The New York District Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) ended Jan. 27 its pilot processing program for spouses of U.S. citizens.

That means most U.S. citizen spouse cases filed in December will go through regular processing and a waiting period of 18 months to two years from the date of filing for interviews.

Cases already scheduled for interviews through March 29, 2005 will still be processed under the old program.

The New York CIS, before the new ruling, tried to interview applicants within 90 days, and decide cases at those interviews, granting permanent residence in approvable cases on the spot.

Matthew Dunn, chairman of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, New York Chapter, was quoted in a report that New York CIS ended that program without warning.

For thousands of applicants, the end of the pilot program is a big disappointment, particularly to those who filed duplicate applications and paid additional fees just to qualify for the program.

Disappointed, too, are the new applicants hoping to get permanent residence quickly without having to file employment authorization or work permission.

With the new ruling, immigration lawyers say it would mean more work for CIS and more expenses for applicants.