Form I-140 processing time
I-140 Advanced degree or exceptional ability (E21)
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 2.5 Months to 7 Months processing time for Form I-140 Advanced degree or exceptional ability (E21) 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 November 28, 2025, you may submit a case inquiry to USCIS.
How long does I-140 Advanced degree or exceptional ability (E21) take?
USCIS currently publishes a range of 2.5 Months to 7 Months for Form I-140 Advanced degree or exceptional ability (E21) 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-140 Advanced degree or exceptional ability (E21) at Service Center Operations (SCOPS), that date is currently November 28, 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-140
What is Form I-140?
Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker. It's the employment-based green card petition typically filed by the US employer (or by the foreign worker themselves for EB-1A, EB-2 NIW, and EB-5). I-140 approval creates a priority date that the beneficiary later uses to file I-485 (adjustment) or pursue consular processing.
Which categories does I-140 cover?
EB-1 (priority workers — extraordinary ability, outstanding researchers, multinational managers), EB-2 (advanced degree professionals, exceptional ability, and National Interest Waivers), and EB-3 (skilled workers, professionals, and other workers).
Is premium processing available for I-140?
Yes, for most I-140 categories. File Form I-907 with $2,805 (as of 2024 fee rule) to guarantee USCIS action within 15 business days. EB-1C multinational manager and EB-2 NIW were added to premium processing in 2022.
What is the priority date?
The date your PERM labor certification was filed with the Department of Labor (for EB-2 and EB-3 cases requiring PERM), or the date USCIS received your I-140 (for EB-1A, EB-2 NIW, and other PERM-exempt categories). Your priority date is your place in line for a visa number.
What's the difference between EB-2 and EB-3?
EB-2 requires a US Master's degree (or higher) or a Bachelor's plus 5 years of progressive experience; EB-3 requires a Bachelor's plus job requirements of less than 5 years (Professional), 2+ years experience/training (Skilled), or less than 2 years training (Other Workers). EB-2 NIW is self-petitionable with no PERM and no employer. See our EB-2 vs EB-3 guide for the full comparison.
Can I change jobs after I-140 is approved?
Yes, under AC21 §106(c), once your I-485 has been pending 180+ days, you can change to a same-or-similar occupation without losing your priority date or green card eligibility. Your I-140 also remains valid for retaining the priority date even if you change employers before filing I-485 (subject to a 180-day requirement from approval).
How long is PERM labor certification taking?
PERM is a Department of Labor process that precedes most EB-2 and EB-3 I-140 filings. As of 2025-2026, PERM is taking approximately 14-18 months from filing for adjudication, plus an additional 6 months for the prevailing wage determination beforehand. Audits significantly extend timing.
Helpful guides
Other I-140 case types
- Advanced degree or exceptional ability requesting a National Interest Waiver (NIW)
- Extraordinary ability (E11)
- Multinational executive or manager (E13)
- Outstanding professor or researcher (E12)
- Schedule A Nurses
- Skilled worker or professional (E31; E32)
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