Frequently Asked Questions About Processing Times

General

  1. Why is my form type or office not listed?

    2. If your form type is not listed on the processing time webpage, you may submit an inquiry if your case has been pending more than six months. Please note that is a default timeframe for inquiring. You should not necessarily expect a decision in that timeframe. We are working to develop processing times for all forms, form categories, and offices. We will continue to add forms, form categories, and offices to the public website as they become available.

  2. Where should I look for my processing time if my receipt lists the National Benefit Center (NBC)?

    3. If the “USCIS Office” is the National Benefits Center (NBC) and you have filed an employment-based or family-based Form I-485, a Form N-400, or a Form N-600, you should check processing times for your local field office. You can use our Field Office Locator if you need help determining your local office (scroll to the bottom of the page).

  3. Where can I find my receipt number?

    4. Please see the more information page for how to identify your receipt number. If you filed online or linked a paper application to your USCIS online account, you can find your receipt number in your account. You may also call the USCIS Contact Center if you no longer have your receipt number. Our toll-free number is 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833) and our hours of operation are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern.

Case Inquiries

  1. I think my case is taking too long; when can I submit a service request?

    2. After you obtain your processing time, a tool will appear to help you determine whether you can contact us with questions about your case. Enter your receipt date, which can be found on your receipt notice, into the text box. If your case is outside normal processing times (beyond the time to complete 93% of adjudicated cases or beyond 130% of the cycle time), you will be provided a link for submitting an inquiry. If your case is within normal processing times, you will be provided an estimated date for when you can contact us. Please check back periodically because processing times may change.

  2. Why are the processing times increasing for the form type I submitted?

    3. Many factors may affect how long it takes USCIS to complete an application, petition or request, such as the number of applications, petitions, or requests we receive, workload and staffing allocations, the time a benefit requestor takes responding to a request for more information, as well as policy and operational changes, among other factors.

  3. I have been waiting longer for a decision than the time displayed for my form type and office. Why?

    4. Many factors impact processing times, including the number of applications, petitions, or requests we receive, workload allocations, and staffing levels, among other factors. Case-specific factors may also make an individual adjudication more complex, requiring additional adjudicative time. Some of these factors can also be influenced by the benefit requestor, such as if an application, petition, or request is incomplete when we receive it, or if an applicant, petitioner, or requestor receives a request for more information or misses an appointment for biometrics submission or interview.

Methodology and Calculations of Processing Times

  1. Do the processing times listed on the website include cases where a request for evidence (RFE) or other notice has been sent or where biometrics submission is required?

    2. Yes, the processing times include all time from receipt to completion. This includes the amount of time it takes to submit biometrics, the time an applicant, petitioner, or requestor takes to respond to requests for more information, and rescheduling of interviews.

  2. Are visa-regressed Forms I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, included in the calculation?

    3. No. Visa regressed adjustment applications are not included in the processing times shown on the website. You can find additional information on visa retrogression on our website.

  3. Are petitions that had an approval revoked included in the processing times calculations?

    4. No. We use the first decision (that is, approval or denial) to calculate processing times.

  4. Are premium processing cases included in the processing times calculations?

    5. No, cases that undergo premium processing are not included in the processing times calculations.

  5. How often is this website updated?

    6. We make every effort to update the processing times every month. For most forms, the processing times displayed are based on data that are one month old. For forms that still use the cycle time methodology, the processing times displayed are based on data captured approximately two months prior to updating the page.

  6. Why did USCIS switch from a range of times to showing one single time?

    7. We received feedback that the range of times could be confusing to interpret, and we continually work to improve how we communicate processing times.

  7. Why do some forms use the cycle time methodology to calculate processing times?

    8. Historically, we used the cycle time methodology to present public processing times. In 2018, we implemented a revised methodology that is used for most forms. Over time, all forms will use the processing time methodology. Cycle time is now mostly used as an internal metric to measure progress we make toward reducing our backlog.

  8. There appears to be an error on the webpage; who should I contact?

    9. You may contact the USCIS webmaster at uscis.webmaster@uscis.dhs.gov.

  9. I want to know what processing times were in the past; where can I find this information?

    10. We provide historical processing times for select forms from FY 2012 to FY 2022 on the Historic Processing Times webpage. This information represents the cumulative median processing time by fiscal year (Oct. 1-Sept. 30), using the current processing time methodology. This webpage is updated on a quarterly basis.

  10. Where can I find additional notes on how USCIS calculates the processing times for specific forms?

    11. We place information related to specific forms on the processing time webpage in the “Notes” section and in the “Other Case Processing Time Resources” section of the processing times webpage.

  11. When will USCIS provide data on processing times for countries newly designated or redesignated for TPS?

    12. USCIS will provide processing times for newly designated or redesignated countries when we have 6 months of completion data available.

Form-Specific Questions

  1. I filed Form I-485 together with Form I-130, Form I-140, or Form I-360. Which processing time should I look at?

    2. If you filed Form I-485 together with Form I-130, Form I-140, or Form I-360, please refer to the processing time for Form I-485.

  2. I filed a standalone Form I-130 that was relocated to a field office for interview. Which processing time should I look at?

    3. We do not currently post processing times for a standalone Form I-130 at a field office. As noted above, we are working to develop processing times for all forms, form categories, and offices. If your Form I-130 was relocated from a Service Center to a field office for an interview, this may impact your processing time

  3. I filed Form N-400 while my Form I-751 is still pending. Which processing time should I look at?

    4. We will adjudicate your Form I-751 before or concurrently with your Form N-400. Please refer to the processing time for Form N-400.

Case management tools

Let us know what you think about our redesigned Processing Times webpage at ProcessingTimesFeedback@uscis.dhs.gov          (Please do not submit case-specific inquiries).