Foreign nationals worldwide can apply for an EB-1 visa as it is considered a powerful and easiest option for professionals to apply for a US Green Card. The EB-1 visa is sub-divided into three categories such as:
- EB1A visa: The EB1A visa is reserved for candidates who have extraordinary abilities in the sciences, arts, business, athletics, education, motion picture industry, or television industry.
- EB1B visa: The EB1B visa is reserved for candidates who are outstanding professors and researchers.
- EB1C visa: The EB1C visa is reserved for candidates who are multinational managers and executives.
*Want to apply for EB-1 visa? Talk to Y-Axis for complete guidance.
Key Factors that affect the EB1 visa processing time
Here are some factors that affect the EB1 visa processing time:
- Whether the applicant selected for the premium processing
- If the applicant is adjusting the status
- Whether the applicant is filing the I-140 and I-485 at the same time (concurrent filing)
- If the applicant first waits for the I-140 to get approved and then file their I-485
- which USCIS service centre reviews the applicant's case
- Whether an RFE is issued for your case
- High application volume
- Country of origin
- Accurate Documentation
Processing Times for EB-1 visa Form I-140
As of April 2024, the EB-1 visa processing time take all total but depends on the subcategory of EB-1 visa an applicant applies for.
EB1A I-140 petitions currently take:
- An average of 16.5 months at the Nebraska Service Centre
- An average of 19 months at the Texas Service Centre
- An average of 15 days with premium processing
For EB1B, I-140 petitions currently take:
- 5 months on average at the Nebraska Service Centre
- Eight months at the Texas Service Centre
- 15 days with premium processing
For EB1C, I-140 petitions currently take:
- 5 months on average at the Nebraska Service Centre
- 5 months at the Texas Service Centre
- 45 days with premium processing
Concurrent filing processing
In some situations, an applicant is eligible to file Form I-140 and Form I-485 at the same time. This is known as concurrent filing. By filing both forms together, the overall EB1 processing time is shortened. In this process, an applicant doesn’t have to wait for the I-140 to get approved before filing the I-485.
In order to file the application Form I-140 and I-485 concurrently, the EB1 subcategory that the applicants are applying for must be current. If the visa is has currently no waitlist then the applicant can file the I-140 and the I-485 simultaneously. If there is a waitlist, they have to wait until their I-140 is approved and then wait for your visa to become current (get to the front of the line) before filing your I-485.
To apply for EB-1 visa it is necessary to file both of these Form I-140 and I-485 as it is essential to get the visa.
EB-1 Visa Processing time
After the Form I-140 and I-485 is approved then depending on the country of origin, the USCIS will process the visa either immediate or after several months. The average processing time for the EB-1 visa is between 6-8 months.
*Want assistance for US Immigration? Talk to Y-Axis, the world’s No. 1 overseas immigration consultancy for end-to-end support.