Fact check: Immigration to the U.S. is difficult because of the waiting period

1. Summary of the results

The analyses provide strong support for the claim that immigration to the U.S. is difficult due to waiting periods. Official government sources confirm substantial processing delays across multiple immigration categories.

Key findings include:

• USCIS processing times range dramatically from 0.7 months to 35 months for various immigration forms, including family-based and employment-based green cards ^[1]
• The government maintains official tools for checking case processing times and procedures for inquiring about cases that exceed normal processing timeframes ^[2]
• The Visa Bulletin system creates additional waiting periods for applicants seeking employment-based or family-sponsored preference adjustment of status ^[3]

The evidence demonstrates that waiting periods are not merely bureaucratic inconveniences but systematic features of the current U.S. immigration system, with some categories experiencing multi-year delays.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original statement lacks several important contextual factors that affect the immigration difficulty narrative:

• Recent policy changes under new USCIS leadership, with Director Joseph Edlow stating goals to "restore integrity in the legal immigration system" ^[4], suggesting potential reforms that could impact processing times
• Fee increases for certain immigration benefit requests are being implemented ^[5], which may create additional financial barriers beyond waiting periods
• Enforcement intensification with ICE planning increased arrests and deportations of individuals in the U.S. illegally ^[6], creating a more challenging environment for all immigrants
• Termination of Temporary Protected Status for several countries ^[7], which affects specific immigrant populations and may increase pressure on other immigration pathways

Who benefits from emphasizing waiting periods:

• Immigration attorneys and consultants who profit from complex, lengthy processes
• Anti-immigration advocates who can point to system dysfunction to argue for restrictions
• Pro-immigration groups who use delays to argue for system reform and increased resources

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement, while factually supported, presents an incomplete picture by focusing solely on waiting periods as the primary difficulty. This framing potentially misleads by:

• Oversimplifying complexity - The analyses reveal that immigration difficulty stems from multiple factors including policy changes, fee increases, and enforcement actions, not just waiting times ^{[4] [5] [6]}
• Omitting current developments - The statement fails to acknowledge recent leadership changes and policy shifts that may be altering the immigration landscape ^[4]
• Ignoring enforcement context - Current immigration challenges include heightened deportation fears and enforcement actions that create difficulties beyond processing delays ^{[6] [8]}

The statement is technically accurate but lacks the broader context that would provide a more complete understanding of immigration difficulties in the current environment.