Introduction: Understanding the N-400 Pending Backlog
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services released its Form N-400 performance data for the third quarter of fiscal year 2026. The data covers the period from April 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. The figures show that more than 742,000 N-400 naturalization applications were pending across USCIS field offices at the end of the reporting period. This caseload signals significant processing pressure for lawful permanent residents pursuing U.S. citizenship. For anyone currently waiting on an N-400 application, or preparing to file one, understanding this N-400 pending backlog matters. Knowing what it means at the office level is essential to setting realistic expectations and making sound planning decisions.
Background on the N-400 Naturalization Process
Form N-400 is the application that eligible lawful permanent residents use to apply for naturalization and become U.S. citizens. Applicants generally must meet a continuous residence requirement, demonstrate physical presence, and pass English language and civics tests. They must also clear a background check before USCIS will schedule them for a naturalization interview and oath ceremony. The agency processes N-400 cases through a network of field offices distributed across the country. This means processing times and backlogs vary considerably depending on where an applicant lives and which office has jurisdiction over their case.
USCIS publishes periodic performance data for the N-400. This allows applicants, legal representatives, and policymakers to assess how the system is functioning. This latest dataset was queried in July 2026 and sourced from the agency’s Chief Data and Analytics Office. It reflects the most current snapshot of pending, approved, and denied applications across all domestic field office locations, as well as offices in U.S. territories.
What the Data Shows About the N-400 Pending Backlog
Across all USCIS field offices, the agency reported 742,138 total pending N-400 applications at the close of the reporting period. That figure encompasses both standard naturalization cases and military naturalization cases. The latter category covers applicants whose eligibility rests on service in the U.S. Armed Forces. Of the total pending caseload, 727,371 are standard naturalization cases and 14,767 are military naturalization cases.
During the reporting period itself, USCIS received 145,872 new N-400 applications, approved 57,697, and denied 12,842. The gap between applications received and applications completed — approved plus denied — illustrates why the pending inventory remains so large. The agency resolved roughly 70,500 cases during the period. It took in nearly 146,000 new ones, a ratio that sustains rather than reduces the backlog.
The N-400 pending backlog also reveals meaningful variation across field offices. Several California offices carry among the heaviest pending loads in the country. San Jose reports nearly 20,900 pending cases, San Francisco carries over 18,600, and Sacramento holds close to 15,920. Texas offices bear a similar burden, as Houston reports more than 31,000 pending applications and Dallas exceeds 28,600. On the East Coast, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Boston, and Newark each carry pending inventories. These range from roughly 15,000 to nearly 18,000 cases. By contrast, smaller offices in states such as Montana, Vermont, and Maine report pending counts below 1,000.
USCIS notes that one cannot calculate total pending counts by comparing figures across previous reporting periods. The data does not reflect some case actions — including administrative closures and transfers between offices. Counts may also differ from prior periods due to system updates and post-adjudicative outcomes.
Form N-400 Performance Data — FY2026 Q3 Infographics
The three charts below break down Form N-400 (naturalization) performance data for the third quarter of fiscal year 2026, including an overall summary, a category breakdown, and receipts by field office. Swipe or scroll the charts sideways, or use the arrows and dots below to move between them. Each chart can be opened at full size in a new tab.
Source: DHS / USCIS, Office of Performance and Quality — CLAIMS3 and ELIS data, queried July 2026. The underlying quarterly reports are published on the USCIS Immigration and Citizenship Data page.
Who Is Affected by the N-400 Pending Backlog
The most directly affected group is the population of lawful permanent residents who have filed an N-400. They are waiting for USCIS to complete their case. Anyone whose application feeds into one of the higher-volume offices — particularly those in Texas, California, New Jersey, New York, Georgia, or Illinois — faces a statistically longer wait. This is simply a function of where they live. The Chicago field office, for instance, carries a combined pending total of more than 23,600 cases.
Military naturalization applicants represent a smaller but distinct category. Certain offices — including Kansas City, Missouri, with 946 military cases pending, and Greer, South Carolina, with 1,428 — carry disproportionately high military pending counts relative to their overall caseload. This reflects the jurisdictions those offices serve in relation to military installations.
Delayed timelines in naturalization proceedings indirectly affect employers and HR professionals when their employees face them. Citizenship status can affect eligibility for certain positions, security clearances, and other employment considerations. Prolonged N-400 processing creates downstream uncertainty for workforce planning as well.
Applicants who have not yet filed also feel the effect. Any application submitted today joins a queue that already numbers in the tens of thousands at many offices.
Practical Implications of the N-400 Pending Backlog
The scale of the N-400 pending backlog has real consequences for applicants' planning. Naturalization is not only a milestone of civic belonging. It carries concrete legal benefits, including the ability to sponsor certain family members for immigration benefits, eligibility for federal programs limited to citizens, protection from deportation, and the right to vote. Extended processing times delay all of these outcomes.
Applicants who filed months or even years ago and have not yet received an interview notice should verify that their contact information on file with USCIS is current. They should also confirm that they have completed any required biometrics, and check that no requests for evidence or correspondence from the agency remain unanswered. Cases that appear to have stalled beyond normal processing times for a given field office may qualify for an inquiry. In appropriate circumstances, they may qualify for a mandamus action — a legal mechanism that can compel agency action when the agency has unreasonably delayed processing.
For applicants considering when to file, the data suggests a course of action. Those with flexibility about their timing should consult with an immigration attorney about realistic timelines at their specific field office. The difference between a 900-case pending inventory and a 31,000-case pending inventory at two offices serving applicants in the same general region can be stark. It can translate to months or years of additional wait time.
One important data limitation to keep in mind: USCIS does not publish average processing times broken down by field office. The pending figures indicate volume, not velocity. A high-volume office with adequate staffing may move faster than the raw numbers suggest, while a smaller office may still be slow in absolute terms.
What to Watch For Next
USCIS publishes N-400 performance data on a quarterly basis. The next release will reflect activity through the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026. Stakeholders tracking processing trends should monitor whether the approval-to-receipt ratio improves — meaning the agency resolves more cases per quarter than it receives. They should also watch whether the pending inventory continues to grow. Any announcements from USCIS regarding staffing changes, interview scheduling updates, or policy shifts could significantly affect processing trajectories for naturalization adjudication. We anticipate further guidance on specific office timelines as USCIS updates its published processing time reports. USCIS maintains those reports separately from this performance dataset.
How Immigration Professional Association Can Help With Your N-400
At Immigration Professional Association, we work closely with permanent residents navigating the naturalization process at every stage. This includes assessing eligibility, preparing a strong N-400 filing, monitoring case status, and responding when something goes wrong. The N-400 pending backlog figures in this latest USCIS data underscore how important it is to file correctly the first time. Errors, missing documentation, or overlooked eligibility issues can add months to an already lengthy wait. They can also result in a denial that requires significant effort to address.
For applicants whose cases have remained pending for an extended period without movement, our team can evaluate whether the timeline at your field office falls within normal bounds. We can also help you submit a case inquiry, or assess whether other legal options suit your situation. We also assist employers who need to understand how naturalization timelines may affect personnel with pending citizenship applications.
If you or someone you know is waiting on an N-400 — or is ready to begin the naturalization process — we invite you to reach out to Immigration Professional Association. We offer a consultation specific to your situation and your field office. The path to citizenship matters too much to navigate alone.
