Green Card Processing Backlogs for Refugees and Asylees Could Have Implications for Health Coverage and Care Authors: Drishti Pillai and Samantha Artiga Published: Oct 15, 2026

https://www.kff.org/immigrant-health/green-card-processing-backlogs-for-refugees-and-asylees-could-have-implications-for-health-coverage-and-care/ This data note highlights changes in green card (I-485) application processing for refugees and asylees between fiscal year (FY) 2021 and FY2025, as well as across the first three quarters of FY2025 to FY2026 (since FY2026 data are only available through the third quarter). It discusses the implications of these trends for access to federally funded health coverage following eligibility changes under the 2025 reconciliation law.