I-140 processing time
Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers
From USCIS data captured October 19, 2026
Typical wait
3 – 35.5 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) | Extraordinary ability (E11) | 32.5 – 35.5 months | November 13, 2023 |
| Outstanding professor or researcher (E12) | 15 – 18.5 months | April 16, 2025 | |
| Multinational executive or manager (E13) | 27.5 – 29.5 months | May 08, 2024 | |
| Advanced degree or exceptional ability (E21) | 3 – 6.5 months | April 07, 2026 | |
| Skilled worker or professional (E31; E32) | 4 – 8 months | February 28, 2026 | |
| Unskilled worker (EW3) | 9 – 15 months | July 27, 2025 | |
| Advanced degree or exceptional ability requesting a National Interest Waiver (NIW) | 30 – 33 months | January 27, 2024 | |
| Schedule A Nurses | 25.5 – 26.5 months | August 07, 2024 |
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* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Immigrant Petition (Premium filed) | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 1.1 |
| Immigrant Petition (non Premium filed) | 8.2 | 9.3 | 4.3 | 7.1 | 7.9 | 3.7 |
* FY2026 is partial: Oct. 1, 2025–May 31, 2026.
Filing on your own?
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The national I-140 line
Cases waiting
184,209
nationwide (FY2026 Q2)
The line is
stable
+2.1% since FY2025 Q4
What that usually means
Intake and decisions roughly even — no clear pressure either way.
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-140 take in 2026?
Per USCIS data captured October 19, 2026, I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers) takes 3 – 35.5 months across 1 office(s).
Which office is fastest for I-140?
The posted ranges overlap too much to single out a faster office — they all fall within 3 – 35.5 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.