Form I-129 processing time
I-129 TN - United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA, formerly NAFTA) professional
Processing time trend
Months to decision
FY diamonds are USCIS-published yearly national averages. Weekly points average our daily snapshots. Daily points are individual USCIS snapshots from the last 30 days.
Summary · Updated 2026-06-23
As of 2026-06-23, USCIS reports a 4 Months to 7 Months processing time for Form I-129 TN - United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA, formerly NAFTA) professional cases handled by Service Center Operations (SCOPS). This range represents the time to complete 80% of these cases. If your filing receipt is dated before December 4, 2025, you may submit a case inquiry to USCIS.
How long does I-129 TN - United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA, formerly NAFTA) professional take?
USCIS currently publishes a range of 4 Months to 7 Months for Form I-129 TN - United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA, formerly NAFTA) professional cases handled by Service Center Operations (SCOPS), as of . This is the time to complete 80% of cases of this type at this office — your case may resolve faster or slower than the published range.
Can I submit a case inquiry?
USCIS accepts case inquiries when your receipt date is older than the published inquiry date. For I-129 TN - United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA, formerly NAFTA) professional at Service Center Operations (SCOPS), that date is currently December 4, 2025. If your filing receipt is dated before that, you can submit a service request through your USCIS online account.
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How to read the chart
The chart combines four data sources, oldest to newest: USCIS-published fiscal-year averages from FY2014 (including the current partial year), drawn from USCIS's Historic Processing Times page; weekly averages computed from our daily snapshots; and daily snapshots for the most recent 30 days. A flat line means the published range was unchanged in our snapshots, not that nothing is happening on individual cases.
Source & methodology
All processing-time figures on this page come directly from USCIS's official Processing Times tool. We snapshot the published ranges every weekday and store the time series for trend analysis. Historic fiscal-year medians come from USCIS's Historic Processing Times page. This site is independent and not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency.
Frequently asked questions about I-129
What case types does Form I-129 cover?
I-129 is the Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker. It covers H-1B specialty occupation, H-2A and H-2B temporary workers, H-3 trainees, L-1A and L-1B intracompany transferees, O-1 extraordinary ability, P-1/2/3 athletes and performers, Q-1 cultural exchange, R-1 religious workers, E-1 treaty traders, E-2 treaty investors, E-3 Australian professionals, and TN USMCA professionals.
Is premium processing available for my I-129?
Yes, for nearly all I-129 case types. File Form I-907 with the premium processing fee ($2,805 for most I-129 categories as of the 2024 fee rule). USCIS guarantees an action — approval, denial, RFE, or NOID — within 15 business days of receiving the premium request.
Can I start working as soon as my I-129 is approved?
If you are already in the US in valid status and the petition includes a change-of-status request, you typically wait for approval before starting. If you're abroad, the petition approval lets you apply for a visa stamp; you can work after entering on the new visa. H-1B transferees can begin working at the new employer upon USCIS receipt of the new petition (H-1B portability).
What's the H-1B cap process?
Cap-subject H-1B requires electronic registration in March, lottery selection in late March or early April, petition filing window starting April 1, and earliest start date of October 1. Cap-exempt H-1B (universities, related nonprofits, government research) can file any time.
What's an RFE and what triggers one?
RFE = Request for Evidence. USCIS issues an RFE when it needs additional information to decide your case. Common I-129 RFE topics: specialty occupation (the job actually requires a degree), beneficiary qualifications, employer-employee relationship for third-party placements, and wage level discrepancies.
What happens to my H-1B if I'm laid off?
You have a 60-day grace period (or until your I-94 expires, whichever is shorter) to find a new employer who can file an H-1B transfer, change status, or leave the US. Use the grace period proactively — once it expires, you accrue unlawful presence.
How does the H-1B 6-year limit work, and can I extend beyond it?
Standard H-1B is capped at 6 years cumulative. You can extend beyond that under AC21 §104 if you have an approved I-140, or under §106 if your PERM labor certification or I-140 has been pending 365+ days.
Helpful guides
Other I-129 case types
- E - Treaty traders and investors
- E3 - Specialty occupation workers from Australia
- H-1B - Specialty occupation - Change of status in the U.S.
- H-1B - Specialty occupation - Extension of stay in the U.S.
- H-1B - Specialty occupation - Visa to be issued abroad
- H-2A - Temporary agricultural workers - Named Beneficiary
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