USCIS Processing Times in 2026: What the Numbers Actually Mean
Quick answer: there is no single USCIS processing time that applies to every immigration case. The relevant estimate depends on the form, filing category and, for many applications, the USCIS office handling the case. The main USCIS Case Processing Times tool generally shows how long it took the agency to complete 80% of adjudicated cases during the previous six months. USCIS separately publishes national historical medians. These measurements answer different questions.
The latest USCIS FY2026 historical national dataset available as of October 6, 2026 covers cases completed through July 31, 2026. It reports a national median of 12.9 months for immediate-relative Form I-130 petitions, 6.0 months for family-based Form I-485 applications, 5.9 months for employment-based Form I-485 applications, 5.8 months for Form I-765 applications based on a pending I-485, 6.0 months for I-131 Advance Parole Documents, and 7.2 months for the main non-military N-400 category.
These figures describe completed cases nationally. They are useful for understanding USCIS workload and trends, but they are not deadlines for a pending case. To evaluate an individual filing, use the live USCIS processing-time tool with the exact form, category and office requested by the system.
Contents
2026 USCIS Processing Times: National Median Benchmarks
The figures below come from USCIS's FY2026 historical national median dataset through July 31, 2026. A median of six months means that half of the completed cases in that dataset were finished within six months and half took longer.
Do not use these medians as personal deadlines. The historical national dataset and the live Case Processing Times tool use different methodologies. For a pending case, the live USCIS tool is the more relevant reference.
USCIS applies important limitations to these statistics. The immediate-relative I-130 figure does not include preference-based I-130 petitions. Visa-regressed I-485 applications are excluded from the historical processing-time calculation. Some form categories are also aggregated and may cover several underlying situations.
Official dataset: https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/historic-pt
Processing Times for the Most Common USCIS Forms
Form I-130 Processing Time in 2026
The FY2026 historical national median is 12.9 months for immediate-relative petitions.
This measures the USCIS petition stage, not the total time until the beneficiary receives permanent residence. If the beneficiary will complete consular processing abroad, an approved I-130 is generally followed by National Visa Center processing and then the immigrant-visa stage at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
Family-preference beneficiaries may also have a separate wait for visa-number availability. An approved I-130 does not make a priority date current.
Form I-485 Processing Time in 2026
The national historical median is 6.0 months for family-based adjustment applications and 5.9 months for employment-based adjustment applications.
A specific case may take longer because of field-office workload, an interview, additional evidence, security checks or visa-number availability.
USCIS also gives a specific instruction for concurrent filings: if Form I-485 was filed together with Form I-130, I-140 or I-360, USCIS says to use the I-485 processing time when checking the processing-time system.
Related guide: https://arvian-immigration.com/adjustment-status-i-485/
Form I-765 Processing Time in 2026
There is no useful single processing-time number for every I-765 because the form covers many employment-authorization categories.
In the FY2026 historical dataset, an I-765 based on a pending I-485 has a median of 5.8 months. An I-765 based on a pending asylum application has a historical median of 0.7 months. USCIS's broad “all other applications for employment authorization” category shows 3.9 months.
The eligibility category is therefore essential when comparing EAD timelines.
Form I-131 Processing Time in 2026
The FY2026 historical national median for the Advance Parole Document category is 6.0 months. The broader historical Travel Document grouping shows 14.9 months.
These categories should not be combined into a single “I-131 processing time.” Form I-131 covers different travel and parole purposes, and the correct comparison depends on the benefit requested.
Form I-140 Processing Time in 2026
The FY2026 historical national median for a non-premium I-140 petition is 3.7 months.
I-140 approval is not the same as green-card approval. An applicant may still need an immigrant visa number to become available and must complete either adjustment of status or immigrant-visa processing abroad.
USCIS excludes cases that undergo premium processing from its ordinary Case Processing Times calculations.
Form N-400 Processing Time in 2026
The FY2026 historical median is 7.2 months for USCIS's main non-military naturalization category and 3.0 months for military naturalization applications.
A naturalization case may involve biometrics or biometric reuse, an interview, English and civics testing where required, a decision and an oath ceremony. Progress on one step does not establish the date of the final oath.
Related guide: https://arvian-immigration.com/citizenship-naturalization/
Form I-751 Processing Time in 2026
The FY2026 historical national median for Form I-751 is 22.7 months.
If an N-400 is filed while an I-751 remains pending, USCIS states that it will adjudicate the I-751 before or concurrently with the N-400 and directs users checking processing times to refer to the N-400 timeframe.
How to Find the Correct USCIS Processing Time for Your Case
A national median provides context. To evaluate a pending case, start with the receipt notice and then use the live USCIS processing-time system.
