QUESTION: How long should I expect USCIS to take to process my application?

By Ari Sauer, partner and immigration lawyer at the Siskind Susser Law Firm.

Last updated: May 4, 2025

QUESTION: How long should I expect USCIS to take to process my application?

THE IMMIGRATION ANSWER MAN: Different applications or petitions have different processing times based upon what form was filed, what preference category a petition is filed under, and which USCIS office is processing the application.

USCIS lists their current processing times on their website’s Check Case Processing Times page (https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/). Simply select the form type, the form category, and the Field Office or Service Center where your application is pending. This information is usually listed on the Notice of Receipt that you received from USCIS. If your application is one that normally requires an in-person interview at the USCIS Field Office, then you can determine the appropriate USCIS Field Office by going to the USCIS website’s Field Offices page (https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-a-uscis-office/field-offices) and searching using your zip code.

NOTE: As of the last update of this article, USCIS has changed the options on the Check Case Processing Times page to only provide an average processing time for “All Service Centers”, the “National Benefits Center” or “All Field Offices” rather than providing the processing time for each USCIS office.

The listed processing time are often not accurate, but it will give you some idea of how long you can expect to wait to hear from USCIS on your petition or application. Also, it should be noted that the listed processing times are the time within which 80% of cases have been completed. That means that 20% of cases are taking longer than the listed processing times.

At the bottom of the Check Case Processing Times page, you can enter your receipt date (found on the Notice of Receipt) and click “Get Inquiry Date”. You will then be told whether your application is considered sufficiently beyond USCIS normal processing times that USCIS will allow you to submit an online case inquiry for the case being outside normal processing times, either through the USCIS e-request online portal or by calling the USCIS Contact Center (1-800-375-5283) . If the case is not considered sufficiently beyond the normal processing times to allow for an inquiry, you will be provided with an estimated date for when your case might reach that point. However, that estimate date is not entirely reliable, so you are encouraged to check again at some point prior to the estimated date provided.

Please note that this information is only referring to the processing time it takes for USCIS to adjudicate your petition or application. If you are applying for a green card or immigrant visa you may still need to wait for a visa number to become available under the Department of State Visa Bulletin (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin.html), which can sometimes take years depending on your visa category.

You are also encouraged to regularly check for any changes in the status of your pending application. You can check for posted changes in the status of your case by either logging into your MyUSCIS online account (https://myaccount.uscis.gov/sign-in) or on the USCIS website’s Case Status Online page (https://egov.uscis.gov/).

If you would like to discuss your case with me, or you would like my assistance with filing your application, you can schedule a consultation appointment with me by calling 901-682-6455 or by clicking here to schedule a consultation appointment with an immigration lawyer (https://www.visalaw.com/). Standard consultation fees apply.

Only general questions can be answered on this blog. For answers to specific questions about your situation, please schedule a consultation appointment.

* This is an advertisement. Ari Sauer is a partner with the Siskind Susser Law Firm (https://www.visalaw.com/team/ari-sauer/). On this blog we answer questions as a service to our readers, but we cannot assume any liability related to reliance on anything herein, and responses to questions are not intended to establish an attorney-client relationship. Immigration laws and regulations are constantly changing and the rules stated may not apply to your situation. Readers are cautioned to schedule a consultation with an immigration lawyer before acting on anything stated in this blog. This blog is not intended to substitute for a consultation with a qualified immigration law attorney. Ari Sauer is licensed to practice law through the states of Tennessee, New York and New Jersey but is eligible to assist clients from throughout the US. Certification as an Immigration Specialist is not currently available in Tennessee, New York or New Jersey. Siskind Susser limits its practice strictly to immigration law, a Federal practice area, and we do not claim expertise in the laws of states other than where our attorneys are licensed.