I-140 Processing Time (August 2026)
How long USCIS takes to decide an immigrant petition for alien workers (Form I-140), by category — EB-1A, EB-1B, EB-1C, EB-2, NIW, EB-3. Figures are the time within which 80% of cases were completed, under standard processing.
I-140 by category
| Category | Office | 80% of cases completed within | vs last month |
|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1A · Extraordinary ability (E11) | Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 32.5 months | ▲ 1.5 months longer |
| EB-1B · Outstanding professor or researcher (E12) | Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 15 months | ▼ 0.5 months shorter |
| EB-1C · Multinational executive or manager (E13) | Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 27.5 months | ▲ 0.5 months longer |
| EB-2 · Advanced degree or exceptional ability (E21) | Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 3 months | ▲ 0.5 months longer |
| EB-2 NIW · Advanced degree or exceptional ability requesting a National Interest Waiver (NIW) | Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 30 months | ▲ 1 month longer |
| EB-3 · Skilled worker or professional (E31; E32) | Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 4 months | — No change |
| EB-3 Other Workers · Unskilled worker (EW3) | Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 9 months | ▲ 1.5 months longer |
| Schedule A · Schedule A Nurses | Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 25.5 months | ▲ 1 month longer |
Category descriptions are USCIS's own wording. Short labels (EB-1A etc.) are added by this site.
After the I-140: the Visa Bulletin
An approved I-140 fixes your priority date, but a green card also needs that date to be current. India-born applicants: see EB-2 India, EB-3 India and EB-1 India cutoff dates, or check your own date with the wait time checker.
FAQ
How long does an NIW I-140 take?
For August 2026, USCIS reports that 80% of I-140 petitions requesting a National Interest Waiver were completed within 30 months. Premium processing is available for NIW petitions for an additional fee, with a longer guaranteed timeframe than standard EB-2 petitions — check the USCIS premium processing page for the current fee and timeframe.
Why is EB-2 (with PERM) so much faster than NIW?
They are different case pools. PERM-based EB-2 and EB-3 petitions are often filed with premium processing, and the labor certification has already been reviewed by the Department of Labor. NIW and EB-1A petitions require USCIS to evaluate the merits of the waiver or extraordinary-ability claim itself.
Does I-140 approval mean I can get a green card?
Not by itself. After I-140 approval, you still need a current priority date in the Visa Bulletin for your category and country of birth before your I-485 (or immigrant visa) can be approved. For India-born applicants that wait is usually far longer than I-140 processing.
Related: I-485 processing time · all USCIS forms. Source: USCIS Check Case Processing Times ↗. Information only, not legal advice.