’s cases. But certain scenarios (such as a month with few completions in certain categories) could result in an imprecise portrayal of processing times. The AAO will now provide, by form type, the total number of completions for the quarter and the percentage completed within 180 days, which is our goal. The AAO believes this change affords stakeholders more valuable information on our processing times.

The administrative appeals process has two stages: initial field review and AAO appellate review.

Initial field review: The office that issued the unfavorable decision has 45 days to evaluate the appeal and determine whether to take favorable action on the appeal. If that office does not take favorable action, it will forward the appeal to the AAO and send the appellant a Notice of Transfer to the AAO.

AAO appellate review: The AAO strives to complete its appellate review within 6 months from the time it receives a complete case record after the initial field review. Some cases may take longer than 6 months due to factors beyond the AAO’s control. For example, additional documentation may be needed to complete the record, or the case may be more complex and require additional review.

The following chart shows the percentage of cases the AAO completed within 180 days, by case category, during the most recent quarter of the fiscal year. These data include all AAO dispositions for the listed form types. If a case category is not listed, the AAO issued no appeal decisions for that category in the most recent quarter.

Timeliness of Fiscal Year 2017 First Quarter Completions (October-December 2016)

Form Type Case Type Completed 0-180 Days Quarterly Completions
Cumulative of all completions   86% 1,338
I-129CW CNMI-Only Nonimmigrant Transitional Worker 100% 6
I-129E Treaty Trader or Investor 100% 1
I-129F Petition for Fiancée 100% 78
I-129H1B Nonimmigrant Specialty Occupation Worker 100% 164
I-129H2 Temporary Nonimmigrant Worker 100% 38
I-129L Nonimmigrant Intracompany Transferee 100% 84
I-129O Nonimmigrant Extraordinary Ability Worker 100% 9
I-129P Athletes, Artists and Entertainers 100% 9
I-129Q Cultural Exchange Worker 100% 4
I-129R Nonimmigrant Religious Worker 100% 18
I-131 Application for Travel Document 100% 7
I-140A Alien with Extraordinary Ability 100% 27
I-140B Outstanding Professor or Researcher 100% 3
I-140C Multinational Manager or Executive 97% 36
I-140D Advanced Degree Professional 85% 34
I-140E  Professional Worker 88% 17
I-140F Skilled Worker 87% 15
I-140G Other Worker 100% 7
I-140I National Interest Waiver 90% 21
I-212 Application to Reapply for Admission 71% 24
I-352 Bond Breach 63% 8
I-360C Special Immigrant Juvenile 98% 49
I-360D Petition for Religious Worker 88% 17
I-360I Violence Against Women Act Petition 96% 111
I-485 Dplmt Section 13 Adjustment Application 100% 3
I-485U U Visa Nonimmigrant Adjustment 100% 28
I-526 Alien Entrepreneur 97% 31
I-600 Petition for Orphan 100% 4
I-601 Application for Waiver of Inadmissibility 52% 185
I-612 Application for 212(e) Waiver 100% 1
I-821 Temporary Protected Status 59% 108
I-914 Application for T Nonimmigrant Status 100% 5
I-918 Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status 100% 133
I-924 Application for Regional Center 100% 1
I-929 Qualifying Family Member of a U Nonimmigrant 100% 1
N-565 Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document 100% 6
N-600 Certificate of Citizenship 49% 45

Agency

Immigration Law

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