AAO Processing Times as of November 1, 2009

Case	Type	Time
I – 129F	Petition for Fiancée	2 Months*
I – 129 H1B	Nonimmigrant Specialty Occupation Worker	13 Months
I – 129 H2	Temporary Nonimmigrant Worker	6 Months*
I – 129 H3	Temporary Nonimmigrant Worker	6 Months*
I – 129 L	Nonimmigrant Intracompany Transferee	8 Months
I – 129 O	Nonimmigrant Extraordinary Ability Worker	2 Months*
I – 129 P1, P2, P3	Athletes, Artists and Entertainers	6 Months*
I – 129 Q	Cultural Exchange Visitor	6 Months*
I – 129 R	N/I Religious Worker	5 Months*
I – 131	Application for Travel Document	3 Months*
I – 140 EB1	(A) ‐ Alien with Extraordinary Ability	5 Months
I – 140 EB1	(B) ‐ Outstanding Professor or Researcher	5 Months*
I – 140 EB1	(C) ‐ Multinational Manager or Executive	10 Months
I – 140 EB2	(D) – Advanced Degree Professional	27 Months
I – 140 EB2	(I) – National Interest Waiver	6 Months*
I – 140 EB3	(E) – Skilled or Professional Worker	23 Months
I – 140 EB3	(G) – Other Worker	22 Months
I – 212	Application to Reapply for Admission	2 Months*
I – 360 EB4	Petition for Religious Worker	5 Months*
I – 360 C	Special Immigrant Juvenile	2 Months*
I – 360 VAWA	Violence Against Women Act Petition	4 Months*
I – 485	Cuban Adjustment Act Application	5 Months*
I – 485	LIFE Act Adjustment Application	6 Months*
I – 485	Section 13 Adjustment Application	4 Months*
I – 526 EB5	Alien Entrepreneur	5 Months*
I – 600	Petition for Orphan	2 Months*
I – 601	Application for Waiver of Inadmissibility	26 Months
I – 612	Application for 212(e) Waiver	2 Months*
I – 687	Legalization Application for Temporary Residence	18 Months
I – 690	Legalization/SAW – Waive Grounds of Excludability	2 Months*
I – 698	Legalization Adjustment Application	2 Months*
I – 700	Special Agricultural Worker	2 Months*
I – 821	Temporary Protected Status	4 Months*
I – 905	Application to Issue Cert for Health Care Workers	2 Months*
I – 914	Application for T Nonimmigrant Status	2 Months*
I – 918	Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status	2 Months*
N – 470	Application to Preserve Residence	4 Months*
N – 565	Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Doc	4 Months*
N – 600	Certificate of Citizenship	4 Months*
N – 643	Certificate of Citizenship for Adopted Child	2 Months*

* Within current USCIS processing time goal of six months or less

Vermont Service Center Processing Time Report Released in July

Below are the processing time report released by USCIS in July 2009  for the Vermont Service Center (VSC). The chart shows the Form Number, Form Name, and Processing Time for all forms processed at the VSC.

