Case Backlog and Transparency Act of 2022

Case Backlog and Transparency Act of 2022

This bill addresses Department of Homeland Security (DHS) efforts to address the backlog in immigration applications.

DHS must establish a process on its website for immigration benefit applicants to inquire about the status of an application that been pending for a certain amount of time. The process must (1) require U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to provide a substantive response to such an inquiry, and (2) include a procedure for the applicant to escalate the inquiry if no response is provided.

DHS must also publish on its website and submit to Congress quarterly reports about the backlog. These reports shall include an annual report that contains information including (1) an analysis of factors contributing to the backlog, (2) a description of existing efforts to address the backlog, (3) state-by-state backlog data, and (4) approval and denial rates for each immigration benefit type.

The Government Accountability Office shall publish on its website and submit to Congress reports every two years assessing DHS efforts to address the backlog and to ensure fair and accurate adjudication of immigration benefit applications.