Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker
Employers file to bring foreign workers in nonimmigrant status (H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN, and others).
Filing fee
$730
Typical processing
3-7 months
As of 2026-06-12
Category
employment
USCIS Service Center varies by visa classification
How Form I-129 compares across PetitionPace forms
Total USCIS fee rank
#8 of 26
total fee $730
Vs median fee
+$190
median $540 across 26 forms
Processing high-end rank
#16 of 19
-11 mo vs median high end
Fee comparisons use only the in-repo PetitionPace USCIS form records and the cited USCIS fee schedule/form pages. They do not imply eligibility, legal strategy, or a guarantee that USCIS will accept a filing.
Processing time
This is a point-in-time estimate. USCIS changes published ranges frequently and the live tool can vary by service center and case type.
Typical range: 3-7 months
Estimate based on USCIS data reviewed 2026-06-12. Always check the live USCIS processing-times tool at egov.uscis.gov/processing-times before making decisions.
Historical processing-time trend
USCIS fiscal-year medians · FY2016–FY2024How long Form I-129 has actually taken, year over year — straight from USCIS fiscal-year data. This is the trend the live point-in-time tool can't show you: use it to see whether waits have been getting longer or shorter.
Nonimmigrant Petition (non-Premium filed)
Latest 2.7 mo (FY2024) · peak 5.1 mo (FY2016) · ▬ steady
| Basis for filing | FY16 | FY17 | FY18 | FY19 | FY20 | FY21 | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonimmigrant Petition (non-Premium filed) | 5.1 | 3.4 | 3.8 | 4.7 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 2.7 |
Median months from receipt to completion. National median months from receipt to completion across all USCIS offices. FY2024 reflects Oct 1, 2023 – Jan 31, 2024 (partial year). Historical fiscal-year medians use a different methodology than the live USCIS processing-times tool and are not directly comparable. Source: USCIS Historical Processing Times Trends ↗.
Filing fee
Filing fees shown here are based on the USCIS fee schedule effective April 1, 2024. USCIS fees can change; always confirm the current fee at uscis.gov before submitting a form.
Filing fee: $730
Source: USCIS Form G-1055 (effective April 1, 2024); uscis.gov/i-129
Fees and form details last reviewed June 2026 against the USCIS fee schedule (Form G-1055, effective April 1, 2024). Always confirm the current fee at uscis.gov before filing.
Premium processing: Premium processing available for many I-129 visa types.
Where to file
Processing times are estimates based on USCIS historical data and change frequently. Always check the live USCIS processing-times tool at egov.uscis.gov/processing-times for current official ranges before making any decisions.
USCIS Service Center varies by visa classification
Always confirm the current filing location and instructions at uscis.gov official I-129 page .
Common questions
- What is Form I-129?
- Employers file to bring foreign workers in nonimmigrant status (H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN, and others).
- How much does it cost to file Form I-129?
- The USCIS filing fee for Form I-129 is $730, from the fee schedule effective April 1, 2024. Always confirm the current fee at uscis.gov before paying.
- How long does I-129 take?
- USCIS reports a typical processing range of 3-7 months for Form I-129 as of 2026-06-12. Processing times change monthly; always check egov.uscis.gov/processing-times for the current range.
- How has Form I-129 processing time changed over the years?
- Official USCIS fiscal-year data shows the median processing time for Form I-129 holding steady recently — it peaked at about 5.1 months in FY2016 and was about 2.7 months in FY2024. These are national fiscal-year medians from USCIS, useful for spotting the trend; the live tool reflects the current range.