Field Office Processing Dates for VERMONT SERVICE CENTER as of: May 31, 2009

Form	Title	Classification or Basis for Filing:	Processing Timeframe:
I-90	Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card	Initial issuance or replacement	3.5 Months
I-102	Application for Replacement/Initial Nonimmigrant Arrival/Departure Record	Initial issuance or replacement of a Form I-94	2.5 Months
I-129	Petition for A Nonimmigrant Worker	H-1B – Specialty occupation – Visa to be issued abroad	April 01, 2009
I-129	Petition for A Nonimmigrant Worker	H-1B – Specialty occupation – Change of status in the U.S.	April 01, 2009
I-129	Petition for A Nonimmigrant Worker	H-1B – Specialty occupation – Extension of stay in the U.S.	April 01, 2009
I-129	Petition for A Nonimmigrant Worker	H-2A – Temporary workers	2 Months
I-129	Petition for A Nonimmigrant Worker	H-2B – Other temporary workers	2 Months
I-129	Petition for A Nonimmigrant Worker	H-3 – Temporary trainees	2 Months
I-129	Petition for A Nonimmigrant Worker	L – Intracompany transfers	2 Months
I-129	Petition for A Nonimmigrant Worker	Blanket L	2 Months
I-129	Petition for A Nonimmigrant Worker	O – Extraordinary ability	2 Months
I-129	Petition for A Nonimmigrant Worker	P – Athletes, artists, and entertainers	2 Months
I-129	Petition for A Nonimmigrant Worker	Q – Cultural exchange visitors and exchange visitors participating in the Irish Peace process	2 Months
I-129	Petition for A Nonimmigrant Worker	R – Religious occupation	2 Months
I-129	Petition for A Nonimmigrant Worker	TN – North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) professional	April 01, 2009
I-129F	Petition for Alien Fiance(e)	K-1/K-2 – Not yet married – fiance and/or dependent child	December 30, 2008
I-129F	Petition for Alien Fiance(e)	K-3/K-4 – Already married – spouse and/or dependent child	December 30, 2008
I-130	Petition for Alien Relative	U.S. citizen filing for a spouse, parent, or child under 21	5 Months
I-130	Petition for Alien Relative	U.S. citizen filing for an unmarried son or daughter over 21	July 02, 2006
I-130	Petition for Alien Relative	U.S. citizen filing for a married son or daughter over 21	June 04, 2006
I-130	Petition for Alien Relative	U.S. citizen filing for a brother or sister	March 19, 2001
I-130	Petition for Alien Relative	Permanent resident filling for a spouse or child under 21	January 18, 2006
I-130	Petition for Alien Relative	Permanent resident filling for an unmarried son or daughter over 21	June 04, 2006
I-131	Application for Travel Document	All other applicants for advance parole	3 Months
I-212	Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission into the U.S. After Deportation or Removal	Readmission after deportation or removal	4 Months
I-360	Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant	Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)	April 29, 2008
I-360	Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant	All other special immigrants	5 Months
I-485	Application to Register Permanent Residence or to Adjust Status	Employment-based adjustment applications	July 24, 2006
I-539	Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status	Change of status to H or L dependents	2.5 Months
I-539	Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status	Change status to the F or M academic or vocational student categories	2.5 Months
I-539	Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status	Change Status to the J exchange visitor category	2.5 Months
I-539	Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status	All other change of status applications	2.5 Months
I-539	Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status	Extension of stay for H and L dependents	2.5 Months
I-539	Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status	Extension of Stay for F or M academic or vocational students	2.5 Months
I-539	Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status	Extension of Stay for J exchange visitors	2.5 Months
I-539	Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status	All other extension applications	2.5 Months
I-612	Application for Waiver of the Foreign Residence Requirement	Application for a waiver of the 2-year foreign residence requirement based on exceptional hardship or persecution	4 Months
I-751	Petition to Remove the Conditions on Residence	Removal of lawful permanent resident conditions (spouses of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents	6 Months
I-765	Application for Employment Authorization	Based on a request by a qualified F-1 academic student. [(c)(3)]	3 Months
I-765	Application for Employment Authorization	Based on a pending asylum application [(c)(8)]	3 Months
I-765	Application for Employment Authorization	Based on a pending I-485 adjustment application [(c)(9)]	3 Months
I-765	Application for Employment Authorization	Based on TPS for Honduras/Nicaragua [(c)(19), (a)(12)]	October 01, 2008
I-765	Application for Employment Authorization	Based on TPS for El Salvador [(c)(19)(a)(12)]	October 01, 2008
I-765	Application for Employment Authorization	All other applications for employment authorization	3 Months
I-817	Application for Family Unity Benefits	Voluntary departure under the family unity program	6 Months
I-821	Application for Temporary Protected Status	El Salvador initial or late filing	October 02, 2008
I-821	Application for Temporary Protected Status	El Salvador extension	October 02, 2008
I-821	Application for Temporary Protected Status	Honduras and Nicaragua initial or late filing	October 02, 2008
I-821	Application for Temporary Protected Status	Honduras and Nicaragua extension	October 02, 2008
I-824	Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition	To request further action on an approved application or petition	3 Months
N-600	Application for Certification of Citizenship	Application for recognition of U.S. citizenship	5 Months

Newly Released AAO Processing Times as of July 1, 2009

These figures indicate the time that it takes from the date the case is received at The Administrative Appeals Office (AAO). The below list indicates AAO processing times as of July 1, 2009.

