INS Processing Time Report
By law, only 10,000 asylees can adjust status to Lawful Permanent Resident per year; however the Service is receiving 15,700-28,200 applications per year. As a result, as of May 10, 2002, approximately 96,600 asylee adjustment applications were pending. Through September 30, 2002, we are processing applications received on or before June 9, 1998. We anticipate that we will process the remaining pending applications according to the following schedule:
Date Received --------------- Timeframe to be Processed
June 10, 1998-Feb. 1, 1999 ------ Oct. 1, 2002-Sept. 30, 2003
Feb. 2, 1999-Sept. 14, 1999 ----- Oct. 1, 2003-Sept. 30, 2004
Sept. 15, 1999-Mar. 13, 2000----- Oct. 1, 2004-Sept. 30, 2005
Mar. 14, 2000-Aug. 3, 2000----- Oct. 1, 2005-Sept. 30, 2006
Aug. 4, 2000-Dec. 27, 2000----- Oct. 1, 2006-Sept. 30, 2007
Dec. 28, 2000-Apr. 30, 2001----- Oct. 1, 2007-Sept. 30, 2008
May 1, 2001-Aug. 16, 2001------- Oct. 1, 2008-Sept. 30, 2009
Aug. 17, 2001-Nov. 26, 2001------ Oct. 1, 2009-Sept. 30, 2010
Nov. 27, 2001-Feb. 20, 2002------ Oct. 1, 2010-Sept. 30, 2011
Feb. 21, 2002-undetermined ----- Oct. 1, 2011-Sept. 30, 2012
We emphasize that these dates are APPROXIMATIONS; unforeseen occurrences may delay processing. In September 2002, we will determine and publish the received dates to be processed between October 1, 2002 and September 30, 2003 more precisely.
If you move, please notify us by sending a letter or Form AR11 to PO Box 87865, Lincoln, NE 68508-7865. Please note that only address changes will be processed at this address. For all other inquiries, call the National Customer Service Center at 800-375-5283. Non-address-change inquiries received at the PO Box cannot be answered. Also be aware that notifying the Center of an address change for a pending application DOES NOT satisfy the requirement to notify the Service of your whereabouts. Instructions for that notification can be found at http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/ar-11.htm .
While your I-485 is pending, you are permitted to travel outside the US; however you must have a valid Refugee Travel Document to reenter the country. You can apply for a refugee travel document by filing Form I-131. Due to new security procedures, allow for 90 to 120 days prior to beginning travel to obtain a travel document.
As an asylee, you are authorized to work in the United States incident to your status. If you with to receive a document from the INS that can serve as evidence of both your work authorization and identity, file Form I-765 with the service center that serves your location. Allow for a 90-day processing time.
