How many months does it take to get a response on an I-140 for NIW?

There is no fixed timeline for the USCIS to respond to an I-140 under the EB-2 NIW. Processing time varies case by case and shifts according to the agency’s workload, the complexity of the applicant’s profile, and any requests for additional evidence issued during adjudication.

For that reason, any number circulating as an “average” becomes outdated quickly and may not apply to your case. The reliable way to get an estimate is to consult the official USCIS processing times tool, which provides the estimated timeframe for the service center handling your petition and is updated by the agency itself.

Several factors tend to affect how quickly a case moves forward:

• The volume of petitions under review during a given period.
• The complexity of the case and the clarity of the supporting evidence.
• The issuance of a request for evidence, which pauses the clock until a response is submitted.

Be cautious of any promises of guaranteed timelines or fast approvals: each petition is evaluated individually. To plan with confidence, it is worth checking updated processing times at the official source and monitoring your case with a qualified specialist.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.