AAO Processing Times as of July 1, 2009

Case Type	Time
I-129F Petition for Fiancee	1 Month*
I-129 H1B Nonimmigrant Specialty Occupation Worker	16 Months*
I-129 H2 Temporary Nonimmigrant Worker	6 Months*
I-129 H3 Temporary Nonimmigrant Worker	7 Months*
I-129l Nonimmigrant Intracompany Transferee	7 Months*
I-1290 Nonimmigrant Extraordinary Ability Worker	5 Months*
I-129 P1, P2, P3 Athletes, Artists and Entertainers	7 Months*
I-129 Q Cultural Exchange Visitor	7 Months*
I-129 R N/I Religious Worker	3 Months*
I-131 Application for Travel Document	1 Month*
I-140 EB1 (A) – Alien with Extraordinary Ability	10 Months*
I-140 EB1 (B)- Outstanding Professor or Researcher	1 Month*
I-140EB1 (C) – Multinational Manager or Executive	10 Months*
I-140 EB2 (D) – Advanced Degree Professional	26 Months*
I-140EB2 (I) – National Interest Waiver	5 Months*
I-140E83 (E)- Skilled or Professional Worker	22 Months*
I-140 EB3 (G) – Other Worker	18 Months*
I-212 Application to Reapply for Admission	2 Months*
I-360 EM Petition for Religious Worker	5 Months*
I-360C Special Immigrant Juvenile	1 Month*
I-360VAWA Violence Against Women Act Petition	1 Month*
I-485 Cuban Adjustment Act Application	1 Month*
I-485 liFE Act Adjustment Application	3 Months*
I-48S Section 13 Adjustment Application	1 Month*
I-526 EB5 Alien Entrepreneur	2 Months*
I-600 Petition for Orphan	1 Month*
I-601 Application for Waiver of Inadmissibility	25 Months*
I-612 Application for 212(e) Waiver	1 Months*
I-687 legalization Application for Temporary Residence	21 Months*
I-690 legalization/SAW – Waive Grounds of Excludability	1 Month*
I-698 legalization ~ustment Application	1 Month*
I-700 Special Agricultural Worker	1 Month*
I-821 Temporary Protected Status	5 Months*
I-905 Application to Issue Cert for Health Care Workers	1 Month*
I-914 Application for T Nonimmigrant Status	1 Month*
I-918 Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status	1 Month*
N-470 Application to Preserve Residence	1 Months*
N-565 Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Doc	3 Months*
N-600 Certificate of Citizenship	3 Months*
N-643 Certificate of Citizenship for Adopted Child	1 Month*

* Within current USCIS processing time goal of six months or less

USCIS Releases Processing Time Information for its National Benefits Center

USCIS has released on May 15, 2009, the projected times for the National Benefits Center to complete processing of applications.

USCIS in FY 2007 received 1.4 million applications for naturalization – which were double than those received the year before.

In July and August of FY 2007 USCIS received nearly 2.5 million applications and petitions of all types. USCIS claims that despite the surge of applications, most offices have continued to handle the workload and completed the processing of cases received during 2007 and that it initiated efforts to improve processes and focus increased resources, including the hiring of over 1,000 new Immigration Services Officers, to address this increased workload.

For the benefit of our readers, the procesing times below indicate the receipt date of petitions and applications currently being processed by the USCIS National Benefits Center.

Processing Dates for the National Benefits Center as of March 31, 2009

Form Application or Basis for Filing Processing Timeframe

I-102 Initial issuance or replacement of a I-94 3 months

I-131 Application for travel document/advance parole 3 months

I-539 Application to Extend/Change non-immigrant status 3 months

I-765 Application for Employment Authorization 3 months

I-817 Application for Family Unity Benefits 6 months

I-824 Application for Action on an Approved Application or 6 months

Petition

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released on May 15, 2009, the projected times for the National Benefits Center to complete processing of applications.

USCIS stated that in FY 2007 received 1.4 million applications for naturalization – which were double than those received the year before.

In July and August of FY 2007 USCIS received nearly 2.5 million applications and petitions of all types. USCIS claims that despite the surge of applications, most offices have continued to handle the workload and completed the processing of cases received during 2007 and that it initiated efforts to improve processes and focus increased resources, including the hiring of over 1,000 new Immigration Services Officers, to address this increased workload.

