Fiscal Year 2011 Highlights Report

Introduction

Fiscal year (FY) 2011 was an exceptional year for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). From advancing national security and preventing fraud, helping create jobs for U.S. workers, and ensuring opportunities for foreign entrepreneurs to the remarkable expansion of outreach and public engagement, USCIS made significant strides that reflect its continued commitment to providing excellent customer service and bolstering the integrity of the U.S. immigration system.

A commitment to quality, consistency and improved processes guided USCIS’s efforts. These accomplishments provide a strong foundation for USCIS to build upon. The initiatives listed below are organized by the priority areas that guided us during FY 2011.

Strengthen the Immigration System’s National Security Safeguards and Combat Fraud

Enhancing already-rigorous screening for national security threats and bolstered efforts to combat fraud were guiding efforts during FY 2011. USCIS increased its dedicated anti-fraud and national security staff and field presence, advanced collaboration with Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTFs), provided support to other intelligence partners at the federal, state and local level, streamlined the flow of threat information between domestic and international entities, and updated key immigration documents with fraud-preventing and counterfeit-resistant security features.

Improve Agency Operations and Customer Service
A more secure and faster system for accepting forms and fees, enhanced adjudications tools, responsive operations, and a better experience for callers to our Customer Service Center are among our major accomplishments in improving agency operations and customer service.

Promote Quality and Consistency in the Administration of Immigration Laws
A more transparent system to manage international cases, drafting a comprehensive policy manual for internal and external audiences, and processes and templates for Requests for Evidence are new tools we made available during FY 2011 for promoting quality and consistency in how we administer immigration laws.

Develop New Programs and Opportunities to Enhance the Work Life of Agency Personnel
New programs created to focus on supervisory training and professional development, as well as new protocols to help employees earn promotions and recognition, exemplify USCIS’s accomplishments toward enhancing the work life of our personnel during FY 2011, in which more than 7,700 learning events were held.

Prioritize Quality and Reinforce the Agency’s Mission in Performance Management
The development and introduction of a new National Quality Management Program in FY 2011 allowed USCIS to focus on eight quality criteria. These criteria will help USCIS deliver quality work products while reinforcing our mission in performance management.

Promote Citizenship and Immigrant Civic Integration
A new public education and awareness initiative, increased outreach and immigration services opportunities for the U.S. military, greater availability of information, an expanded grant program, and more naturalization ceremonies held at U.S. landmarks exemplify our achievements during FY 2011 to promote citizenship and foster immigrant civic integration.

Increase Agency Transparency and Public Engagement
Outreach—most notably, outreach to vulnerable and underserved populations and people whose primary language is not English—as well as outreach to new partners and Web and social media users underscores USCIS efforts to increase transparency and public engagement during FY 2011.

USCIS has seen a significant decrease in net backlogs and active suspense, and has maintained levels for both of these measures.

Key statistics
• During FY 2009, the net backlog was reduced by 95 percent.
• From FY 2010 through FY 2011, the backlog was maintained to less than 13 percent of the amount at the beginning of FY 2009.
• Active suspense at the end of FY 2010 was down 66 percent from the beginning of FY 2009, but rose 21 percent during FY 2011. This was attributed to reallocation of adjudication resources.
• The active pending monthly average increased 16 percent from FY 2010 to FY 2011. The active pending monthly average is directly impacted by the balance in active suspense.
• Receipts decreased by only 3 percent from FY 2010 to FY 2011.

I-130, Petition for Alien Relative (Immediate Relative)
This chart illustrates the movement of five key measures over the past three fiscal years for Form I-130 IR, "Petition for Alien Relative", Immediate Relative only. There has been a significant decrease in Active Suspense and sustained performance in the remaining measures since FY 2009.

I-130, Petition for Alien Relative (Preference Only)
This chart illustrates the movement of five key measures over the past three fiscal years for Form I-130 PR, "Petition for Alien Relative", Preference only. USCIS achieved a significant decrease in Net Backlog between the third quarter of FY 2009 and the first quarter of FY 2011.

I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker
This chart illustrates the movement of five key measures over the past three fiscal years for Form I-140, "Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker". Since FY 2009, there has been a significant decrease in Net Backlog and sustained performance in the remaining measures.

I-918, Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status
USCIS approved 10,000 principal U-1 nonimmigrant visas per year, reaching the statutory cap. This cap does not apply to beneficiaries included in the principal’s request. USCIS maintained a steady approval rate throughout FY 2011, allowing approval decisions to take place in every month.

I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
• Active suspense at the end of FY 2011 was down 43 percent from its peak at the end of FY 2009.
• Receipts increased by 6 percent from FY 2010 to FY 2011.

N-400, Application for Naturalization
USCIS saw a significant decrease in net backlogs and active suspense for all N-400 applications.
• The backlog was reduced to and maintained at zero since the third quarter of FY 2009.
• Active suspense was reduced by 49 percent in FY 2009, and has been maintained a steady state since.
• The active pending monthly average has increased 15 percent from FY 2010 to FY 2011.
• Receipts increased by 7 percent from FY 2010 to FY 2011.

N-400, Application for Naturalization (Military)
• Net backlog and active suspense have both been reduced to and maintained at zero since the start of FY 2010.
• Receipts decreased by 7 percent from FY 2010 to FY 2011.