Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker
I-140 · Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker
Employer-sponsored or self-petitioned immigrant petition for an alien worker (EB-1 / EB-2 / EB-3 / NIW / EB-1A).
Median processing days
195 days
about 7 months
Typical range (80%)
90–360 days
Most cases decided within about 12 months
Approval rate
89.7%
Trailing 12 months · 2025 Q4
Source: USCIS Processing Times and official quarterly data (2025 Q4 snapshot). For reference only, not a time commitment.
Purpose and process
Approval of I-140 establishes the priority date. The beneficiary must then wait for the Visa Bulletin to become current before filing I-485 or consular processing.
EB-2 NIW, EB-1A and EB-1B are common self-petition paths and are often filed with Premium Processing.
Who files it
Employer-sponsored and self-petitioning employment-based immigrants.
Official references
Common USCIS statuses for this form
Case Was Received
USCIS has received your filing and generated a receipt number. This is only the starting point — active review has not begun yet.
Case Was Approved
The case is approved.
Request For Additional Evidence Was Sent
USCIS issued a Request for Evidence — the officer needs additional evidence before making a decision.
Case Was Denied
The case has been denied.
Case Was Upgraded To Premium Processing
The case has been upgraded to Premium Processing.
Frequently asked questions
How fast is I-140 with Premium Processing?
Premium Processing commits to a decision, RFE or NOID within 15 calendar days for most I-140s. The clock pauses on an RFE and resumes after you respond.
How long after I-140 approval until I can file I-485?
Depends on your priority date and country of birth. EB-2/EB-3 applicants born in mainland China typically wait; EB-1 is often current.
Can I refile after an I-140 denial?
Yes. If the issue is documentary, refile with stronger evidence. If it is an eligibility problem, address the root cause first.
Track your I-140 case
Enter your receipt number. MyCases polls USCIS on a schedule and alerts you the moment the status changes — by email, Telegram or WeChat Work. Free forever.
General information only, not legal advice. Official USCIS notices in writing always take precedence.