USCIS Processing Times September 2026: Current Wait Times by Form

What Are USCIS Processing Times?

USCIS processing times show how long the agency recently took to complete similar immigration applications, petitions, or requests.

Processing times can vary by form, filing category, and the USCIS office or reporting unit handling the case.

These processing times are estimates based on completed cases, not guaranteed deadlines for individual applications. Your case may take more or less time depending on its circumstances.

2026 USCIS Processing Times by Form

USCIS processing times can vary by form, filing category, field office, or other reporting unit, so there is not always one processing time that applies to every applicant. The table below provides current wait-time guidance for commonly filed USCIS forms.

Last checked: September 7, 2026

Note: USCIS calculates processing times for specific combinations of forms, filing categories, and reporting units. For some applications, particularly those handled by field offices, the processing time depends on where the case is processed. Use the official USCIS Case Processing Times tool to select the form, category, and reporting unit that match your case.

What Should You Do Next?

Use the guide below based on your situation:

Related Processing Time Guides

Need detailed information for a specific application? Explore our form-specific processing-time guides below.

• Form N-400 Processing Time
• Form I-485 Processing Time
• Form I-130 Processing Time
• Form I-131 Processing Time
• Form I-90 Processing Time
• Green Card Processing Time
• Form I-751 Processing Time

Each guide includes current processing times, form-specific factors that affect timelines, and additional information relevant to that application.

How USCIS Calculates Processing Times

USCIS calculates its published processing time using cases it has already completed. The processing time shown in the USCIS tool represents the amount of time it took the agency to complete 80% of adjudicated cases during the previous six months.

For an individual case, processing time is measured from the date USCIS receives the application, petition, or request until USCIS completes it by approving or denying it.

USCIS says it makes every effort to update processing times monthly. The information displayed is generally based on data that are one month old.

USCIS uses the 93% measure when calculating when a pending case may become eligible for a case inquiry.

USCIS cycle-time goals are internal workload-management measures and are not estimates for individual cases.

How Accurate Are USCIS Processing Times?

USCIS processing times are useful reference points for understanding how long similar cases recently took, but they do not predict the exact completion date of an individual case.

Because the estimates are based on completed cases, they are backward-looking. Processing conditions may change while your application or petition is still pending.

This means:

• Your case can be completed sooner than the published processing time.
• Your case can also take longer than the published processing time.
• The displayed estimate can increase or decrease while your case is pending.
• A longer processing time does not by itself mean something is wrong with your case.

Use the USCIS processing time as a reference point and the USCIS Case Status tool to track actions taken on your individual case.

Factors That Affect USCIS Processing Times

Several factors determine how long your immigration application or petition may take to process, including:

• Form type: Each USCIS form has its own processing workflow and timeline.
• Eligibility category: Family-based, employment-based, humanitarian, and other filing categories may have different processing times for the same form.
• USCIS office or reporting unit: Processing times may differ by field office, Service Center Operations (SCOPS), or another USCIS reporting unit depending on the form and category.
• Case complexity: Applications requiring additional review or verification may take longer to complete.
• Background and security checks: USCIS completes required security screening before issuing many immigration benefits.
• Requests for Evidence or other USCIS notices: Additional evidence requests, biometrics, interviews, and the time needed to respond can affect total case processing time. USCIS includes these periods in its receipt-to-completion processing-time calculation.
• Application volume and workload: Processing times can change as USCIS receives more applications or shifts resources to reduce backlogs.

Why Do USCIS Processing Times Change?

USCIS processing times may increase or decrease as application volumes, staffing, workload allocations, policy changes, operational changes, and case-completion patterns change.

Because the estimates are calculated from recently adjudicated cases rather than your individual pending case, a change in the published processing time does not necessarily indicate a change or problem with your application.

What Does Service Center Operations (SCOPS) Mean?

For some forms, the USCIS Processing Times tool may show Service Center Operations (SCOPS) instead of an individual service center.

USCIS explains that service-center cases can be processed at multiple locations depending on staffing and business needs. Because of this, naming one physical service center may not accurately represent where a case is being processed.

Your USCIS correspondence may still list a specific service center even when the Processing Times tool displays SCOPS. The National Benefits Center (NBC) is not a SCOPS service center.

How to Check Your USCIS Processing Time

Once you understand how USCIS calculates processing times, you can use the agency’s official tools to estimate your case timeline and monitor your application’s progress. Although they are often used together, the USCIS Processing Times tool and the USCIS Case Status tool provide different information.

To estimate how long your immigration application may take, use the official USCIS Processing Times tool by following these steps.

Step 1: Identify the USCIS Office or Reporting Unit

Review your Form I-797 receipt notice and any later transfer notices for information about the USCIS office handling your case.

Depending on the form, the USCIS Processing Times tool may use:

• a local field office;
• Service Center Operations (SCOPS); or
• another USCIS reporting unit.

If USCIS transfers your case, use the processing time for the new office when USCIS instructs you to do so.

National Benefits Center exception: If your receipt lists the National Benefits Center and you filed a family- or employment-based Form I-485, Form N-400, or Form N-600, USCIS says to check the processing time for your local field office.

Step 2: Open the USCIS Processing Times Tool

Go to the official USCIS Processing Times page.

Step 3: Select Your Form, Category, and USCIS Reporting Unit

Select:

• your USCIS form;
• the filing category that matches your case, if required; and
• the USCIS office or reporting unit listed by the tool

Processing times can differ substantially between filing categories and reporting units, so selecting the correct combination is necessary for a meaningful estimate.

Step 4: Review the Estimated Processing Time

USCIS will display the current processing time for the form, category, and reporting unit you selected.

Where available, you can also enter your receipt date to determine when USCIS may accept a case inquiry.

