Pending green card adjustment, (c)(9)
FY2026 USCIS national median
5.1 months
September 8, USCIS data snapshot
11-15.5 months
Work-continuation point
Renewals filed no longer get the general automatic extension
There is no single i-765 processing time that fits every work permit request. A pending adjustment case, F-1 OPT filing, H-4 application, and TPS-based request can have different timelines. Sometimes the real issue isn't just how long USCIS takes, but whether the applicant can keep working while the case is pending.
This guide shows how to read the i-765 processing time by category and office in 2026. It covers (c)(9), (c)(3), (c)(26), and TPS timelines, how historical medians differ from current USCIS estimates, which renewal rules may affect work authorization, when premium processing applies, and what to do when an EAD case runs late.
The current i-765 processing time can range from 4 to 28 months, depending on the eligibility category and USCIS office.
Before comparing timelines, start with the details tied to the case. Check the eligibility code used on Form I-765, or the code shown on an existing EAD (Employment Authorization Document) if this is a renewal. Then use that code and the listed office in the USCIS case processing times tool.
The table below compares current I-765 processing time by applicant type, eligibility code, national median, and dated USCIS-data snapshot.
The 3.7-month “all other” median is only a general reference point. Don't use it as the exact timeline for OPT, H-4, TPS, or any other category in that group. Before using any I-765 processing time to plan a start date, renewal filing, or work gap, check the data date, eligibility code, and USCIS office.
Category (c)(9) is used by applicants with a pending Form I-485. USCIS’s FY2026 median through June 30 was 5.1 months, but that number only reflects cases USCIS had already completed. In USCIS-posted data captured on September 8, 2026, current (c)(9) waits were much longer at 11-15.5 months.
For planning, check the live I-765 processing time by category and office instead of relying on the national median alone.
Moreover, the listed EAD processing time can affect whether a pending green card applicant keeps working while waiting. Renewals filed on or after October 30, 2025, will no longer have the former automatic-extension rule apply. Earlier qualifying renewals may still receive up to 540 days if the card, receipt, and category requirements are met.
If the EAD is part of an employment-based green card plan, review the renewal alongside the immigrant petition timeline. Our Form I-140 guide explains the petition stage, and our EB-1 Green Card Timeline 2026 covers the wider wait.
F-1 OPT and STEM OPT need their own check because USCIS’s “all other” median is not an OPT-specific forecast. Use the current (c)(3) result when planning around a job start date or EAD expiry. The actual OPT processing time depends on the filing method, timing, completeness, and the office handling the case.
A timely STEM OPT extension can provide up to 180 days of work authorization while the request is pending. This is separate from the general 540-day renewal rule. You should still track the EAD processing time because you must stop working if your new EAD or another valid work authorization is not ready before the 180 days end.
For H-4 spouses, the H-4 EAD processing time depends on both the EAD request and the spouse’s H-4 status. Eligibility depends on the H-1B spouse’s status and a qualifying employment-based process, such as an approved Form I-140 or certain AC21 extensions granted to skilled workers.
The September 8 USCIS office data showed 6.5-10 months when filed with Form I-539 and 17-18.5 months as a standalone filing.
H-1B premium processing does not automatically shorten the spouse’s Form I-539 or Form I-765 timeline. Renewals received on or after October 30, 2025, do not receive the former general automatic EAD extension. See our Form I-539 guide and H-4 EAD guide on the connected status and work-authorization issues.
Pending asylum cases use category (c)(8). Initial asylum-based I-765 filings can move faster than asylum renewals or replacements, so do not use the initial-case figure to plan a renewal. A pending-asylum applicant must also meet the asylum EAD waiting rules before USCIS can issue the first work permit.
Applicants who already have work authorization should check EAD processing time against the renewal or replacement category, not only the initial filing category.
TPS-based EAD processing time depends on the person’s country designation, not just the general I-765 queue. Check the USCIS TPS page or the Federal Register notice tied to that country before relying on any EAD expiration or extension date.
