I-140
What it is
Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker
Processing time
2.5 to 30 months
Premium processing
Available, 15 business days for most classifications
USCIS processing times in 2026 are between 15 business days and several years, depending on your petition type, visa category, and office handling your case. Many petitions are delayed due to USCIS backlogs, which vary by petition type.
If your case has exceeded the published processing time, it may be the right time to send a case inquiry. Beyond Border attorneys have collectively handled 4,000+ immigration cases across O-1, L-1, EB-1, and NIW categories, and will help build a strong petition that withstands extended delays.
USCIS processing time is the amount of time USCIS takes to complete 80% of adjudicated cases over the last six months. The time is measured from the date USCIS receives your application to the date they make a final decision (either an approval or a denial).
For example, if a Form N-400 received on January 24, 2022 was decided on March 5, 2022, its processing time was 41 days. USCIS calculates this for every completed Form N-400 over a six-month window and selects the time within which 80% were completed.
Because the time window is backward, it reflects the time for cases USCIS already completed, not necessarily where your case currently sits. USCIS updates this time monthly with the current data.
Not every form is measured this way. Some forms use an older metric called "cycle time," which measures how many months of pending work an office is currently holding, rather than completed case times. For example, an office holding 500 pending Form I-800 filings in April 2020, having received 200 in February and 300 in March, has a cycle time of two months.
Processing times fluctuate based on application volume, staffing, how quickly applicants respond to Requests for Evidence (RFEs), and policy changes.
In general, the processing time is the time required to process the 80th percentile of applications, meaning roughly 20% of cases can take longer. If your petition exceeds the listed processing time, it’s common and doesn’t always mean that something is wrong.
As of August 2026, the current USCIS processing time runs anywhere from 15 business days to 30+ years. But this depends on the type of petition and visa category you’re applying for.
The table below shows the processing times for some common forms, as published on USCIS's official processing time tool.
Processing times vary by petition type, as each application has its own eligibility rules, evidence requirements, and visa limits. USCIS officers must thoroughly review every detail of your submission, so submitting a well-organized, complete petition can help avoid unnecessary delays.
We break down the current wait times by petition and how to plan for your own case;
Processing times for employment-based cases run from 15 days, with premium processing, to 36 months under standard processing.
Processing times for family-based petitions range from 20 to 130 months, depending on the sponsor and relationship. Typically, relatives of U.S. citizens move faster than those of Green Card holders.
According to USCIS data, naturalization processing takes anywhere between 6 and 17 months. This category has the fastest USCIS processing time in 2026.
The K-1 visa process begins with Form I-129F, which currently takes about 12 months for USCIS to process as of August 2026. This is just the first step. After USCIS approves the petition, the foreign fiancé(e) must apply for an adjustment of status, which adds several more months to the total processing time.
Processing times are reported per office, not nationally. Some forms are handled by a field office and others by a service center, and the same form can move at different speeds in different places.
That's why general national averages won't tell you much about your specific wait time. Always look at the time for your specific form, category, and assigned office.
Your receipt notice includes the four things you need: the form type (sometimes labelled case type), the receipt number, the receipt date, and the USCIS office.
If your receipt notice lists the "National Benefits Center" and you filed a Form I-485, N-400, or N-600, check the processing times for your local field office instead.
If USCIS transfers your case to a different office, follow the processing times posted for that office. Always verify the assigned office on your receipt notice before looking up your processing times.
You can check processing time for your form using the USCIS Online Processing Time tool. Here’s how to use it;
Your final USCIS processing time is affected by six major factors: petition type, service centre handling it, visa category, premium processing, country of birth, and whether you receive a Request for Evidence (RFE). Here’s what you need to know;
Processing time varies because each form has its own review process. While USCIS handles most filings, PERM labor certifications go through the Department of Labor, which operates on its own timeline.
Where your case is handled makes a big difference. Offices in major metropolitan areas often face larger backlogs than smaller locations, and specialized service centers handle cases at varying speeds.
Employment-based Green Card timelines vary by category, such as EB-1A or EB-2. Temporary visa classifications such as H-1B and L-1 also have their own distinct timelines.
Certain employment-based filings, including select I-140 and I-129 forms, qualify for premium processing, which can shorten wait times to as little as 15 business days. Premium processing is not available for PERM applications (ETA-9089), adjustment of status (I-485), family petitions (I-130), or naturalization (N-400).
Employment and family Green Card timelines depend on annual visa availability, which varies by country. Applicants from high-demand countries face longer wait times due to per-country visa limits.
Missing or unclear documentation can trigger a Request for Evidence (RFE), adding weeks to your process. Submitting thorough, well-organized evidence upfront helps keep your case on track.
The first thing to do is check whether the delay is significant enough to warrant an inquiry to USCIS. Use this formula to find out;
Case Inquiry Date = [Time to complete 93% of cases] − [Time your case has been pending]
Take the 93% timeframe for your form and office, and subtract how long your case has already been pending. For example, you filed a form on January 1, 2021, and then checked the processing times page on January 1, 2022, to check the status of the form.
The time to complete 93% of adjudicated cases for your form and office is 13 months, and your case has been pending for 12 months. The calculation is 13 months minus 12 months, which leaves one month.
In this case, you can send an inquiry to USCIS in one month, not now. If the calculation is zero or negative, you can submit an inquiry now. Here’s how;
Note: You don't need to do the math manually. Enter your receipt date into the processing times tool, and it will calculate your inquiry date or give you a direct link to e-Request. Always calculate your exact inquiry date before contacting USCIS.
Preparing a strong case petition from the beginning prevents any extended delays or RFEs. Our attorneys will review your evidence record and advise you on which visa category best fits your profile. While we can’t control USCIS speed, we can submit a petition that withstands USCIS scrutiny. Request a free consultation with Beyond Border for an honest assessment of your case.
Monthly. USCIS updates case processing times on its website monthly with the latest available data. The underlying calculation always looks back over the previous six months of completed cases, so each update swaps one month of data in and one month out.
Because the posted time is the 80th percentile rather than an average, roughly one case in five is expected to exceed it. Certain factors also affect the processing time, including receipt volumes, staffing allocations, how quickly an applicant responds to a request for evidence, and policy or operational changes.
No, you cannot. USCIS may not act on your request. USCIS allows inquiries once a case has taken longer than the time to complete 93% of adjudications, or longer than 130% of the cycle time for forms measured that way. Enter your receipt date into the processing times tool, and it will tell you whether you can inquire now.
No, it begins when USCIS receives your request and ends on the date they complete it, whether approved or denied.
No, it does not. Premium processing is a separate service with its own timeline, available only for certain Form I-129, Form I-140, Form I-539, and Form I-765 filings. The posted processing times describe standard adjudication and are unaffected by it.
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