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Form I-129 Processing Times 2026

Current USCIS processing times for Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN), broken down by service center and petition category.

⚠️ Not legal advice. Processing times change frequently. Always verify at USCIS.gov. Consult a licensed immigration attorney for your case.
Average Minimum
NaN mo
Across all service centers
Average Maximum
NaN mo
Across all service centers
Service Centers
4
With available data

I-129 Processing Times by Service Center

Service CenterCategoryProcessing RangeData Date
CSC H-1B 3.5–5.0 months Mar 2026
NSC E-3 - Australian Specialty Occupation 2.0–3.5 months Mar 2026
NSC H-1B 2.0–4.0 months Mar 2026
NSC H-1B - Specialty Occupation 2.0–3.5 months Mar 2026
NSC H-1B Extension 1.5–3.0 months Mar 2026
NSC H-1B Premium 0.8–0.8 months Mar 2026
NSC H-1B1 - Singapore/Chile 2.0–3.5 months Mar 2026
NSC L-1A 1.5–3.0 months Mar 2026
NSC L-1A - Intracompany Transferee Manager 2.0–4.0 months Mar 2026
NSC L-1B - Intracompany Transferee Specialized Knowledge 2.0–4.5 months Mar 2026
NSC O-1A 2.0–3.5 months Mar 2026
NSC O-1B 2.5–4.0 months Mar 2026
NSC TN - Canadian/Mexican Professional 1.0–2.5 months Mar 2026
TSC E-3 - Australian Specialty Occupation 2.0–4.0 months Mar 2026
TSC H-1B 3.0–4.5 months Mar 2026
TSC H-1B - Specialty Occupation 2.5–4.0 months Mar 2026
TSC H-1B Extension 2.0–3.5 months Mar 2026
TSC H-1B Premium 0.8–0.8 months Mar 2026
TSC L-1A 2.0–3.5 months Mar 2026
TSC L-1A - Intracompany Transferee Manager 2.5–4.5 months Mar 2026
TSC L-1B 2.5–4.5 months Mar 2026
TSC L-1B - Intracompany Transferee Specialized Knowledge 2.5–4.5 months Mar 2026
TSC O-1A - Extraordinary Ability (Science/Business) 3.0–5.0 months Mar 2026
TSC O-1B - Extraordinary Ability (Arts/Film/TV) 2.5–4.5 months Mar 2026
TSC TN 0.5–1.5 months Mar 2026
TSC TN - Canadian/Mexican Professional 1.0–3.0 months Mar 2026
VSC H-1B 2.5–4.5 months Mar 2026
VSC O-1A - Extraordinary Ability (Science/Business) 2.5–4.5 months Mar 2026
VSC O-1B - Extraordinary Ability (Arts/Film/TV) 2.5–4.0 months Mar 2026

Source: USCIS.gov. Data updated regularly.

About I-129 — Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker

Form I-129 is used for: H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN. Processing times vary by USCIS service center and petition volume.

Premium processing (Form I-907) is available for many I-129 petitions — it guarantees a decision within 15 business days for an additional fee (currently $2,805).

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long does I-129 take in 2026?
I-129 (Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker) currently takes NaN–NaN months on average depending on the service center and petition category. Times fluctuate with USCIS workload.
What is the fastest service center for I-129?
Processing times vary by service center. Check the table above for current estimates by location. You cannot choose your service center — USCIS assigns it based on your employer's location.
Is premium processing available for I-129?
Premium processing (Form I-907, $2,805 fee) guarantees a 15 business day action for eligible I-129 categories. Not all categories are eligible — check USCIS.gov for eligibility.
How do I check my I-129 case status?
Use the USCIS Case Status Online tool at egov.uscis.gov with your receipt number, or use our free Case Status Checker at usvisastack.ai/tools/case-status.