INS Processing Times in Chicago and Lincoln, Nebraska
September 11, 2002

UPDATE

For the most recent processing times, visit CIS ( INS ) Processing Times.

Nebraska Service Center, Lincoln, Nebraska

Form I-129 – Petition for a Non-Immigrant Worker (which includes professionals/specialty occupation workers (H-1B visa, etc), intracompany transferees, executives or managers (L visa), treaty traders/investors (E visa), artists/performers (O, P visa), religious workers (R visas): 60 to 90 days. However, with the payment of an additional filing fee of $1,000.00, these petitions will undergo “premium processing” and adjudicated in 7 to 14 days

Form I-539 – Application to Extend/Change Non-Immigrant Status (most often filed by tourists/visitors, B-1/B-2, and dependents of principal H, L, E, O, P and R visa holders seeking to extend their stays): 60-90 days,.

Form I-140 – Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker (most often, petitions for workers who have obtained labor certifications from the U.S. Department of Labor or precertified occupations such as for Registered Nurses and Physical Therapists): 90 to 120 days

Form I-130 – Petitions for out of country spouses or children (under 21) of U.S. citizens: 6 months
Petitions for all other relatives of U.S. citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents: 360 to 440 days (although the “priority date accorded will be the actual filing date)

Form I-129F – Petition for out of country fiance of U.S. citzen: 3 to 5 months.

Form I-751 – Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence (for alien spouses and children with conditional resident status, including joint filers and individuals seeking waivers): 5 to 7 months. NOTE: Where interviews for I-751 filers are deemed necessary by the INS – particularly in waiver filing cases, interviews at INS Chicago for this purpose are scheduled approximately 1 ½ to 2 years from the date of filing.

Form I-360 – Petition for Amerasian, Widow/Widowers of U.S. Citizens and Special Immigrants (including immigrant religious workers): 8 to 12 months

Please note that I-360, Self Petition for Battered Spouses of U.S. Citizens are filed with the INS’ Vermont Service Center (regardless of location of residence) and processing time is approximately 60 to 120 days.

Form I-589 – Request for Asylum (for individuals not in deportation proceedings): interviews at INS Chicago Asylum Office are being scheduled approximately 15-30 days from the date of filing.

Form I-131 – Application for Travel Document (Re-entry Permit or Advance Parole for Employment Based Adjustment of Status Applicants): 60-90 days

Form I-765 – Application for Employment Authorization Document (mainly for employment based adjustment of status applicants) : 60-90 days

INS – Chicago District Office

Form I-485 – Application for Adjustment of Status (for various individuals already in the U.S., seeking permanent residence – including qualifying alien spouses or parents of U.S. citizens or permanent residents): interviews are being scheduled approximately 18 to 24 from date of filing.

Form I-765 Application for Employment Authorization Document (mainly for family based adjustment of status applicants) : 60 – 90 days

Form I-131 – Application for Advance Parole Travel Document ((to facilitate reentry into the U.S. if emergency circumstances require travel outside the U.S. while adjustment application is pending with INS Chicago): 30 days

Form N-400 – Application for Naturalization (Citizenship): Interviews are being scheduled approximately 6 to 12 months from the date of filing with oath ceremonies scheduled for 1-3 months thereafter.

As to petitions or applications filed with Lincoln, Nebraska, the above processing times do not include the additional time an individual may face if he/she must appear at a U.S. consulate outside the U.S. to have their visa processed. It is also important to note that in exceptional/emergency cases (such as those involving children soon turning 21 years of age), carefully prepared requests for expedited processing are sometimes granted.

Finally, if an inordinate amount of time has passed without your particular filing being attended to, it is imperative that follow up inquiries be made with the office in question.


PUBLISHED September 11, 2002 – “IMMIGRATION LAW FORUM”
Copyright © 2002-2008, By Law Offices of Richard Hanus, Chicago, Illinois