Employment
Form I-140
Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers
Filed by an employer to sponsor a foreign worker for a permanent employment-based immigrant visa (green card). Covers EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 categories.
- Filing fee
- $715
- Biometrics
- No fee
Who can file
- U.S. employers sponsoring foreign workers
- Self-petitioners under EB-1A or EB-2 NIW
- Multinational managers/executives (EB-1C)
Send with it
- Approved labor certification (PERM) for EB-2/EB-3
- Evidence of job offer and ability to pay
- Beneficiary qualifications and credentials
- Employer financial documents
Worth knowing
- Premium processing is available - consider it to speed up the decision
- EB-1A and EB-2 NIW do not require employer sponsorship or PERM
- Maintain the I-140 approval even if you change employers
Common mistakes
- Insufficient evidence of extraordinary ability (EB-1A)
- Employer cannot demonstrate ability to pay offered wage
- Misclassifying the employment preference category
- Not filing premium processing when timing is critical
Questions
- How much does Form I-140 cost?
- The USCIS filing fee for Form I-140 is $715.
- How long does Form I-140 take?
- Typically 6 to 18 months, depending on the office and the category. Check the current USCIS times for your office before you plan around it.
Often filed together with
Related forms
Fees are as published by USCIS. Confirm on USCIS's fee schedule (G-1055) before you pay - a wrong fee gets a filing rejected. General information, not legal advice.