Green Card Crisis: Major Drop in I-90 Approvals

A new analytic from the immigration companion app Lawfully shows a sharp fall in I-90 Green Card renewal approvals. The drop is significant and has raised concerns about growing delays inside the USCIS.

Sharp fall in approvals

You can see the scale of the issue from the numbers. November recorded 16,336 fewer approvals than the previous month. This slowdown has created doubt about the agency’s ability to handle its workload.

Long delays for applicants

Many applicants now wait more than a year for their I-90 results. This delay forces them to depend only on a temporary passport stamp for travel and re-entry. It leaves them without a secure, long-term document.

Possible reasons behind the delay

Experts link the slowdown to the recent government shutdown. The USCIS is expected to remain unaffected, but reduced budgets and slower operations still influence processing times. The delays seen in I-130 forms support this view.

Ongoing issues with I-90 forms

Some experts say I-90 forms have always taken time. Even without external pressure, processing them is slow. With the latest drop in approvals, predicting wait times has become impossible.

Growing concerns for legal residents

Legal Residents now face uncertainty about when they will get their renewed Green Cards. Many remain stuck in limbo, unsure how long the delay will last or how it will affect their lives.