USCIS Denial Rates Up Significantly in 2009

This information comes from my favorite immigration blogger, Matthew Oh (check out: www.immigration-law.com).

According to Mr. Oh: Statistics reveals that the USCIS immigration
benefits denial rate of the total adjudication as of end of July 2009
marks 129% increase over the same month one year ago, 07/2008. When it
comes to the annual avarage denial rate during the period between July
2008 and July 2009 also reflect 45% increase. These two statistics
reflect that the denials increased as the months moved ahead in 2009.

The statistics seems to show that denials have increased in all categories except for naturalization.

Jaensch Immigration Law Firm can confirm that this information is in
line with our recent experience. We have seen a marked increase in
requests for more evidence (RFEs), which often preceed denials.

We have even seen a few denials without prior issuance of RFEs. The
USCIS essentially denies the case without giving the applicant the
opportunity to provide additional information in support of his or her
case.

In light of the high fees currently being charged by the USCIS and long
processing times for some categories, we believe that the practice of
denials without prior RFEs is grossly unfair.

We speculate that the increase in denials probably reflects sensitivity
of the adjudicating officers to the recession. However, our view is
that making visa applications harder (particularly for small business
owners with L-1 visas), they are actually hurting the economy and
limiting the positive employment creating effects of immigrant-owned
businesses.

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Written by Chris Jaensch

Attorney P. Christopher Jaensch received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History in 1992 and a Juris Doctor degree in 1995 from the University of Florida. While at UF, he was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity, Phi Beta Kappa Society and Florida Blue Key, the oldest and most prestigious leadership honorary in the state of Florida.

Mr. Jaensch is a member of the Florida Bar, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and the Sarasota Bar Association. He has served as President of the Sarasota-Manatee International Trade Club and served as Regional Vice Chair, Tampa Bay, for the Central Florida Chapter of AILA. He was a member of City of Sarasota Charter Review Committee and has been active in several local organizations, including the influential Laurel Park Neighborhood Association in downtown Sarasota.

Mr. Jaensch has over 18 years of experience in the field of immigration and nationality law and focuses his practice on four primary categories (a) investors and entrepreneurs, (b) business executives, managers and professionals, (c) amateur and professional athletes and coaches and (d) performing artists and immigrants with extraordinary ability.