I-129 at Service Center Operations (SCOPS)
Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker
From USCIS data captured October 19, 2026
H-1B
10 – 13 months
Change of status, extension of stay, and consular (visa issued abroad) cases.
H-1B - Specialty occupation - Visa to be issued abroad
11 – 13 months
Case inquiry possible for receipt dates on or before September 22, 2025.
Processing time represents the number of elapsed days between the received date and the first adjudicative decision, which may include RFE response days. We do not include reopened cases.
H-1B - Specialty occupation - Change of status in the U.S.
10 – 11.5 months
Case inquiry possible for receipt dates on or before November 09, 2025.
Processing time represents the number of elapsed days between the received date and the first adjudicative decision, which may include RFE response days. We do not include reopened cases.
H-1B - Specialty occupation - Extension of stay in the U.S.
11.5 – 12.5 months
Case inquiry possible for receipt dates on or before October 17, 2025.
Processing time represents the number of elapsed days between the received date and the first adjudicative decision, which may include RFE response days. We do not include reopened cases.
E - Treaty traders and investors
20 – 22.5 months
Case inquiry possible for receipt dates on or before December 15, 2024.
E3 - Specialty occupation workers from Australia
5 – 7.5 months
Case inquiry possible for receipt dates on or before March 15, 2026.
Processing time represents the number of elapsed days between the received date and the first adjudicative decision, which may include RFE response days. We do not include reopened cases.
H-2A - Temporary agricultural workers - Named Beneficiary
4 – 15 months
Case inquiry possible for receipt dates on or before June 21, 2026.
Processing time represents the number of elapsed days between the received date and the first adjudicative decision, which may include RFE response days. We do not include reopened cases. If you are a petitioner for an H-2A Temporary Agricultural Worker and your Form I-129 has been pending longer than 15 days and you have not received a decision or a Request for Evidence, you may contact USCIS at (1-800) 375-5283 to inquire about your petition.
H-2A - Temporary agricultural workers - Unnamed Beneficiary
4 – 15 months
Case inquiry possible for receipt dates on or before June 21, 2026.
Since October 2025, H-2A petitioners seeking unnamed beneficiaries can electronically file an H-2A petition with USCIS after the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issues a notice of acceptance of the application for temporary labor certification (TLC) and before DOL approves a TLC. However, USCIS will not approve these petitions until after DOL has approved the corresponding TLC. This concurrent processing has contributed to longer H-2A petition processing times because USCIS must now wait until DOL approves the corresponding TLC before we can process the H-2A petition.
H-2B - Temporary nonagricultural workers
4 – 8 months
Case inquiry possible for receipt dates on or before March 02, 2026.
Processing time represents the number of elapsed days between the received date and the first adjudicative decision, which may include RFE response days. We do not include reopened cases.
H-3 - Temporary trainees
17 – 19.5 months
Case inquiry possible for receipt dates on or before March 10, 2025.
Processing time represents the number of elapsed days between the received date and the first adjudicative decision, which may include RFE response days. We do not include reopened cases.
Intracompany transferees and blanket L
6.5 – 10.5 months
Case inquiry possible for receipt dates on or before December 06, 2025.
Processing time represents the number of elapsed days between the received date and the first adjudicative decision, which may include RFE response days. We do not include reopened cases.
O - Extraordinary ability
14.5 – 17.5 months
Case inquiry possible for receipt dates on or before May 10, 2025.
P - Athletes, artists, and entertainers
13 – 15 months
Case inquiry possible for receipt dates on or before July 29, 2025.
Q - Cultural exchange visitors
7 – 19.5 months
Case inquiry possible for receipt dates on or before March 09, 2025.
Processing time represents the number of elapsed days between the received date and the first adjudicative decision, which may include RFE response days. We do not include reopened cases.
R - Religious occupation
9.5 – 12 months
Case inquiry possible for receipt dates on or before October 22, 2025.
TN - United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA, formerly NAFTA) professional
4.5 – 7 months
Case inquiry possible for receipt dates on or before March 21, 2026.
In plain English
- The months range means: USCIS finished 80% of its recent I-129 cases at this office within that time. It's a reference point — some cases finish sooner, some later.
- "Case inquiry possible…" means: if USCIS received your case on or before that date, your wait is already longer than normal and you can officially ask USCIS about it (it's called an e-Request, and it's free).
- The chart below shows how the posted wait has moved over time — orange = our weekly captures; gray = archival history.
Track this I-129 wait at Service Center Operations (SCOPS)
Get the old value, new value, and trend when USCIS changes this time.
Research from our archive
What changed for I-129
11 captures · July 22, 2026–October 19, 2026
We compared 15 identical category-and-office combinations in our first and latest captures. 13 changed. More waits are longer than in our first capture.
Largest net change: Q - Cultural exchange visitors · −13 months.
Arrive Legal analysis of its own weekly captures. This compares posted data points; it does not predict a case or fill missing weeks. Methodology · Download data
Trend
Latest published wait
13 months
As of Oct 12, 2026 · Arrive Legal capture
Stable
No change since Oct 5, 2026
Processing time (months)
View 22 exact readings
- Oct 12, 2026 · Arrive Legal capture13 months
- Oct 5, 2026 · Arrive Legal capture13 months
- Sep 28, 2026 · Arrive Legal capture13 months
- Sep 21, 2026 · Arrive Legal capture13 months
- Sep 8, 2026 · Arrive Legal capture11.5 months
- Aug 31, 2026 · Arrive Legal capture11.5 months
- Aug 24, 2026 · Arrive Legal capture11.5 months
- Aug 18, 2026 · Arrive Legal capture11.5 months
- Aug 13, 2026 · Arrive Legal capture10.5 months
- Jul 22, 2026 · Arrive Legal capture10.5 months
- Jun 24, 2026 · archival history10.5 months
- May 23, 2026 · archival history10 months
- Apr 22, 2026 · archival history9.5 months
- Mar 17, 2026 · archival history8.5 months
- Feb 19, 2026 · archival history8 months
- Jan 15, 2026 · archival history7.5 months
- Dec 19, 2025 · archival history8 months
- Dec 9, 2025 · archival history10.5 months
- Oct 22, 2025 · archival history10.5 months
- Sep 30, 2025 · archival history9.5 months
- Sep 19, 2025 · archival history9.5 months
- Sep 6, 2025 · archival history9.5 months
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 →
Is your case delayed?
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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 I-129 H-1B take at SCOPS?
Per USCIS data captured October 19, 2026, I-129 H-1B takes 10 – 13 months at SCOPS, depending on the exact category.
When can I ask USCIS about my case?
USCIS posts separate dates for H-1B change of status, extension of stay, and consular cases. Choose your exact category below.
Is this time a guarantee?
No. It is the time within which USCIS completed 80% of similar cases over the past six months. Every case is different; some take longer.
Check your case status at USCIS Case Status Online · Official source: USCIS Case Processing Times