Is the 485 Biometrics Processing Time Affecting Your Immigration Timeline? Find Out Here
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requires biometrics from all applicants who apply for a green card or work permit. Your biometrics include fingerprints, photograph, and signature. The USCIS uses this information to conduct a thorough background check before deciding on your application. However, the 485 biometric processing time is taking longer than usual, and it’s affecting many immigrants’ timelines.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the 485 biometric processing time and how it’s impacting immigration timelines.
What is the 485 Biometrics Processing Time?
The 485 biometrics processing time is the time it takes for USCIS to review and approve your biometrics after submitting Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. The USCIS usually takes two to four weeks to process your biometrics. However, with the impact of COVID-19, biometric processing has become delayed, causing a backlog in application processing, which has led to longer processing times.
What is the Current Processing Time?
The current processing time for biometrics varies based on the location of the processing center. Many processing centers have processing times ranging from 9 months to one year. This delay has a significant impact on the immigration process, especially those waiting for work permits and green cards.
How is the Delay Affecting Immigrants?
The delay in processing biometrics is having a significant impact on many immigrants’ lives. For one, it’s causing a backlog in the processing of work permits and green cards, resulting in extended periods of unemployment. Due to this delay, some families are separated for more extended periods, and this can have significant consequences for spouses and children.
Many immigrants are also experiencing stress because they don’t know when their biometrics will be processed and how long it will take for their application to be approved. As processed applications approach the end of their validity period and the possibility of being sent back home becomes real, anxiety levels can rise, causing stress.
What Cause This Delay?
There are several factors that cause the delay in biometrics processing. Firstly, the COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult for USCIS to carry out biometric screenings, as they must adhere to social distancing protocols. Secondly, with the current situation, more people are applying for immigration status, making the USCIS process more accessible.
Additionally, an increase in the number of individuals applying for work permits and green cards has also resulted in delays. As the USCIS receives more applications, the resources available to process these applications become limited, leading to long wait times for the approval of necessary documents.
Conclusion
The delay in 485 biometric processing time is impacting many immigrants’ timelines in the United States. With increased demand and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the USCIS is experiencing a backlog in processing, causing delays in work permits and green card issuance. A better solution is for the USCIS to provide additional resources to process biometric screenings, which would help reduce the backlog and assist those waiting for their applications’ approval. However, regardless of the situation, it’s essential to remain patient and continue to follow up with the USCIS to keep track of the application’s status.
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