I-129 at Service Center Operations (SCOPS)
Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker
From USCIS data captured July 22, 2026
E - Treaty traders and investors
18.5 – 21.5 months
Case inquiry possible for receipt dates on or before October 11, 2024.
E3 - Specialty occupation workers from Australia
4 – 7 months
Case inquiry possible for receipt dates on or before December 25, 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 - Visa to be issued abroad
9.5 – 10.5 months
Case inquiry possible for receipt dates on or before September 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.
H-1B - Specialty occupation - Change of status in the U.S.
9.5 – 10.5 months
Case inquiry possible for receipt dates on or before September 08, 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.
10.5 – 11.5 months
Case inquiry possible for receipt dates on or before August 15, 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-2A - Temporary agricultural workers - Named Beneficiary
4 – 15 months
Case inquiry possible for receipt dates on or before March 24, 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 March 24, 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
5 – 8 months
Case inquiry possible for receipt dates on or before December 05, 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-3 - Temporary trainees
16.5 – 19 months
Case inquiry possible for receipt dates on or before January 02, 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
7 – 10.5 months
Case inquiry possible for receipt dates on or before September 16, 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
13 – 17 months
Case inquiry possible for receipt dates on or before March 01, 2025.
P - Athletes, artists, and entertainers
12 – 14 months
Case inquiry possible for receipt dates on or before June 05, 2025.
Q - Cultural exchange visitors
19.5 – 33 months
Case inquiry possible for receipt dates on or before October 28, 2023.
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
8.5 – 11.5 months
Case inquiry possible for receipt dates on or before August 19, 2025.
TN - United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA, formerly NAFTA) professional
4 – 7 months
Case inquiry possible for receipt dates on or before January 02, 2026.
Trend
Arrive Legal began archiving this data in July 2026. The trend chart unlocks once at least two weekly readings exist — history USCIS itself doesn't publish.
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Alerts: I-129 at Service Center Operations (SCOPS)
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Frequently asked questions
How long does I-129 take at Service Center Operations (SCOPS)?
Per USCIS data captured July 22, 2026, I-129 at Service Center Operations (SCOPS) takes 18.5 – 21.5 months (80% of cases complete within that time).
When can I ask USCIS about my case?
Under the current data, USCIS accepts a I-129 case inquiry at Service Center Operations (SCOPS) if your receipt date is on or before October 11, 2024. Use USCIS's e-Request tool.
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