A pending EAD renewal does not permit the applicant to keep working. The I-765 processing time only shows how long USCIS may take to decide the work permit. Your permission to work depends on the renewal receipt date, EAD category, I-94 limit, and any separate rule such as STEM OPT or TPS.
Renewals received on or after October 30, 2025, no longer receive DHS’s general automatic EAD extension.
Before relying on any extension, confirm the details that decide whether the work extension authorization applies to you:
A qualifying renewal received before October 30, 2025, may keep you in status for up to 540 days. A timely STEM OPT extension may provide up to 180 days while the request is pending. TPS extensions may follow dates in a country-specific notice, so you should not add these rules together.
Currently, premium processing for Form I-765 is available only for certain F-1 student applications:
It is not available in categories such as (c)(9), (c)(26), (c)(8), or TPS-based I-765 applications.
The premium processing fee is $1,780 and gives eligible I-765 applicants a guaranteed USCIS action within 30 business days. That action may be an approval, denial, request for evidence (RFE), or notice of intent to deny. If USCIS issues an RFE or notice of intent to deny, the 30-business-day period restarts after USCIS receives the response.
Eligible F-1 applicants should compare the regular OPT processing time with the job start date and the extra fee. Premium processing can shorten the I-765 processing time, but it cannot fix an eligibility issue or missing documents.
Start with the USCIS tool before assuming the case is late. Match the receipt date with the posted inquiry date for the exact form, category, and office. If your online account details are unclear, check out our USCIS Online Account Number guide.
Once the case passes the posted inquiry date, submit a USCIS case inquiry and keep the service request number. USCIS reviews expedite requests individually and may ask for evidence of severe financial loss, urgent humanitarian reasons, government interest, or another accepted basis. A job offer or expiring EAD alone does not guarantee expedited approval.
To track the EAD process time, keep these in one file:
Form I-9 documentation is the record an employer uses to confirm a worker’s identity and authorization to work in the United States. A pending Form I-765 does not always mean you can continue working. If an earlier renewal qualifies, the I-9 file may include the expired EAD and Form I-797C receipt notice, depending on the category and rule.
STEM OPT has a separate I-9 document setup, usually involving the expired EAD and an endorsed Form I-20. Employers should follow the latest I-9 Central automatic-extension guidance when completing or reverifying Form I-9, because acceptable document combinations can change.
Beyond Border helps high-skilled professionals assess O-1, L-1, EB-1A, and EB-2 NIW options with vetted independent U.S. immigration attorneys, backed by experience across 4,000+ visa-related work cases. For a clearer plan before the current card expires, book a consultation.
There is no single timeline for every EAD. USCIS’s FY2026 historical data through June 30 lists 5.1 months for (c)(9), 0.7 months for (c)(8), and 3.7 months for “all other” I-765 cases, but those are national medians for completed cases.
Yes, but only for designated F-1 categories (c)(3)(A), (c)(3)(B), and (c)(3)(C). The 2026 fee is $1,780, and the service requires adjudicative action within 30 business days. It is not available for adjustment, H-4, asylum, or TPS I-765 filings.
A qualifying renewal filed before October 30, 2025, may last up to 540 days if the card, receipt, and category requirements are met. Renewals filed on or after that date do not receive the former general automatic extension. Separate STEM OPT or TPS rules may still apply, so do not combine the timelines.
USCIS says you may file Form I-765 up to 180 days before your EAD expires. The correct window still depends on the category and current instructions.
The “all other” median is not a promise of OPT processing time. Check a pending OPT case under category (c)(3), using the correct receipt date and office. When the job start date is close, eligible F-1 applicants can compare premium processing with the remaining standard wait.
David Munam is an experienced writer with 10 years of expertise in researching and producing clear, authoritative content on complex and highly technical subjects. His work has focused on turning dense information into accurate, well-structured, and accessible content across areas such as U.S. customs and trade, Web3, fintech, immigration law, and technology. At Beyond Border, he applies this experience to researching and writing in-depth content on U.S. immigration pathways, including O-1, EB-1A, and EB-2 NIW.
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