H-1B Processing Times Explained

If you’re planning to start a new role in the U.S., the biggest unknown is often timing. A delayed H‑1B decision can push back your start date, complicate travel plans, or put your current immigration status at risk.

In most cases, H‑1B petitions processed under regular processing take several months, depending on the USCIS service center and petition type. According to data published by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), processing times for Form I‑129 petitions routinely range from two to six months or longer, while premium processing guarantees action within 15 calendar days.

This guide explains what affects H‑1B processing times, how long each stage typically takes, and how to track your case once it’s filed. You’ll also learn when premium processing makes sense and how to plan around common delays.

What Determines H-1B Processing Times?

H-1B processing times vary based on several factors: which USCIS service center handles your petition, current case volumes, whether you're filing a new petition or an extension of stay, and the completeness of your application. The California Service Center and other processing facilities each maintain their own adjudication timelines.

Standard processing typically takes several months from the date USCIS receives your petition. This timeframe can stretch longer during peak filing seasons or if USCIS issues a Request for Evidence (RFE) asking for additional documentation.

Your employer files Form I-129 (Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker) along with the certified Labor Condition Application from the U.S. Department of Labor. Once USCIS accepts the filing, they issue a receipt notice confirming your case is in the system. From there, you wait for adjudication.

Current Processing Times

USCIS publishes current processing times on its official website. These estimates show how long each service center is taking to process H-1B petitions, broken down by petition type: initial employment, change of employer, extension of stay, or change of status.

Processing times fluctuate. What took three months last quarter might take five months this quarter. Checking the USCIS website before filing gives you realistic expectations for your specific situation.

For international students transitioning from F-1 status, timing matters. Your start date, current non-immigrant status, and the expiration date of your existing authorization all factor into when your employer should file. Planning ahead prevents gaps in your immigration status.

Premium Processing: The 15-Day Option

If timing is critical, your employer can request premium processing by filing Form I-907 and paying the premium processing fee. This guarantees USCIS will take action on your H-1B petition within 15 calendar days.

"Take action" means USCIS will either approve the petition, deny it, or issue a Request for Evidence. If they issue an RFE, the 15-day clock pauses until your employer responds, then restarts.

Premium processing makes sense when you have a firm start date that can't move, when your current status is expiring soon, or when business needs require certainty about your authorization timeline. The fee is substantial but provides predictability that regular processing cannot offer.

Your employer pays all mandatory filing fees by law. Premium processing is optional and can be paid by either your employer or you, depending on your arrangement.

Understanding the Timeline

Here’s how the H‑1B application process typically unfolds from start to finish. While exact timelines vary by service center, petition type, and whether premium processing is used, most cases follow the same sequence of government filings and review stages. Understanding each step helps you identify where delays are most likely to occur and how long each phase usually takes.

• Labor Condition Application (7 business days): Before filing your H-1B petition, your employer submits an LCA to the Department of Labor. DOL certification usually takes about seven business days once submitted.
• I-129 Filing and Receipt: Your employer files Form I-129 with USCIS. Within a few weeks, you receive a receipt notice confirming USCIS accepted your case. This receipt number lets you track your case status online.
• Adjudication Period: This is where the wait happens. USCIS reviews your petition, verifies your eligibility, confirms the job qualifies as a specialty occupation, and reviews all required documentation. Standard processing times vary by service center.
• Decision: USCIS either approves your petition and issues an approval notice, denies it, or requests additional evidence. If approved, your H-1B status begins on the start date listed in your petition.

What Are the Common Causes of  Delays?

Several factors can extend your H‑1B processing timeline beyond USCIS’s published estimates. While processing time tools provide useful benchmarks, they don’t account for case‑specific issues that trigger additional scrutiny or requests from USCIS. Understanding these common delay drivers helps you anticipate potential slowdowns and prepare documentation proactively.

• Incomplete Documentation: Missing transcripts, unclear job descriptions, or insufficient evidence that the position requires a specialty occupation can prompt USCIS to issue an RFE. Responding to RFEs adds weeks or months to your case.
• Third-Party Worksites: If you'll work at a client's location rather than your employer's office, USCIS often scrutinizes these petitions more carefully. Detailed contracts and client letters help, but may still trigger additional review.
• Cap-Subject Petitions: New H-1B petitions subject to the annual cap follow the March registration and lottery process. Selected petitions must be filed within a specific window, creating concentrated filing volumes that can affect processing times.
• Change of Status Requests: If you're already in the U.S. and requesting a change of status to H-1B rather than consular processing, USCIS reviews both your H-1B eligibility and your current nonimmigrant status.

Tracking Your Case

Once you have your receipt notice, you can check your case status on the USCIS website. The case status tracker shows where your petition stands in the adjudication process.

Status updates are sometimes vague. "Case is being actively reviewed" might persist for months. More specific updates like "Request for Evidence was sent" or "Case was approved" provide clearer information.

USCIS also offers case processing time tools that let you compare your receipt date against current processing timeframes. If your case is outside normal processing times, you may have options to contact USCIS for an update.

Extensions and Amendments

H-1B extension processing times follow similar patterns to initial petitions. If you're extending your H-1B status with your current employer, file well before your expiration date. Filing before your current status expires typically allows you to continue working while the extension is pending.

Amendments require filing when your job changes significantly: new worksite, substantially different duties, or material changes to your terms of employment. Amendment processing times mirror other H-1B petitions.

For extensions beyond six years, workers with an approved or pending I-140 immigrant petition as part of the green card process may qualify for additional time. These extensions follow the same processing timeline as standard H-1B petitions.

Planning Around Processing Times

Smart timing reduces stress for everyone involved. Employers should file H-1B petitions with enough lead time to account for standard processing, possible RFEs, and any necessary consular processing at a U.S. embassy if you're abroad.

If you need to travel internationally, coordinate around pending petitions. Your immigration status and ability to re-enter depend on having valid authorization and, for those abroad, a visa stamp from the Department of State.

Work with your employer to establish realistic start dates that account for processing variability. Building in buffer time prevents situations where your start date passes while your petition remains pending.

Getting Support

H-1B processing involves coordination between the Department of Labor, USCIS, and potentially the Department of State. Lighthouse combines experienced case managers with technology built for immigration workflows. We help employers prepare compliant petitions, track processing timelines, and respond to RFEs efficiently.

Our platform keeps everyone informed about case status, filing deadlines, and next steps. When processing times stretch longer than expected, having organized documentation and responsive support makes a difference.

Fill out our eligibility form to learn how Lighthouse can help manage your H-1B timeline.