Compare Processing Times
Two forms side by side, and where each office sits on one of them. Every range is as published.
Taking the middle of each published range, I-539 runs about 3.3 months shorter than I-765 across the categories that publish them.
I-539
Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status
Published for 17 categories
- Fastest
- All other change of status applications0.2 to 2.5 months
- Slowest
- Extension of stay for T nonimmigrant22 to 25.5 months (1.8 to 2.1 years)
Across these 17 categories, the middle of the published ranges is 11.3 months.
I-765
Application for Employment Authorization
16 of 17 categories publish a range
- Fastest
- Based on a pending asylum application [(c)(8)] – Initial Application0.9 to 1 months
- Slowest
- Based on being an L-2 spouse of an L-1 nonimmigrant [(a)(18)]18 to 28 months (1.5 to 2.3 years)
Across these 16 categories, the middle of the published ranges is 14.6 months.
All other change of status applications
0.2 to 2.5 months
National Benefits Center
All other extension of stay applications
0.7 to 2.5 months
National Benefits Center
Extension of stay for H4 dependents with I-765
5 to 9 months
Service Center Operations (SCOPS)
Extension of stay for F or M students and J exchange visitor category
6.5 to 8 months
Service Center Operations (SCOPS)
Change of status to B nonimmigrant
8 to 9 months
Service Center Operations (SCOPS)
Change of status to H4 dependent with I-765
7.5 to 9.5 months
Service Center Operations (SCOPS)
Change of status to F or M student or J exchange visitor category
8.5 to 10 months
Service Center Operations (SCOPS)
Extension of stay for B nonimmigrant
8.5 to 10 months
Service Center Operations (SCOPS)
Extension of stay for L dependents
8.5 to 12 months
Service Center Operations (SCOPS)
Extension of stay for H4 dependents
10.5 to 13.5 months
Service Center Operations (SCOPS)
Change of status to H4 dependents
10.5 to 14 months
Service Center Operations (SCOPS)
All other extension of stay applications
11 to 15.5 months
Service Center Operations (SCOPS)
All other change of status applications
14 to 16 months
Service Center Operations (SCOPS)
Change of status to L dependent
14.5 to 16 months
Service Center Operations (SCOPS)
Reinstatement to student status
15 to 17.5 months
Service Center Operations (SCOPS)
Extension of stay for U nonimmigrant
20.5 to 23 months
Service Center Operations (SCOPS)
Extension of stay for T nonimmigrant
22 to 25.5 months (1.8 to 2.1 years)
Service Center Operations (SCOPS)
Every range here is as published, for one office. The middle of a range is ours: it orders the list, and where a sentence uses it, it says so. Ranges come without case volumes, so each office counts once. USCIS's processing times page.