Know All About the USCIS Processing Times for the Financial Year 2025

Are you applying for a green card in the USA and not knowing how long it will take? Well, knowing about the USCIS processing times and case status for citizenship, green cards, or more aids in applying for the process on time. It may take months to years to complete. However, in comparison to recent years in the year 2024, the USCIS processing shows improvements. The applications move faster than expected this year. Considering this, the USCIS services also made some changes for the 2025 financial year. Want to know about it? Read on the blog and get all your queries solved.

Current USCIS Processing Times of Application

Before moving to the 2025 USCIS processing time let's have a glance at 2024 application time. The number of months/ days shown in the table is the median. It states the time U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) took to complete half of the applications in the stated period.

This is the current USCIS processing times of different applications in the US. Moving ahead, let's know about the USCIS and DOL processing times.

Know About USCIS and DOL Processing Times

Like the USCIS processing time, the DOL processing times can be stated as the amount of time the US Department of Labor (DOL) takes to process the labor certification application. This process is specifically linked to the PERM process, which is used for a Green Card for employment-based immigration. In addition, USCIS and DOL on a regular basis for many types of applications update the processing times. It assists you to know how long your application will take. Also, the application time depends on a few things. These are as follows:

1.) Application Types: Regardless of your visa type, applications have different processing times, including:

• Form I-129 (Nonimmigrant Worker Petition)
• Form I-129 F (Alien Fiancé(e) Petition)
• Form I- 130 (Alien Relative Petition)
• Form I-140 (Alien Worker Immigrant Petition)
• Form N-400 (Naturalization Application)
• Form I-485 (Application to Adjust Status or Register Permanent Residence)
• Form ETA-9089 (PERM Labor Certification)- Not filed with USCIS but with the Department of Labor.

2.) Agency Involved: Many of the immigration forms are processed by USCIS services. However, the PERM is processed by the Department of Labor, which has a timeline for its processing.

3.) Location: The processing times also get affected by the USCIS service center and office that is handling your application.

4.) Specific Category: Based on the category the processing time of an employment-based visa can vary. It is of two types. The first one is the preference category which includes EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, and more for immigrant visas. In addition, the second specific nonimmigrant classification includes H-1B, L-1, O-,1, and more for Form I-129 petitions.

5.) Premium Processing: Some employment-based applications, include certain I-129 and I-140 categories. These are eligible for premium processing. It significantly decreases the wait time. However, the PERM Labor certifications cannot apply for premium processing as these are not eligible for it.

With this, the DOL and USCIS processing times also widely rely on the location of the service center and office. Offices situated in less populated areas may work quicker than big cities. In addition, certain service centers may also hold experience in specific visa types for employment-based applications, impacting the processing time. To get an accurate idea of the present processing time it is advisable to check the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website. With this, moving ahead, let's know the steps to check the processing time and case status of your application.

How to Check Your USCIS Processing Time and Case Status?

Checking your case status tells you about the present stage of your visa or passport application (pending review or received). However, checking of processing time provides you with an estimation of the application timeframe. For managing your planning and expectations in the future having information on both is vital. Having details of your case status assists you in certifying whether your application is processed or not. In addition, the USCIS processing time gives you an idea of the time you expect the application decision. Moving ahead, let's know the steps for knowing about both processes.

Steps to Check USCIS Processing Time

To check your USCIS processing time follow the below-stated steps:

• Use your zip code mentioned on the USCIS website to locate the USCIS office or center that is handling your application. Some forms are processed by the field office while others are processed by a service center. It includes employment-based applications like I-129 and I-140.
• After locating your USCIS office, take the use of the USCIS Case Processing Time tool. Choose your application type and location of the office to know the time it takes to process your type cases at that center.
• The time range is of two types. The first one is the median processing time. It is the time the office takes to complete 50% of applications. The second one represents the completion time of 93 % of applications. Well, most of the cases are processed within this time range. However, every week these numbers are updated on the site.
• Check if a premium application process is available for eligible employment-based petitions. It includes some I-129 and I-140 categories. In addition, for most cases, it guarantees processing within 15 calendar days.
• Apart from this, for PERM Labor Certificates check the website of DOL for current processing time. This is because these USCIS applications are separately handled.

Steps to Check Case Status

Use the following steps to check your USCIS case processing time on the USCIS website:

• Find your receipt number from your application given to you through email or message at the time of application.
• On the case status online page enter your given receipt number.
• Complete the given captcha.
• After that, click on the "check status."

Implementing the above-mentioned steps assist you in checking your case status online. With this, moving ahead, let's know the USCIS processing times as per different immigration applications.

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USCIS Processing Times As Per Different Immigration Applications

The USCIS processing times of an application can vary from a few days to over the years. It depends on the application type and the USCIS office who is handling the process. Here to provide you an idea, some processing times for different applications of USCIS are below-mentioned.

