Applications for Immigration Benefits and Naturalization Benefits

Immigration application receipts in creased 55 percent compared to the number received in January 2011. January 2012 approvals increased by 21 percent, denials decreased by 3 percent, and pending in creased by 27% compared to January 2011.

Immigration Applications
January 2012
Received: 495,582 Approved: 401,228 Denied: 35,652 Pending: 2,031,611
January 2011
Received: 318,780 Approved: 332,390 Denied: 36,699 Pending: 1,595,090
% Change
Received: 55%        Approved: 21%     Denied: -3%   Pending: 27%  
FY 2012 to Date
Received: 1,646,286  Approved: 1,270,086 Denied: 123,012 Pending: 2,031,611 
FY 2011 to Date
Received: 1,416,771  Approved: 1,383,554 Denied: 161,493 Pending: 1,595,090
% Change
Received: 16%        Approved: -8%     Denied: -24%   Pending: 27%
Total FY 2011  
Received: 4,564,198 Approved: 4,211,170  Denied: 449,271 Pending: 1,756,213 

Major receipt volumes in January 2012 include: 146,212 I-765 employment authorizations; 73,235 I-821 temporary protected status; 70,062 I-90 green card renewals/replacements; 51,269 I-485 applications to adjust status; 49,042 I-130 immediate/all other petitions; 35,789 I-131 travel document/advance parole; 18,459 I-129 forms filed.

Major volumes of pending applications at the end of January 2012 include: 568,877 I-130 immediate/all other petitions; 361,529 I-90 green card renewals/replacements; 360,162 I-485 applications to adjust status; 219,951 I-765 employment authorizations; 121,078 I-751 remove conditions spouse jointly/waive; 108,741 I-821 temporary protected status ; 66,727 I-129 forms filed.

Applications for Naturalization
Naturalization receipts in January 2012 increased 9 percent when compared to January 2011, while approvals/oaths increased by 14 percent and denials increased 23percent.
January 2012
Received: 62,671   Approved/Oaths: 59,161  Denied: 5,073   Pending: 308,512
January 2011
Received: 57,329   Approved/Oaths: 51,817  Denied: 4,127   Pending: 283,333 
% Change
Received: 9%      Approved/Oaths: 14%     Denied: 23%      Pending: 9%
FY 2012 to Date
Received: 237,020   Approved/Oaths: 222,962  Denied: 19,430   Pending: 308,512
FY 2011 to Date
Received: 216,308   Approved/Oaths: 209,161  Denied: 17,154   Pending: 283,333
% Change
Received: 10%      Approved/Oaths: 7%     Denied: 13%      Pending: 9%
Total FY 2011  
Received: 756,008 Approved/Oaths: 690,705 Denied: 57,065 Pending: 311,894

The number of pending N-400 cases reached 308,512 in January 2012, an increase of 9 percent compared to the same month in fiscal year 2011.