USCIS · FORM I-140
I-140 processing time
Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers. Below is every processing time USCIS publishes for this form, then USCIS's own quarterly counts.
Advanced degree or exceptional ability (E21)
USCIS publishes 3–6.5 months for this category, handled at Service Center Operations (SCOPS).
USCIS note for this category: “USCIS Service Center Operations (SCOPS) prioritizes processing of Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, when the Department of State Visa Bulletin shows an immigrant visa is available. The Visa Bulletin, published monthly, lists available immigrant visas by priority date. We use the visa bulletin to determine the current visa categories and priority dates. SCOPS has prioritized our adjudications so we can focus on cases with visas available and can move related Applications to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (Form I-485) to the National Benefits Center. This prioritization supports the USCIS-wide effort to use all employment-based visas available during the fiscal year. It does not affect premium processed petitions, which we will manage in the associated time frame for premium processing service.”
| Office | Processing time | Receipt date for a case inquiry | Data period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 3–6.5 months | April 05, 2026 | March 2026 to August 2026 |
Advanced degree or exceptional ability requesting a National Interest Waiver (NIW)
USCIS publishes 30–33 months for this category, handled at Service Center Operations (SCOPS).
USCIS note for this category: “USCIS Service Center Operations (SCOPS) prioritizes processing of Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, when the Department of State Visa Bulletin shows an immigrant visa is available. The Visa Bulletin, published monthly, lists available immigrant visas by priority date. We use the visa bulletin to determine the current visa categories and priority dates. SCOPS has prioritized our adjudications so we can focus on cases with visas available and can move related Applications to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (Form I-485) to the National Benefits Center. This prioritization supports the USCIS-wide effort to use all employment-based visas available during the fiscal year. It does not affect premium processed petitions, which we will manage in the associated time frame for premium processing service.”
| Office | Processing time | Receipt date for a case inquiry | Data period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 30–33 months | January 25, 2024 | March 2026 to August 2026 |
Extraordinary ability (E11)
USCIS publishes 32.5–35.5 months for this category, handled at Service Center Operations (SCOPS).
USCIS note for this category: “USCIS Service Center Operations (SCOPS) prioritizes processing of Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, when the Department of State Visa Bulletin shows an immigrant visa is available. The Visa Bulletin, published monthly, lists available immigrant visas by priority date. We use the visa bulletin to determine the current visa categories and priority dates. SCOPS has prioritized our adjudications so we can focus on cases with visas available and can move related Applications to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (Form I-485) to the National Benefits Center. This prioritization supports the USCIS-wide effort to use all employment-based visas available during the fiscal year. It does not affect premium processed petitions, which we will manage in the associated time frame for premium processing service.”
| Office | Processing time | Receipt date for a case inquiry | Data period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 32.5–35.5 months | November 11, 2023 | March 2026 to August 2026 |
Multinational executive or manager (E13)
USCIS publishes 27.5–29.5 months for this category, handled at Service Center Operations (SCOPS).
USCIS note for this category: “USCIS Service Center Operations (SCOPS) prioritizes processing of Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, when the Department of State Visa Bulletin shows an immigrant visa is available. The Visa Bulletin, published monthly, lists available immigrant visas by priority date. We use the visa bulletin to determine the current visa categories and priority dates. SCOPS has prioritized our adjudications so we can focus on cases with visas available and can move related Applications to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (Form I-485) to the National Benefits Center. This prioritization supports the USCIS-wide effort to use all employment-based visas available during the fiscal year. It does not affect premium processed petitions, which we will manage in the associated time frame for premium processing service.”
| Office | Processing time | Receipt date for a case inquiry | Data period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 27.5–29.5 months | May 06, 2024 | March 2026 to August 2026 |
Outstanding professor or researcher (E12)
USCIS publishes 15–18.5 months for this category, handled at Service Center Operations (SCOPS).
USCIS note for this category: “USCIS Service Center Operations (SCOPS) prioritizes processing of Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, when the Department of State Visa Bulletin shows an immigrant visa is available. The Visa Bulletin, published monthly, lists available immigrant visas by priority date. We use the visa bulletin to determine the current visa categories and priority dates. SCOPS has prioritized our adjudications so we can focus on cases with visas available and can move related Applications to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (Form I-485) to the National Benefits Center. This prioritization supports the USCIS-wide effort to use all employment-based visas available during the fiscal year. It does not affect premium processed petitions, which we will manage in the associated time frame for premium processing service.”
| Office | Processing time | Receipt date for a case inquiry | Data period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 15–18.5 months | April 14, 2025 | March 2026 to August 2026 |
Schedule A Nurses
USCIS publishes 25.5–26.5 months for this category, handled at Service Center Operations (SCOPS).