Family-Based Green Cards

Under the family-based green cards, the I-130 petition is the first step. The processing time of it can vary based on the specific family relationship:

• CR1: This is for spouses of citizens of the US who have been married for less than two years at the admission time to the US.
• Immediate Relatives (IR): The following category involves parents, spouses, and unmarried children under 21 of citizens of the U.S.
• F2A: The F2A category is for spouses and under 21 unmarried children of permanent residents of the U.S.
• Adoptions: These applications generally take more time due to their complications and the requirement of additional papers.

Moving ahead, let's know the processing time for these.

PERM Labor Certification

PERM labor certification is often considered the primary thing for employment-based green cards. As stated above the application of these is handled by DOL and the processing times of it can vary USCIS. In addition, in comparison to analysts audit reviews generally take more time. Furthermore, let's know the DOL processing times of these applications.

Employment-Based Immigration

The employment-based immigration process generally includes several steps. In this, I-140 is for permanent positions workers. In addition, the I-129 is for temporary workers. Also, for these immigration applications premium processing is available at an extra cost. However, it does reduce the application time for eligible categories. Moreover, let's know the processing time of these.

Naturalization (USA Citizenship)

From the previous year, the present processing time of naturalization shows improvement. In addition, it potentially offers perks to thousands of aspiring applicants. Furthermore, let's know the processing time of it.

K-1 Fiancé Visas

The following USCIS processing time is just for approval of USCIS. In addition, extra time for K-1 visas is required for the consular process. Moving further, let's know its application time.

You may also Like to Read: H-1B to Green Card

Other Common Forms

The following immigration forms are often filled out along with other visa applications. In addition, can also apply as stand-alone requests. With this, let's know the USCIS processing times of these applications.

These are the USCIS processing times as per the different immigration applications. Moving ahead, let's know about AAO processing and its timing.

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What Is AAO Processing Times?

AAO is one of the branches of USCIS that helps applicants to apply for adverse decisions made on their applications. It stands for "Administrative Appeals Office." The AAO processing times can be defined as the time this USCIS branch takes to review an appeal of a denied petition or application and make a final decision. The following process consists of two stages that are as follows:

• An Initial Field Interview: Under this, the field office that denied the application has around 45 days to review the appeal. In addition, it is also the time to decide whether to think about its decision or not. If in case it's a no from the field office then the case is sent to AAO.
• AAO Appellate Review: Within approximately 180 days of getting the case file the AAO reviews the appeal. However, depending on the case complexity it may take less or more time.

It is all about the AAO processing times and how it works. Moving further, let's know about processing time backlogs.

What Is Processing Time Backlogs?

According to the most recent data, USCIS has constantly worked towards decreasing the time backlogs. However, depending on the immigration form an applicant is filing, the processing time may vary. It can range from a few months to several years depending on the category and involved processing center. Moreover, in February 2024, USCIS stated that it had reduced the case backlog by over a decade for the first time. As per them, it was decreased by 15% i.e. nearly 11 million filings of cases and 10 million case completion. With this, in the year 2022, to reduce the time backlogs the company introduced new internal cycle time goals. To provide you with an idea here is a breakdown of the set targeted processing times:

These were the set time cycle goals by the USCIS for improving processing time backlogs. With this, moving ahead, let's know the steps to check the visa status.

You may also Like to Read: USCIS Online Account Number

How to Check Your Visa Status?

When applying for a visa, it is normal to experience wait times. However, here the question is how to know whether the process is taking more time than usual. Want to know how you can check your visa application status? Here is how you can do this.

• Check General Processing Times: You can use the USCIS processing time tool to know the estimated processing time for your visa applications. To do so first find your form type and then check the "Receipt date for a case inquiry." It will give you details of your application if it falls outside the general window.
• Track Your Application Online: The USCIS also provides you the option to track your application status online. The process of it is slightly depending on whether you applied for the visa inside or outside the US.
• When to Inquire: If your visa application date is before the date of receipt case inquiry date. In addition, you did not get notified of it. In this situation using the USCIS e-form you can file a case inquiry with them. Through this, the USCIS service can figure out whether there are any potential delays in your application or not. However, do not fill out any inquiry form to USCIS if your application is still in the normal processing times. In this situation, you will get a generic response.

Conclusion

It was all about the updates of USCIS processing times in 2025. With this, navigating immigration can be overwhelming. If you are also one of those people looking for services related to NRI and Immigration in the US do contact Visament. We simplify your journey by assisting you with the application process related to your NRI and immigration services in the US or anywhere in the world. So, instead of seeking other options begin your journey with us today and experience a faster and smoother immigration process.