Applications for Immigration Benefits
Immigration application receipts decreased by 17 percent compared to the number received in March 2012. March 2013 approvals decreased by 23 percent, denials decreased by 8 percent, and pending increased by 11% compared to March 2012.

Immigration Applications
March 2013
Received: 472,096    Approved: 418,069   Denied:28,575    Pending: 2,335,776
March 2012
Received: 566,803    Approved: 545,274    Denied:31,153    Pending: 2,103,991
% Change
Received: -17%        Approved: -23%        Denied: -8%       Pending: 11% 
FY 2013 to Date
Received: 2,785,356  Approved: 2,337,941 Denied: 165,243  Pending: 2,335,776
FY 2012 to Date
Received: 2,794,942  Approved: 2,299,631 Denied: 183,166  Pending: 2,103,991
% Change
Received: 0%           Approved: 2%           Denied: -10%      Pending: 11%
Total FY 2012
Received: 5,310,171 Approved: 4,785,295  Denied: 369,390  Pending: 1,985,629

Major receipt volumes in March 2013 include: 100,506 I-765 employment authorizations; 81,052 I-130 immediate/all other petitions; 59,176 I-90 green card renewals/replacements; 47,396 I-485 applications to adjust status; 32,898 I-131 travel document/advance parole; 24,485 I-129 forms filed.

Major volumes of pending applications at the end of March 2013 include: 749,726 I-130 immediate/all other petitions; 358,239 I-485 applications to adjust status; 170,033 I-765 employment authorizations; 211,508 I-90 green card renewals/replacements; 122,770 I-751 remove conditions spouse jointly/waive;54,552 I-131 travel document/advance parole; 30,826 I-129 forms filed.

Naturalization Applications
Naturalization receipts in March 2013 decreased by19 percent when compared to March 2012, while approvals/oath increased by 9 percent and denials increased 42 percent.
March 2013
Received: 80,329   Approved/Oaths: 64,746    Denied: 7,297     Pending: 357,305
March 2012
Received: 99,606   Approved/Oaths: 59,663    Denied: 5,156      Pending: 357,411
% Change
Received: -19%      Approved/Oaths: 9%         Denied: 42%       Pending: 0%
FY 2013 to Date
Received: 376,718  Approved/Oaths: 373,431   Denied: 39,651   Pending: 357,305
FY 2012 to Date
Received: 412,414   Approved/Oaths: 343,422  Denied: 29,905   Pending: 357,411
% Change
Received: -9%        Approved/Oaths: 9%          Denied: 33%      Pending: 0%
Total FY 2012 
Received: 899,162  Approved/Oaths: 762,742    Denied: 65,874   Pending: 391,803

The number of pending N-400 cases reached 357,305 in March 2013, decrease by 106 cases compared to the same month in fiscal year 2012.