USCIS note for this category: “USCIS Service Center Operations (SCOPS) prioritizes processing of Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, when the Department of State Visa Bulletin shows an immigrant visa is available. The Visa Bulletin, published monthly, lists available immigrant visas by priority date. We use the visa bulletin to determine the current visa categories and priority dates. SCOPS has prioritized our adjudications so we can focus on cases with visas available and can move related Applications to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (Form I-485) to the National Benefits Center. This prioritization supports the USCIS-wide effort to use all employment-based visas available during the fiscal year. It does not affect premium processed petitions, which we will manage in the associated time frame for premium processing service.”
| Office | Processing time | Receipt date for a case inquiry | Data period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 25.5–26.5 months | August 05, 2024 | March 2026 to August 2026 |
Skilled worker or professional (E31; E32)
USCIS publishes 4–8 months for this category, handled at Service Center Operations (SCOPS).
USCIS note for this category: “USCIS Service Center Operations (SCOPS) prioritizes processing of Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, when the Department of State Visa Bulletin shows an immigrant visa is available. The Visa Bulletin, published monthly, lists available immigrant visas by priority date. We use the visa bulletin to determine the current visa categories and priority dates. SCOPS has prioritized our adjudications so we can focus on cases with visas available and can move related Applications to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (Form I-485) to the National Benefits Center. This prioritization supports the USCIS-wide effort to use all employment-based visas available during the fiscal year. It does not affect premium processed petitions, which we will manage in the associated time frame for premium processing service.”
| Office | Processing time | Receipt date for a case inquiry | Data period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 4–8 months | February 26, 2026 | March 2026 to August 2026 |
Unskilled worker (EW3)
USCIS publishes 9–15 months for this category, handled at Service Center Operations (SCOPS).
USCIS note for this category: “USCIS Service Center Operations (SCOPS) prioritizes processing of Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, when the Department of State Visa Bulletin shows an immigrant visa is available. The Visa Bulletin, published monthly, lists available immigrant visas by priority date. We use the visa bulletin to determine the current visa categories and priority dates. SCOPS has prioritized our adjudications so we can focus on cases with visas available and can move related Applications to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (Form I-485) to the National Benefits Center. This prioritization supports the USCIS-wide effort to use all employment-based visas available during the fiscal year. It does not affect premium processed petitions, which we will manage in the associated time frame for premium processing service.”
| Office | Processing time | Receipt date for a case inquiry | Data period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 9–15 months | July 25, 2025 | March 2026 to August 2026 |
How USCIS describes these numbers: “We generally process cases in the order we receive them. This processing time is based on how long it took us to complete 80% of adjudicated cases over the past six months. Each case is unique, and some cases may take longer than others. Processing times should be used as a reference point, not an absolute measure of how long your case will take to be completed.”
Source: USCIS, Check Case Processing Times, published September 17, 2026; recorded by greencardline October 17, 2026. USCIS shows a range for most forms; what the range means and how the inquiry date is used are explained, with quotes from USCIS, in How USCIS processing times work.
USCIS quarterly counts for I-140
| Quarter | Received | Approved | Denied | Pending | Processing time (months) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024 Q1 | 54,596 | 40,033.522 | 3,631.478 | 69,978 | 6.2794452 |
| FY2024 Q3 | 59,356 | 40,142 | 5,050 | 94,241 | 6.7725953 |
| FY2024 Q4 | 57,144 | 38,388 | 5,951 | 108,043 | 7.824649 |
| FY2025 Q1 | 57,827 | 33,105 | 4,396 | 132,938 | 7.6 |
| FY2025 Q2 | 57,947 | 36,476 | 4,926 | 150,112 | 7.5 |
| FY2025 Q3 | 62,186 | 34,794 | 6,864 | 170,699 | 11.2 |
| FY2025 Q4 | 66,692 | 48,882 | 8,710 | 180,439 | 6.4 |
| FY2026 Q2 | 51,110 | 47,406 | 7,241 | 184,209 | 3.4 |
| FY2026 Q3 | 62,932 | 37,975 | 7,069 | 203,204 | 3.9 |
Source: USCIS, "Number of Service-wide Forms by Quarter, Form Status, and Processing Time" (each quarter links to its file on uscis.gov). Fiscal years start October 1. "Withheld" means USCIS suppressed a small number.
National median by fiscal year
- Immigrant Petition (Premium filed): 0.7 months in FY 2025, 1 months in FY 2026 (partial year, as published)
- Immigrant Petition (non Premium filed): 7.9 months in FY 2025, 3.6 months in FY 2026 (partial year, as published)
| Form | Form Description | Classification or Basis for Filing | FY 2021 | FY 2022 | FY 2023 | FY 2024 | FY 2025 | FY 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I-140 | Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers | Immigrant Petition (Premium filed) | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 1.0 |
| I-140 | Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers | Immigrant Petition (non Premium filed) | 8.2 | 9.3 | 4.3 | 7.1 | 7.9 | 3.6 |
Source: USCIS, Historical National Median Processing Time (in Months) for All USCIS Offices for Select Forms By Fiscal Year, Fiscal Year 2021 to 2026 (up to August 30, 2026). Recorded October 17, 2026.