I-129 processing time
Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker
From USCIS data captured October 19, 2026
Typical wait
4 – 22.5 months
Across 1 office(s); the ranges overlap too much to single out a faster one.
Offices
1
process this form
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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 | 20 – 22.5 months | December 15, 2024 |
| E3 - Specialty occupation workers from Australia | 5 – 7.5 months | March 15, 2026 | |
| H-1B - Specialty occupation - Visa to be issued abroad | 11 – 13 months | September 22, 2025 | |
| H-1B - Specialty occupation - Change of status in the U.S. | 10 – 11.5 months | November 09, 2025 | |
| H-1B - Specialty occupation - Extension of stay in the U.S. | 11.5 – 12.5 months | October 17, 2025 | |
| H-2A - Temporary agricultural workers - Named Beneficiary | 4 – 15 months | June 21, 2026 | |
| H-2A - Temporary agricultural workers - Unnamed Beneficiary | 4 – 15 months | June 21, 2026 | |
| H-2B - Temporary nonagricultural workers | 4 – 8 months | March 02, 2026 | |
| H-3 - Temporary trainees | 17 – 19.5 months | March 10, 2025 | |
| Intracompany transferees and blanket L | 6.5 – 10.5 months | December 06, 2025 | |
| O - Extraordinary ability | 14.5 – 17.5 months | May 10, 2025 | |
| P - Athletes, artists, and entertainers | 13 – 15 months | July 29, 2025 | |
| Q - Cultural exchange visitors | 7 – 19.5 months | March 09, 2025 | |
| R - Religious occupation | 9.5 – 12 months | October 22, 2025 | |
| TN - United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA, formerly NAFTA) professional | 4.5 – 7 months | March 21, 2026 |
National context
Historical median by fiscal year
This is the national median for completed cases—not the current office-level 80% time shown above. The two measures are not directly comparable.
| Classification | FY 2021 | FY 2022 | FY 2023 | FY 2024 | FY 2025 | FY 2026* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonimmigrant Petition (Premium filed) | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.5 |
| Nonimmigrant Petition (non Premium filed) | 1.8 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 2.2 | 3.5 | 5.3 |
* FY2026 is partial: Oct. 1, 2025–May 31, 2026.
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The national I-129 line
Cases waiting
120,477
nationwide (FY2026 Q2)
The line is
shrinking
-20.1% since FY2025 Q4
What that usually means
More decisions than applications — pressure toward shorter waits.
From USCIS's official quarterly report. See the full outlook and methodology →
Related forms
Other USCIS forms commonly tracked in the same process — listed for reference, not as guidance on what to file.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Form I-129 take in 2026?
Per USCIS data captured October 19, 2026, I-129 (Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker) takes 4 – 22.5 months across 1 office(s).
Which office is fastest for I-129?
The posted ranges overlap too much to single out a faster office — they all fall within 4 – 22.5 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.