I-129 processing time
Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker
From USCIS data captured July 22, 2026
Fastest office
Service Center Operations (SCOPS)
4 – 33 months
Slowest office
Service Center Operations (SCOPS)
4 – 33 months
Offices
1
process this form
Every office, fastest to slowest
| Office | Category | Current time | Case inquiry possible for receipts on/before |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | E - Treaty traders and investors | 18.5 – 21.5 months | October 11, 2024 |
| E3 - Specialty occupation workers from Australia | 4 – 7 months | December 25, 2025 | |
| H-1B - Specialty occupation - Visa to be issued abroad | 9.5 – 10.5 months | September 06, 2025 | |
| H-1B - Specialty occupation - Change of status in the U.S. | 9.5 – 10.5 months | September 08, 2025 | |
| H-1B - Specialty occupation - Extension of stay in the U.S. | 10.5 – 11.5 months | August 15, 2025 | |
| H-2A - Temporary agricultural workers - Named Beneficiary | 4 – 15 months | March 24, 2026 | |
| H-2A - Temporary agricultural workers - Unnamed Beneficiary | 4 – 15 months | March 24, 2026 | |
| H-2B - Temporary nonagricultural workers | 5 – 8 months | December 05, 2025 | |
| H-3 - Temporary trainees | 16.5 – 19 months | January 02, 2025 | |
| Intracompany transferees and blanket L | 7 – 10.5 months | September 16, 2025 | |
| O - Extraordinary ability | 13 – 17 months | March 01, 2025 | |
| P - Athletes, artists, and entertainers | 12 – 14 months | June 05, 2025 | |
| Q - Cultural exchange visitors | 19.5 – 33 months | October 28, 2023 | |
| R - Religious occupation | 8.5 – 11.5 months | August 19, 2025 | |
| TN - United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA, formerly NAFTA) professional | 4 – 7 months | January 02, 2026 |
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Frequently asked questions
How long does Form I-129 take in 2026?
Per USCIS data captured July 22, 2026, I-129 (Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker) takes from 4 – 33 months at the fastest office (Service Center Operations (SCOPS)) to 4 – 33 months at the slowest (Service Center Operations (SCOPS)).
Which office is fastest for I-129?
As of the latest data, Service Center Operations (SCOPS) shows the shortest time: 4 – 33 months.
What does this processing time mean?
USCIS calculates it as the time in which 80% of adjudicated cases were completed over the past six months. It is a reference point, not a promise about any individual case.
How often is this page updated?
Arrive Legal captures USCIS-published data weekly and archives every capture to show trends over time.
Official source: USCIS Case Processing Times. See our methodology.