USCIS publishes processing times by form and office, updated monthly. The numbers represent the time it took the office to complete 80% of cases of that type in the most recent month. Below: current ranges by form, plus the "outside normal processing time" thresholds that let you submit case inquiries.
Current processing times — major forms (May 2026)
| Form | Description | Range (months) | Outside Normal |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-130 | Petition for Alien Relative (USC spouse) | 8 — 14 | 14 mo |
| I-130 | Petition for Alien Relative (LPR spouse) | 22 — 36 | 36 mo |
| I-485 | AOS — family-based | 8 — 18 | 18 mo |
| I-485 | AOS — employment-based | 6 — 14 | 14 mo |
| I-90 | Replace/renew green card | 8 — 12 | 12 mo |
| I-751 | Remove conditions (marriage) | 12 — 24 | 24 mo |
| I-765 | Employment authorization (initial) | 3 — 7 | 7 mo |
| I-131 | Advance parole | 3 — 7 | 7 mo |
| I-140 | Immigrant petition (regular) | 6 — 12 | 12 mo |
| I-140 | Immigrant petition (premium) | 15 — 45 days | — |
| I-526E | Investor petition (rural) | 4 — 17 | 17 mo |
| I-526E | Investor petition (unreserved) | 36 — 52 | 52 mo |
| I-829 | Remove EB-5 conditions | 24 — 48 | 48 mo |
| N-400 | Naturalization | 8 — 14 | 14 mo |
| I-129F | K-1 fiancé petition | 6 — 12 | 12 mo |
Why processing times vary so much by office
USCIS has 88 field offices and 5 service centers. Each handles different forms with different staffing and case volumes. The Texas Service Center, Vermont Service Center, Nebraska Service Center, California Service Center, and Potomac Service Center each have distinct backlogs.
For interview-required forms (I-485, N-400), your local field office's backlog matters more than national averages. Newark, NJ might process I-485 in 9 months while San Francisco takes 16 months for identical cases.
The "outside normal processing time" rule
Once your case exceeds the published "outside normal processing time" threshold, you can:
- Submit a case inquiry via uscis.gov
- Call the USCIS Contact Center to schedule a service request
- Request a Congressional inquiry through your Representative or Senator (often most effective)
- File a writ of mandamus in federal district court (last resort, but increasingly common for severely delayed cases)
Mandamus — the federal court remedy
When USCIS unreasonably delays adjudication beyond statutory norms (typically 3+ years past expected times), applicants can sue under the Administrative Procedure Act. Most mandamus cases settle within 60-90 days with USCIS adjudicating the case to clear the suit. Filing fee is $405 plus attorney fees. Strategic in egregious cases.