Determine which receipt you are checking: I-130, I-485, I-765, I-131, I-140, N-400 or another benefit request. Related filings can move on different schedules.
This can materially change the result. An asylum-based I-765 should not be compared with an I-765 based on a pending I-485.
USCIS has been transitioning certain service-center workloads to Service Center Operations, or SCOPS. A receipt may still identify a traditional service center even when the processing-time system lists SCOPS because workloads can be handled across multiple locations.
The relevant date is the received date printed on the USCIS receipt notice, not necessarily the date the package was mailed or delivered by a carrier.
Passing the displayed 80% processing-time figure does not automatically mean USCIS will accept an outside-normal-processing-time inquiry. USCIS uses the 93% completion point for the Case Inquiry Date.
Official tool: https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/
Median vs. 80% Processing Time vs. myProgress
USCIS uses several timing measurements. Confusing them can make an ordinary case appear late when it is not, or make a delayed case appear normal.
Important: a myProgress countdown does not determine when you may file an outside-normal-processing-time inquiry. USCIS directs applicants to use the public Case Processing Times system for that purpose.
What Does the USCIS 80% Processing Time Mean?
If USCIS displays 10 months for a particular form, category and office, it does not create a 10-month adjudication deadline. It means that 80% of the relevant cases USCIS completed during the measurement period were approved or denied within 10 months.
The slowest 20% of completed cases fall outside that displayed figure. A pending case can therefore exceed the published processing time without automatically indicating that USCIS has lost the case or made an error.
Why Can the Processing Time Change After You File?
USCIS recalculates the public figure as completed cases enter and leave the measurement period. Filing volume, staffing, workload allocation, applicant response times, policy changes and operational changes can all affect the displayed number.
A higher published estimate does not mean USCIS added the same amount of time to your individual case. A lower estimate likewise does not mean a decision is imminent.
What If the Receipt Notice Says National Benefits Center?
If the listed office is the National Benefits Center and the case is an employment-based or family-based I-485, N-400 or N-600, USCIS instructs applicants checking processing times to use the relevant local field office.
If USCIS later transfers the case, use the new processing location where the USCIS tool requires an office.
Does an RFE Reset the Processing Time?
For ordinary processing, USCIS does not publish a universal rule stating that every case returns to zero after a Request for Evidence. An RFE can nevertheless extend the real timeline because USCIS waits for the response and must then review the additional evidence.
Premium processing has a specific rule: if USCIS issues an RFE or Notice of Intent to Deny, the premium-processing timeframe stops and a new applicable timeframe begins when USCIS receives the response.
Does I-130 Processing Time Include NVC Processing?
No. USCIS processing time measures adjudication of Form I-130. For consular cases, National Visa Center processing and the U.S. embassy or consulate stage come later and have separate timelines.
The same distinction applies to employment cases. Approval of Form I-140 does not itself grant permanent residence and does not eliminate immigrant-visa numerical limits.
Why Your USCIS Case May Take Longer
Processing-time statistics describe groups of completed cases. They cannot account for every issue affecting an individual application or petition.
When Can You Submit an Outside Normal Processing Time Inquiry?
The 80% processing-time figure is not the inquiry threshold. USCIS calculates the Case Inquiry Date using the amount of time required to complete 93% of adjudicated cases.
After selecting the correct form, category and office, enter the receipt date into the USCIS processing-time tool. The system will indicate whether the case is eligible for an inquiry or provide an estimated date when an inquiry may be submitted.
Recent case activity matters. USCIS's e-Request system states that it considers a case actively processing if, within the previous 60 days, the applicant received a notice about the case, responded to a Request for Evidence, or received an online case-status update.
If a form type is not listed in the USCIS processing-time table, USCIS states that an inquiry may generally be submitted after the case has been pending for more than six months. That six-month period is an inquiry threshold, not a universal promise that every unlisted case will be decided within six months.
What to Check Before Contacting USCIS
- Review Case Status Online for a recent RFE, transfer, interview notice or decision.
- Confirm that you selected the correct form and eligibility category.
- Confirm the relevant office or processing structure.
- Enter the receipt date in the official processing-time tool.
- Review notices and case history in your USCIS online account.
- Confirm that USCIS has your current mailing address.
- Submit an e-Request when the case becomes eligible and save the confirmation number.
USCIS e-Request: https://egov.uscis.gov/e-request/
USCIS Case Status: https://egov.uscis.gov/
Arvian guide to USCIS case statuses: https://arvian-immigration.com/understanding-uscis-case-statuses-received-rfe-interview-scheduled-and-g-1145-e-notification-setup/
USCIS Processing Times FAQ
How accurate are USCIS processing times?
