California Service Center

The following is the USCIS California Service Center Processing Time Report as of March 2024.

Form Purpose Sub-Type Now Processing Cases with Estimated time range of:
I-102 Application for Replacement/Initial Nonimmigrant Arrival/Departure Record Initial issuance or replacement of a Form I-94
25 Months
I-129 Petition for A Nonimmigrant Worker Blanket L
4.5 Month
I-129 Petition for A Nonimmigrant Worker E – Treaty traders and investors
2 Month
I-129 Petition for A Nonimmigrant Worker H-1B – Specialty occupation – Visa to be issued abroad
1.5 Months
I-129 Petition for A Nonimmigrant Worker H-1B – Specialty occupation – Change of status in the U.S.
1.5 Months
I-129 Petition for A Nonimmigrant Worker H-1B – Specialty occupation – Extension of stay in the U.S.
1.5 Months
I-129 Petition for A Nonimmigrant Worker Temporary Agricultural Workers
15 Days
I-129 Petition for A Nonimmigrant Worker Temporary Non-Agricultural Workers
1 Week
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 O – Extraordinary ability
2.5 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-129CW Petition for a CNMI-Only Nonimmigrant Transitional work CW-1 – CNMI-Only Nonimmigrant Transitional work
2 Months
I-129F Petition for Alien Fiance(e) K-1/K-2 – Not yet married – fiance and/or dependent child
13.5 Months
I-129F Petition for Alien Fiance(e) K-3/K-4 – Already married – spouse and/or dependent child
13.5 Months
I-130 Petition for Alien Relative U.S. citizen filing for an unmarried son or daughter over 21
81 Months
I-130 Petition for Alien Relative U.S. citizen filing for a married son or daughter over 21
83.5 Months
I-130 Petition for Alien Relative U.S. citizen filing for a brother or sister
49 Months
I-130 Petition for Alien Relative U.S. citizen filing for a spouse, parent, or child under 21
14 Months
I-130 Petition for Alien Relative Permanent resident filling for a spouse or child under 21
43 Months
I-130 Petition for Alien Relative Permanent resident filling for an unmarried son or daughter over 21
72 Months
I-131 Application for Travel Document All other applicants for advance parole
12 Months
I-360 Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant All other special immigrants
16 Months
I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or to Adjust Status Employment-based adjustment applications
21 Months
I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status Change of status to H4 dependents
3 Months
I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status Change of status to L dependents
6 Months
I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status Extension of stay for H4 dependents with I-765
3 Months
I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status Change status to the F or M academic or vocational student categories
5 Months
I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status Change Status to the J exchange visitor category
5 Months
I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status All other change of status applications
7.5 Months
I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status Extension of stay for H4 dependents
8.5 Months
I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status Extension of Stay for F or M academic or vocational students
4 Months
I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status Extension of Stay for J exchange visitors
4 Months
I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status Extension of stay for L dependents
4 Months
I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status All other extension of stay applications
5.5 Months
I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status Change of status for B nonimmigrant
8.5 Months
I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status Change of status for H4 dependents with I-765
2.5 Months
I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status Reinstatement to student status
7 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
24 Months
I-765 Application for Employment Authorization Based on a pending I-485 adjustment application [(c)(9)]
4 Months
I-765 Application for Employment Authorization All other applications for employment authorization
15 Months
I-765 Application for Employment Authorization Haiti extension [(c)(19), (a)(12)]
11.5 Months
I-765 Application for Employment Authorization Based on being an H-4 spouse of an H-1B nonimmigrant (filed with I-539 H4) [(c)(26)]
4.5 Months
I-765 Application for Employment Authorization Based on being an L-2 spouse of an L-1 nonimmigrant [(a)(18)]
6.5 Months
I-765 Application for Employment Authorization Based on being an H-4 spouse of an H-1B nonimmigrant (Standalone; not filed with I-539 H4) [(c)(26)]
3 Months
I-765 Application for Employment Authorization Based on an approved, concurrently filed, I-821D [(c)(33)]
I-821 Application for Temporary Protected Status Haiti Initial or Late Filing
9 Months
I-821 Application for Temporary Protected Status Burma Initial 5 Months
I-821D Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Request for Deferred Action
I-824 Application for Action on an Approved Application Or Petition To request further action on an Approved Application Or Petition 4.5 Months

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These Processing Times issued by USCIS gives you an estimate of how long it will take the California Service Center to process a class of petitions or applications. USCIS generally processes cases as they are received (“first in, first out”). USCIS has also developed internal goals for most types of petitions and applications. For example, the stated goal for Form I-129’s (H-1B petitions) is 2 months.

How to use the Processing Time Report:

  1. Check your receipt notice (I-797C, Notice of Action) and make sure that the receipt number begins with “WAC”.
  2. Look for the Form number or Purpose for your petition or application.
  3. Look for the specific Sub-type for your petition or application, if applicable.
  4. Check the column titled “Now Processing Cases with Receipt Notice Date of”. If you see a date, the Service Center is currently processing cases filed on or before that date. If you see “X” months, it means that the Service Center is processing cases within their internally-developed goal time frames.

If you find that your case is outside “normal” processing times, you can contact USCIS Customer Service.

NOTE: If you received a notice from USCIS informing you that the case has been transferred from the California Service Center to another Service Center or Local Field Office, check the processing times for the destination Service Center or Local Field Offices.


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