I-765 processing time
Application for Employment Authorization
From USCIS data captured August 31, 2026
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Typical wait
4 – 28 months
Across 2 office(s); the ranges overlap too much to single out a faster one.
Offices
2
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) | Based on being an H-4 spouse of an H-1B nonimmigrant (filed with I-539 H4) [(c)(26)] | 6.5 – 10 months | November 09, 2025 |
| Based on being an L-2 spouse of an L-1 nonimmigrant [(a)(18)] | 17.5 – 28 months | May 13, 2024 | |
| Based on being admitted as a Refugee [(a)(3)] | 19 – 22.5 months | October 25, 2024 | |
| Based on an approved asylum application [(a)(5)] | 3.5 – 17 months | April 13, 2025 | |
| Based on being an H-4 spouse of an H-1B nonimmigrant (Standalone; not filed with I-539 H4) [(c)(26)] | 17 – 18.5 months | February 22, 2025 | |
| Based on a request by a qualified F-1 academic student [(c)(3)] | 4 – 6 months | March 03, 2026 | |
| Based on an approved, concurrently filed, I-821D [(c)(33)] | no posted time | ||
| Based on a pending asylum application [(c)(8)] -renewal/replacement | 15.5 – 19 months | January 31, 2025 | |
| Based on a pending asylum application [(c)(8)] – Initial Application | 1 – 4 months | August 06, 2026 | |
| Based on a pending I-485 adjustment application [(c)(9)] | 12.5 – 15.5 months | May 26, 2025 | |
| Based on TPS for El Salvador [(c)(19), (a)(12)] | 18 – 18.5 months | March 02, 2025 | |
| All other applications for employment authorization | 15 – 18.5 months | February 24, 2025 | |
| National Benefits Center | Application for Suspension of Deportation/Sec.244/NACARA/Cancel of Removal [(c)(10)] | 9.5 – 23 months | October 11, 2024 |
| Based on parole | 13.5 – 18 months | March 12, 2025 | |
| Alien with Final Order of Deportation Under an OSUP [(c)(18)] | 16 – 17.5 months | March 21, 2025 | |
| Based on a pending I-485 adjustment application [(c)(9)] | 11 – 15 months | June 09, 2025 | |
| All other applications for employment authorization | 9.5 – 13 months | August 06, 2025 |
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* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All other applications for employment authorization | 3.0 | 4.7 | 3.2 | 3.1 | 2.8 | 3.9 |
| Based on an approved, concurrently filed, I-821D, Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (c)(33). | 1.9 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 2.8 |
| Based on a pending asylum application | 3.2 | 9.2 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.7 |
| Based on a pending I-485 adjustment application | 7.1 | 6.7 | 5.5 | 3.7 | 2.2 | 4.6 |
| Based on parole | 0.6 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 5.9 |
* FY2026 is partial: Oct. 1, 2025–May 31, 2026.
Filing on your own?
It's normal and permitted. What the I-765 process involves, and the reasons people commonly hire an attorney →
The national I-765 line
Cases waiting
1,917,467
nationwide (FY2026 Q2)
The line is
growing
+13.0% since FY2025 Q4
What that usually means
More applications than decisions — pressure toward longer 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-765 take in 2026?
Per USCIS data captured August 31, 2026, I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization) takes 4 – 28 months across 2 office(s).
Which office is fastest for I-765?
The posted ranges overlap too much to single out a faster office — they all fall within 4 – 28 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.