They accurately describe the cases included in USCIS's calculation, but they are not individual promises. The main public processing-time figure generally represents the period in which USCIS completed 80% of adjudicated cases during the previous six months.
What is the I-130 processing time in 2026?
The latest FY2026 historical national dataset through July 31, 2026 shows a median of 12.9 months for immediate-relative I-130 petitions. USCIS notes that this historical category does not include preference-based I-130 petitions.
How long is I-485 taking in 2026?
The FY2026 historical national median is 6.0 months for family-based adjustment applications and 5.9 months for employment-based adjustment applications. Individual cases may be faster or slower.
I filed I-485 together with I-130, I-140 or I-360. Which processing time should I use?
USCIS instructs applicants who filed Form I-485 concurrently with Form I-130, I-140 or I-360 to refer to the processing time for Form I-485.
How long does Form I-765 take?
It depends on the eligibility category. The FY2026 historical median is 5.8 months for an I-765 based on a pending I-485, 0.7 months for the pending-asylum category and 3.9 months for USCIS's broad “all other applications for employment authorization” category.
How long does Advance Parole take in 2026?
The FY2026 historical national median for the I-131 Advance Parole Document category is 6.0 months. Other I-131 categories can have substantially different timelines.
How long does N-400 take in 2026?
The FY2026 historical median is 7.2 months for USCIS's main non-military naturalization category and 3.0 months for military naturalization applications.
Why is my case taking longer than the USCIS processing time?
The displayed processing time is not a deadline. Some completed cases fall outside the main 80% figure, and an individual case can also be affected by an RFE, interview, background checks, transfer, workload or other case-specific factors.
Can I submit a case inquiry as soon as I pass the published processing time?
Not necessarily. USCIS uses a separate Case Inquiry Date based on the amount of time needed to complete 93% of adjudicated cases. Enter your receipt date in the official USCIS processing-time tool to determine whether an inquiry is available.
What does USCIS mean by actively processing within the last 60 days?
The USCIS e-Request system says it considers a case actively processing when, during the previous 60 days, USCIS sent a notice about the case, the applicant responded to an RFE, or the online case status was updated.
Why does myProgress show a different time?
myProgress and the public processing-time system use different methods and serve different purposes. myProgress attempts to predict the timeline for a supported individual case; the public tool reports recent historical completion performance for groups of cases.
Does an RFE restart an ordinary USCIS case from zero?
USCIS does not publish a universal rule stating that an ordinary case completely restarts after an RFE. The RFE can still lengthen the overall case because USCIS waits for the response and must review the additional evidence.
Can USCIS approve a case filed after mine before deciding mine?
Yes. Cases are not guaranteed to be completed in exact receipt-date order. Processing office, evidence, interviews, security checks, transfers and case complexity can produce different timelines.
Does I-130 processing time include NVC processing?
No. USCIS processing time measures USCIS adjudication of Form I-130. NVC processing and the embassy or consulate stage are separate parts of a consular immigrant-visa case.
Does I-485 processing time include I-765 and I-131?
No. I-485, I-765 and I-131 remain separate benefit requests even when filed together and can be approved on different dates.
Does premium processing speed up Form I-485?
No. Premium processing an eligible I-140 does not convert a related I-485 into a premium-processing case.
Are premium-processing cases included in USCIS's normal processing-time calculations?
No. USCIS states that cases that undergo premium processing are excluded from the normal processing-time calculations displayed on the agency's processing-time website.
What if my form is not listed in the USCIS processing-time table?
USCIS states that if the form type is not listed, a case pending for more than six months may generally be submitted for an inquiry. The six-month period is not a guaranteed adjudication deadline.
How to Read Your USCIS Timeline Correctly
For a pending case, use this sequence:
- Confirm the exact form and eligibility category.
- Use the USCIS office or processing structure required by the official tool.
- Check the current 80% processing-time figure.
- Treat myProgress as an estimate rather than a deadline.
- Enter the receipt date to determine the Case Inquiry Date.
- Account separately for an RFE, interview, transfer, visa retrogression, NVC processing or consular processing where relevant.
Current reference point: as of October 6, 2026, the latest USCIS FY2026 historical national dataset available on the agency's website covers cases through July 31, 2026. Use those medians for national context and the live USCIS Case Processing Times tool for a pending individual case.
Official USCIS Sources
Current Case Processing Times:
https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/
Processing-Time Methodology:
https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/more-info
Historical National Medians:
https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/historic-pt
USCIS e-Request:
https://egov.uscis.gov/e-request/
Premium Processing:
https://www.uscis.gov/forms/all-forms/how-do-i-request-premium-processing
Expedite Requests:
https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-guidance/expedite-requests
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