AOS applications approved/denied by field office - 2018 Q2

[eckoin 211]

Just thought I'd share this thing.  Thanks @A&H2018 for point it out - the data is available by quarter here: https://www.uscis.gov/tools/reports-studies/immigration-forms-data/data-set-form-i-485-application-adjustment-status

 

This is the most recent (Q2) report for how many family-based AOS applications have been received, approved, denied, and are still pending.  The percentages calculated are the applications that were denied, out of total applications processed (approved + denied).  Nothing complicated, but kind of interesting.  You'd want to be in Montana, and probably not at one of the LA offices.

 

I thought it was kind of neat to look at, anyway.

 

 

[mnk 62]

Wow. That is a Texas-sized backlog at the Houston office. 20,704 still pending and growing. They received over 3000 new applications but only processed a little more than 2000 (approved + denied).

Some other offices were able to process more than they received, which is nice to see. Hopefully that means some people will be seeing reduced processing times.

[laufine 55]

Why does Los Angeles county have the most % of denied case? I see LA is much better then.

[mushroomspore 3,044]

8 hours ago, laufine said:

Why does Los Angeles county have the most % of denied case? I see LA is much better then.

Los Angeles (both the city and county) has a bigger population than some entire states. Plus we are a coastal state AND a border state. I've also met people here on literally every single visa imaginable. There's just a lot of people here.

[eckoin 211]

4 minutes ago, mushroomspore said:

Los Angeles (both the city and county) has a bigger population than some entire states. Plus we are a coastal state AND a border state. I've also met people here on literally every single visa imaginable. There's just a lot of people here.

I'm not sure a large population explains the denial rate. LA County processed fewer applications that LA itself, and fewer than many other offices, but has an exceptionally high denial rate. Either there are a lot of fraudulent marriage based applications, a lot of woefully incomplete applications, a lot of very stern officers, or a combination of all three. 

[mushroomspore 3,044]

12 minutes ago, eckoin said:

I'm not sure a large population explains the denial rate. LA County processed fewer applications that LA itself, and fewer than many other offices, but has an exceptionally high denial rate. Either there are a lot of fraudulent marriage based applications, a lot of woefully incomplete applications, a lot of very stern officers, or a combination of all three. 

I imagine it's a fairly strict office with a lot of stern officers (we'll be finding out for ourselves next week, eek!). There are definitely a lot of immigrants here (legal and otherwise). The city itself has a bit of an unforgiving personality too, which carries over into the institutions and people who run it.

 

Now that I think about it, I also wouldn't be surprised if a lot of people here make incorrect applications due to improper research and attempts to save money.

Edited September 23, 2018 by mushroomspore

[eckoin 211]

23 minutes ago, mushroomspore said:

I imagine it's a fairly strict office with a lot of stern officers (we'll be finding out for ourselves next week, eek!). There are definitely a lot of immigrants here (legal and otherwise). The city itself has a bit of an unforgiving personality too, which carries over into the institutions and people who run it.

 

Now that I think about it, I also wouldn't be surprised if a lot of people here make incorrect applications due to improper research and attempts to save money.

Good luck!  You'll be going to the LA county office, or the main LA office?  Either way, hope it goes smoothly!

[eckoin 211]

On 9/21/2018 at 6:13 PM, mnk said:

Wow. That is a Texas-sized backlog at the Houston office. 20,704 still pending and growing. They received over 3000 new applications but only processed a little more than 2000 (approved + denied).

Some other offices were able to process more than they received, which is nice to see. Hopefully that means some people will be seeing reduced processing times.

I was curious to see the ratio of applications received vs. processed, and how many applications were received vs. already pending.  The verdict - everyone should move to Vermont, and Miami doesn't care about you.

 

Texas - well, as you mentioned.

 

 

Edited September 23, 2018 by eckoin

[mushroomspore 3,044]

41 minutes ago, eckoin said:

Good luck!  You'll be going to the LA county office, or the main LA office?  Either way, hope it goes smoothly!

Thanks! I'm LA proper.

[A&H2018 148]

Enjoy the data analysis. If you really are bored and AOS obssessed analyze the data on 4 qtr (annual basis). You will see some offices process tons more in certain qtrs typically 3rd qtr, Houston I am sure is one basically they prep to do a bulk of interviews in one qtr. That said there is little hope for Houston/NYC/Atlanta and the like cause their backlog has grown out of control truly. Also the mandate by last DOS narrative was to limit i485 timeline to 4-8 months those slow backlogged for sure have been playing around with the data by processing some new cases faster, we have seen this as the processing dates move around (gaming the rules). Major concern by GOP leaders on giving EAD cards for 1 year or more.

 

Los Angeles is a sanctuary city and in general Califronia gets lots of applications at all their offices for people just trying to keep the process going, remember the i485 family based is not just spouse of USC, not shocked at the LA county declined rate. It would be nice if they gave data as spouse of USC, which is the bulk of easier and faster cases.

 

 

[USC4SPOUSE 506]

6 hours ago, A&H2018 said:

Enjoy the data analysis. If you really are bored and AOS obssessed analyze the data on 4 qtr (annual basis). You will see some offices process tons more in certain qtrs typically 3rd qtr, Houston I am sure is one basically they prep to do a bulk of interviews in one qtr. That said there is little hope for Houston/NYC/Atlanta and the like cause their backlog has grown out of control truly. Also the mandate by last DOS narrative was to limit i485 timeline to 4-8 months those slow backlogged for sure have been playing around with the data by processing some new cases faster, we have seen this as the processing dates move around (gaming the rules). Major concern by GOP leaders on giving EAD cards for 1 year or more.

 

Los Angeles is a sanctuary city and in general Califronia gets lots of applications at all their offices for people just trying to keep the process going, remember the i485 family based is not just spouse of USC, not shocked at the LA county declined rate. It would be nice if they gave data as spouse of USC, which is the bulk of easier and faster cases.

 

 

It's all very interesting. The most recent data should be released soon. The I-485 data gives you a nice picture, but it's just one side of the coin. Depending upon the field office, the rate determining step may be the number of N-400 applications they get. USCIS does strive to adjudicate those within 6 months if filed electronically. Since there is no time limit to adjudicate I-485s, it's safe to assume that N-400s are prioritized and may delay I-485 processing. A good example are the 3 field offices in Ohio.