Many applicants have focused on the well-publicized pause affecting certain countries, but a discussion gaining traction in the r/USCIS community points to a broader slowdown affecting applicants regardless of their country of origin, particularly those going through consular processing.
According to the community post, approvals have largely stalled since early 2025, with only a small number of post-February cases moving forward. The thread cites perspective attributed to a former USCIS officer and supervisor with more than a decade at the agency, who described USCIS as having lost a substantial portion of its workforce since January 2025, including many experienced officers and supervisors. The account describes an agency that is understaffed, overworked, and struggling with low morale.
The post also notes a shift in agency priorities, with USCIS resources increasingly directed toward enforcement-related activity and enhanced vetting rather than efficiently adjudicating immigration benefits. The combined effect, according to the discussion, is longer waits and fewer approvals across multiple case types.
While community accounts are not official agency statements, the trend they describe is consistent with what many applicants are reporting: cases sitting longer without movement, even when priority dates are current and documentation is complete. For employment-based applicants, including those pursuing the National Interest Waiver and EB-1A, the takeaway is to plan for longer timelines, keep documentation meticulously updated, and respond promptly to any USCIS request to avoid additional delay.
Applicants should monitor official USCIS processing-time data for their specific form and field office, and consider expedite or inquiry options only where they genuinely qualify, since a strained system makes a complete, well-prepared filing more valuable than ever.
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Source: Reddit r/USCIS