The processing of your US immigration case can vary greatly depending on the case type, visa availability, the agency processing your case, and the service center handling your case. There are also other factors that can impact case processing such as natural disasters, government shutdowns, pandemics, etc. In general, setting expectations based on a specific immigration processing time is not advised as they fluctuate constantly. The best advice is to file as far in advance as possible. We provide the resources to check the most recent processing time of your immigration case here.
US Immigration Wait Times by Agency and Category
Immigration wait times are divided by the agency and or type of case and can be checked directly with the agency handling your case. Verify which agency is handling your case and use the following links to check current wait times:
- US Citizenship and Immigration Services Processing Times – To verify the currently listed processing time for your immigration matter with USCIS you will need your I-797 receipt notice which will list the USCIS office that is handling your case, your application or petition type, and the date your case was received for processing, the receipt date.
- The Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) Processing Times – The Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) conducts an administrative review of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officers’ decisions regarding immigration benefit requests in order to promote consistency and accuracy in the interpretation of immigration law and policy.
- US Department of Labor (DOL) Processing Times – The US Department of Labor issues prevailing wage determinations for CW-1, H-1B, H-2B, and PERM cases. They also process PERM applications.
- Non-Immigrant Visa Wait Times at U.S. Embassy or Consulate – Check the estimated wait time for a nonimmigrant visa interview appointment at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Select your U.S. Embassy or Consulate to see what the appointment wait time is for your specific nonimmigrant visa type.
- Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Processing Times – The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) allows you to obtain a copy of your file from the USCIS and other governmental agencies. Enter the control number that USCIS provided after they received your request. The control number will begin with the letters NRC, COW, APP, etc. If your request is pending, the status will indicate the position of your request relative to all pending USCIS requests in the same processing track. Status information is updated daily.
Additional Outside Resources
- Historical National Median Processing Time (in Months) for All USCIS Offices for Select Forms By Fiscal Year
- American Immigration Council – How USCIS Estimates Application and Petition Processing Times
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