DHS OIG: USCIS' Use of Paper Files Exacerbates Backlog

DHS OIG, Dec. 28, 2021

"USCIS’ primary operational challenge ... was its continued reliance on paper files to process and deliver benefits. USCIS had limited capability to electronically process more than 80 types of benefits, which still required some manual workflows and paper files to complete cases. Recurring technology performance issues and equipment limitations further constrained USCIS employees’ productivity. We attribute these challenges to funding cuts and lost fee revenue that limited spending during this time. These challenges further increased processing times and resulted in a backlog of 3.8 million cases as of May 2021."