For the benefit of our readers, the processing times below indicate the receipt date of petitions and applications currently being processed by the USCIS National Benefits Center.

Processing Dates for the National Benefits Center as of March 31, 2009:

Form Application or Basis for Filing	Processing Time frame
I-102 Initial issuance or replacement of a I-94	3 months
I-131 Application for travel document/advance parole	3 months
I-539 Application to Extend/Change non-immigrant status	3 months
I-765 Application for Employment Authorization	3 months
I-817 Application for Family Unity Benefits	6 months
I-824 Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition	6 months

USCIS Naturalization Processing Times at end of FY 2008

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) days ago released a fact sheet listing the Naturalization processing times at the end of FY 2008 by city and in months.

Charleston, S.C. has the longest processing time of 14.8 months and Boston ranks in between at an average of 8 months. 

Naturalization Processing Times At End Of Fiscal Year 2008

Office                                   Months 

Agana, Guam …………………………… 5.0  

Albany, N.Y. ……………………………. 5.3 

Albuquerque, N.M. …………………… 5.3 

Anchorage, Alaska …………………….6.5 

Atlanta, Ga. ………………………………6.8 

Baltimore, Md. …………………………..7.8

Boise, Idaho ………………………………8.2 

Boston, Mass……………………………..8.0 

Buffalo, N.Y……………………………….7.7 

Charleston, S.C. ………………………..14.8 

Charlotte Amalie, Virgin Islands ….5.0 

Charlotte, N.C. ………………………….14.7 

Chicago, Ill………………………………..6.1 

Cincinnati, Ohio…………………………5.0 

Cleveland, Ohio …………………………6.5 

Columbus, Ohio ………………………..5.0

Dallas, Texas……………………………..7.3

Denver, Colo. …………………………….5.0 

Des Moines, Iowa ……………………….7.3 

Detroit, Mich………………………………5.0 

El Paso, Texas…………………………….8.5 

Fort Smith, Ark. …………………………6.9

Fresno, Calif………………………………6.7 

Harlingen, Texas ……………………….8.6 

Hartford, Conn. …………………………14.4 

Helena, Mont……………………………..6.7 

Honolulu, Hawaii ……………………….5.4 

Houston, Texas …………………………8.4 

Indianapolis, Ind………………………..6.9 

Jacksonville, Fla…………………………7.8 

Kansas City, Mo…………………………7.1 

Las Vegas, Nev. ………………………..9.0 

Los Angeles, Calif……………………..14.2 

Louisville, Ky…………………………….5.9 

Manchester, N.H. ………………………5.4 

Memphis, Tenn. ………………………..13.5

Miami, Fla. ……………………………….9.8

Milwaukee, Wis………………………….7.3

Mount Laurel, N.J……………………….5.2

New Orleans, La. ……………………….14.0

New York, N.Y……………………………10.1

Newark, N.J. ……………………………..7.2

Norfolk, Va. ……………………………..7.4

Oklahoma City, Okla. …………………5.1

Omaha, Neb. …………………………….5.0

Orlando, Fla. …………………………….14.0

Philadelphia, Pa. ………………………..8.8

Phoenix, Ariz. ……………………………8.0

Pittsburgh, Pa…………………………….5.0

Portland, Maine………………………….5.4

Portland, Ore…………………………….5.6

Providence, R.I. ………………………..8.2

Reno, Nev. ………………………………5.5

Sacramento, Calif. ……………………5.8

Salt Lake City, Utah ………………….5.0

San Antonio, Texas…………………..5.0

San Diego, Calif……………………….8.3

San Francisco, Calif………………….5.9

San Jose, Calif. ……………………….8.6

Suan, Puerto Rico ……………………6.0

Seattle, Wash. ………………………..8.6

Spokane, Wash. ……………………..5.0

St Albans, Vt………………………….8.9

St Louis, Mo. …………………………11.3

St Paul, Minn. ………………………..6.7

Tampa, Fla. …………………………..10.1

Tucson, Ariz. ………………………..10.9

Washington, D.C. ……………………9.8

West Palm Beach, Fla………………..6.1

Yakima, Wash………………………….5.0