USCIS Citizenship Backlog Hits 742,138 — What EB-3 Green Card Holders Must Know in 2026

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reported a pending naturalization workload of 742,138 cases at the end of June 2026, according to freshly released quarterly data. During the third quarter of fiscal year 2026 (April–June), USCIS received 145,872 Form N-400 applications but completed only 70,539 cases — meaning it resolved roughly 48 cases for every 100 new ones filed. Approvals totaled 57,697, while 12,842 applications were denied. The disparity between incoming and completed cases explains why the pending inventory remains so large. For regular (non-military) naturalization alone, USCIS received 140,179 applications during the quarter but completed only 67,565 — less than half the receipts. Fiscal year-to-date through June 30, the agency received 523,605 regular N-400 applications and completed 325,167, leaving 727,371 cases still pending. For EB-3 green card holders who have already received their lawful permanent residence and are now planning their path to citizenship, these figures set realistic expectations. The median processing time for regular naturalization is 9.5 months, though individual timelines vary based on the USCIS field office handling the case and whether additional review is required. Military naturalization moves significantly faster, with a 2.6-month median. Geographically, the backlog is concentrated in major metropolitan areas. Houston leads with 31,057 pending cases, followed by Dallas (28,662) and Chicago (23,623). San Jose and San Antonio also carry heavy loads at 20,899 and 18,999 respectively. Denial rates also differ by office — Brooklyn, Queens, and New York each recorded over 700 denials during the quarter. For EB-3 applicants approaching the five-year permanent residence milestone, early preparation is advisable given the 9.5-month median wait. Filing promptly after becoming eligible and ensuring all supporting documents are complete can help avoid additional delays. Applicants should also verify whether their local USCIS office has a shorter or longer processing time than the national median before estimating their timeline.