How to Check Your USCIS Case Status

While the Processing Times tool provides an estimate for similar cases, the USCIS Case Status tool shows updates for your individual application or petition. It allows you to see whether USCIS has received your application, requested additional evidence, scheduled an appointment, or made a final decision.

Step 1: Find Your Receipt Number

Locate the 13-character receipt number on your USCIS Form I-797 Notice of Action. It begins with three letters (such as EAC, WAC, LIN, SRC, NBC, MSC, or IOE) followed by ten numbers.

Step 2: Open the USCIS Case Status Tool

Visit the official USCIS Case Status Online page.

Step 3: Enter Your Receipt Number

Enter your receipt number exactly as shown on your notice, without spaces or hyphens.

Step 4: Complete the Security Verification

Complete the CAPTCHA verification and submit your request.

Step 5: Review Your Case Status

The tool displays the most recent update for your application. Depending on your case, you may see messages such as:

• Case Was Received
• Biometrics Appointment Was Scheduled
• Request for Evidence Was Sent
• Case Is Being Actively Reviewed
• Case Was Approved

Each status reflects a different stage of the USCIS process and does not necessarily indicate when your application will be completed.

Need help understanding your case status? Visit our complete USCIS Case Status Guide for detailed explanations of common status updates, receipt numbers, and what each case status means.

Why Is My USCIS Case Taking Longer Than Expected?

Individual cases can take longer than the published processing time because of workload, security checks, Requests for Evidence, missed or rescheduled appointments, additional case review, or transfers between USCIS offices.

If your case appears delayed, do not rely on the published processing time alone. Use the case-inquiry function in the USCIS Processing Times tool to determine whether USCIS will accept an inquiry.

What Does “Receipt Date for a Case Inquiry” Mean?

The Receipt Date for a Case Inquiry helps determine whether you can ask USCIS about a case that may be taking longer than expected.

It is different from the published processing time:

• USCIS’s published processing time is based on how long it took to complete 80% of adjudicated cases during the previous six months.
• The case-inquiry calculation uses the time required to complete 93% of adjudicated cases.

Enter the receipt date from your USCIS notice into the Case Processing Times tool. USCIS will either show an estimated date when you can ask about your case or provide a link to submit an inquiry.

Because processing times change, USCIS recommends checking the tool periodically.

What to Do If Your Case Is Outside Normal Processing Time

If you believe your case may be outside normal processing time, use the USCIS case-inquiry tool before submitting a request.

1. Confirm the correct form, category, and USCIS reporting unit.
2. Check USCIS Case Status Online for recent activity.
3. Enter your receipt date in the USCIS Processing Times tool.
4. If USCIS indicates that your case is eligible for an inquiry, submit an Outside Normal Processing Time request.
5. Continue monitoring your case after submitting the inquiry.

Submitting an inquiry does not guarantee a faster decision, but it allows USCIS to review whether your case requires additional action.

Premium Processing vs. USCIS Expedite Requests

USCIS has two different mechanisms that may result in faster action in eligible circumstances: Premium Processing Service and expedite requests.

Premium Processing cases are not included in USCIS’s standard processing-time calculations.

USCIS expedite criteria may include circumstances such as severe financial loss, emergencies or urgent humanitarian situations, government interests, or clear USCIS error, depending on the case. Approval is discretionary.

Submitting repeated case inquiries does not by itself make a case eligible for Premium Processing or an expedite request.

USCIS Processing Time vs. Visa Bulletin Wait

USCIS processing time and immigrant visa availability are different.

A USCIS processing time estimates how long the agency recently took to adjudicate a particular form. The Visa Bulletin, published by the U.S. Department of State, determines when immigrant visa numbers are available for applicants in preference categories.

As a result, some applicants can face two separate waits:

1. USCIS processing of a petition or application; and
2. waiting for a priority date to become eligible under the Visa Bulletin.

Do not use the USCIS processing-time estimate by itself to calculate the total immigration timeline when visa-number availability also applies.

Historical USCIS Processing Times: How Have Wait Times Changed?

USCIS also publishes historical national median processing times for selected forms. Historical data can help show how USCIS processing changed across fiscal years, but it should not be used to predict the completion date of an individual pending case.

For FY2026, USCIS’s historical dataset currently covers October 1, 2025 through May 31, 2026. The historical figures represent the median, meaning the time required to complete 50% of cases in the reporting period.

For example, USCIS currently reports these FY2026 historical medians:

Do not directly compare these historical median figures with the current USCIS Case Processing Times tool. USCIS notes that historical and current processing-time figures may use different methodologies for certain forms.

For form-specific historical trends and current wait times, see the related processing-time guides above.

Missing Required Evidence Can Affect Your USCIS Case

USCIS expects applicants and petitioners to submit the required initial evidence listed in the applicable form instructions. Depending on the requirements and circumstances, USCIS may issue an RFE or NOID, or may deny a benefit request without first issuing one if the filing does not establish eligibility.

Tip: Review the current USCIS form instructions before filing and respond promptly to any USCIS requests.

FAQs About USCIS Processing Times

Understanding USCIS Processing Times

USCIS processing times can help you understand how long similar applications or petitions recently took, but they do not predict exactly when your case will be decided.

Always check the USCIS Case Processing Times tool using the correct form, filing category, and reporting unit, and use Case Status Online to monitor updates to your individual case.

If you have already filed and your case appears delayed, check whether your receipt date qualifies for an Outside Normal Processing Time inquiry before contacting USCIS.

Preparing to File a USCIS Application?

Submitting the correct form with complete information, required supporting documents, the current form edition, and the correct filing fee can help avoid preventable filing problems.

ImmigrationDirect provides step-by-step online guidance to help you prepare eligible USCIS forms accurately before submitting them to USCIS.

Choose the immigration application you need and follow the guided preparation process from start to finish.