In a significant ruling for immigration applicants, a federal district court has ordered USCIS to adjudicate several long-pending N-400 (naturalization) applications within 60 days. The ruling comes in a mandamus action filed on behalf of applicants whose citizenship applications had been pending for over two years with no action.
The Case
The plaintiffs in this case had each filed their N-400 naturalization applications more than two years prior and had completed all required steps, including biometrics and interviews where scheduled. Despite meeting all requirements, USCIS had failed to issue a decision on any of the applications. Repeated inquiries and congressional outreach had produced no results.
The Ruling
The court found that USCIS had unreasonably delayed adjudication of the applications in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act. The judge noted that while agencies are entitled to reasonable processing times, a two-year delay after interview with no explanation or timeline constitutes an unreasonable delay as a matter of law.
What This Means for Applicants
This ruling reinforces an important principle: USCIS does not have unlimited time to decide your case. When the agency unreasonably delays action, federal courts have the authority — and increasingly the willingness — to intervene.
If your naturalization application or any other immigration case has been pending unreasonably long, this ruling is a reminder that you have legal options. A mandamus lawsuit can be an effective tool to compel USCIS to act. Contact our office for a free evaluation of your case.