Fresh insights. Real numbers. Clear opportunities for immigration lawyers.
Policy shifts, backlogs, and approval fluctuations are reshaping immigration law. The 2025 Legal Industry Report: State of Immigration covers the latest immigration data from 2024 data and offers insights on green cards, visas, asylum, court rulings, and naturalization. Written by Docketwise co-founder and former immigration attorney James Pittman, it connects federal data to real-world practice so you can anticipate changes, refine strategy, and better serve clients.
By late 2024, U.S. immigration courts had a record backlog exceeding 3.7 million cases, nearly double what it was two years earlier.
In 2024, asylum seekers with legal counsel were 3 times more likely to win their case. 81% of unrepresented asylum seekers were denied.
1 million+ naturalization applications were filed and over 6.5 million visitor visas were issued in 2024.
From policy shifts to processing timelines, immigration trends shape every part of your practice. Last year’s approach may not work this year.
The 2025 Legal Immigration Report: State of Immigration covers the latest immigration trends and data from 2024 alongside insights from James Pittman, immigration attorney and 8am DocketWise co-founder. Whether you’re filing I-485s, preparing clients for naturalization interviews, or navigating court timelines, this report equips you with the context to lead with confidence.
Created specifically for immigration lawyers, this reports distills government data to practical takeaways that empower you to:
Spot patterns in case approvals and delays
Set accurate expectations for green card, visa, and asylum timelines
Equip your team with insights for strategy and growth
Get the clarity, context, and insights you need to navigate a fast-changing immigration system.
Take Action With Confidence: Learn where the system is headed, how it affects your work, and where your time and effort can make the biggest impact.
Insights From the Experts: Authored by immigration attorney and Docketwise co-founder James Pittman, this report connects the data to real-world practice.
Understand the Policy Landscape: See how shifting priorities and federal policies are shaping outcomes for your clients and your case strategies.
Who It's For: Immigration attorneys, legal staff, practice managers, advocates, and anyone who needs to stay ahead of the curve.
Employment-based green card approvals spiked in Q3, but new filings dropped sharply. Family-based applications stayed steady all year, even as denial rates topped 47,000. The report helps you see the patterns and adjust your strategy with confidence.
Nearly 1 million applications for U.S. citizenship were filed in 2024. Denial rates declined throughout the year, from 11.9% in Q1 to 9.9% in Q4, but still affected over 86,000 applicants. The report dives into who is applying, who is being denied, and what it means for your practice.
From 401,903 F-1 student visas to 220,124 H-1Bs, visa issuance reflects continued demand for education, employment, and investment in the U.S. See how various visa categories performed, including low-volume humanitarian categories such as U and T visas.
The numbers illustrate just how important representation is—asylum seekers with legal representation were over three times more likely to succeed than those without. In 2024, 81% of unrepresented applicants were denied, compared to 47% of those with counsel. The data makes a strong case for expanding access to representation and timely case follow-up.
Over 900,000 immigration court cases were resolved in 2024, yet more than 3.7 million cases remained pending by year’s end. With 35% of resolved cases ending in termination and 35% in removal, the data underscores a divided system that immigration attorneys must navigate every day.
The U.S. resettled 100,034 refugees in FY 2024, short of the 125,000 ceiling. Operational and policy gaps continue to limit access, even as global need grows. This report offers you a clear look at where the numbers stand and what may be ahead for humanitarian admission pathways.
The 2025 Legal Industry Report: State of Immigration helps you turn last year’s numbers into this year’s strategy.
Stay grounded in real numbers: USCIS and EOIR data aren’t always easy to interpret. This report does the heavy lifting, so you can focus on your clients.
See the bigger picture: From family-based green cards to asylum decisions, this isn’t just data—it’s a story of how immigration law is evolving in real time.
Plan your next move: Whether you’re tracking representation trends, streamlining workflows, or educating clients, these insights help you make smart, informed decisions.
