USCIS announced today it will be able to avoid a planned August 30 furlough of more than 13,000 employees.  While this is surely good news for immigrants, family members and businesses with pending applications, nobody should start celebrating just yet.  In making this announcement, USCIS Deputy Director for Policy Joseph Edlow still warns of, "increase[d] backlogs and wait times across the board."  Processing times have increased steadily over the past several years, even pre-pandemic, and the forced cancellation of most interviews, appointments and naturalization ceremonies over the past several months has made the situation trying for all.  Hopefully USCIS and Congress will work out funding that will keep the agency operational while increasing efficiency for all its stakeholders.  See the full text of the USCIS announcement below: