Applications and petitions for immigration benefits in September 2001 decreased 4 percent compared to the number received in September 2000. September approvals were down 6 percent, while denials increased by 22 percent when compared to September 2000. For fiscal year 2001, receipts increased 33 percent, approvals increased 18 percent, and pending cases increased by 41 percent when compared to fiscal year 2000.

Data Source: PAS G-22.2

¹ Receipts and Pending do not reflect an estimated 22,549 I-485s filed but not data entered.

• Major volumes in September 2001 receipts include: 130,550 I-765 employment authorizations; 92,947 I-130 relative petitions; 89,145 I-90 Green Card renewals/replacements; and 57,948 I-485 permanent resident adjustments.

• Major volumes of pending cases at the end of September 2001 include: 1,641,595 I-130 relative petitions; 979,685 I-485 permanent resident adjustments; 264,272 I-765 employment authorizations; and 239,269 I-90 Green Card renewals/replacements.

• Benefit statistics for September 2001 are preliminary and may be subject to change. September statistics on pending applications may be changed when the Service-wide Inventory Program (SWIP) is completed in November. Receipts and approvals declined sharply in September. There are two possible reasons for the decline. First, fewer applications may have been opened in the mailrooms and adjudicated due to a diversion of resources to conduct the SWIP. Second is the impact of the 245(i) extension under the Life Act. Although the program ended on April 30, there were a large number of backlogged cases related to the Life Act that did not get entered into INS systems until the end of August 2001. This partially accounts for the record high receipts in August and the following drop in receipts for September.