Form I-140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker is the document filed with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to petition for employment-based permanent residence.
Knowing when to file the I-140 petition is very important, particularly if you are already in the United States. In most cases, you will be in a nonimmigrant status (like H-1B) that authorizes you to work. In order to avoid a gap in employment or the risk of having to return to your home country, you should become familiar with the timing issues early on.
The primary factors to consider for timing the I-140 petition are preparation and USCIS processing times. Even if an employer will ultimately be filing the I-140 for you, you will need to help with the preparatory work.
Timing Preparation of Form I-140
How long it takes to prepare the I-140 petition will depend on what category you are being petitioned under.
If your I-140 petition is based on the Alien of Extraordinary Ability, Outstanding Researcher or Professor, or National Interest Waiver category, most of your time will be dedicated to collecting documents to satisfy evidentiary requirements. The evidence for all three categories is outlined in the Immigration and Nationality Act and is largely based on your professional and academic accomplishments. You will probably have a lot of these documents already, but a successful case should include several support letters drafted by experts in your field. Collecting these letters will take you the most time as many qualified experts will have busy schedules.
Once you have all of the evidence, it is a good idea to have a cover letter drafted that explains how and why you satisfy the category you are being petitioned under. It is not possible to accurately predict how long all of this preparation will take because no two cases are alike. A safe estimate is around six months.
If your I-140 petition is based on a category that requires a labor certification from the Department of Labor (DOL), the preparation time will depend on how long the labor certification process itself takes. The labor certification process requires your employer to conduct a test of the labor market. Your position will be advertised according to regulatory guidelines, and your employer will have to wait an additional 30 days after completing recruitment to interview qualified candidates.
If there are no qualified U.S. candidates available for the position, your employer will submit an Application for Permanent Employment Certification with the DOL, which normally takes several months to process. Be aware that if your employer’s application is audited, the processing time could be delayed for up to six to twelve months. Your employer will submit the I-140 petition only after its Application for Permanent Employment Certification is certified.
USCIS Processing Times of Form I-140
The processing times for I-140 petitions at USCIS will vary depending on what service center the petition is filed at and what category the petition is being filed under. You should always check the USCIS website for current processing times when you are beginning the process. Most I-140 categories are eligible for premium processing. If your category is eligible for premium processing, the I-140 petition will be processed in 15 days. An additional fee is required for this service.
It is not uncommon for I-140 petitions to be delayed by a request for evidence (RFE). If an RFE is issued on your case, you will be given a deadline by which to respond. Your case should be adjudicated within 60 to 90 days after submitting a response.
Particular Timing Issues for People in H-1B Status
If you are in the United States in H-1B status, you want to make sure your I-140 petition is filed at least one year before you reach the end of your six year period in H-1B status. Regulations allow extensions of your H-1B status beyond the sixth year depending on the status of your I-140 petition and whether or not an immigrant visa is available for you. If your I-140 petition is based on a labor certification, you will be eligible for a seventh-year extension of your H-1B if the labor certification or I-140 petition has been pending for at least 365 days. If your I-140 petition is approved and an immigrant visa is not available, you will also be eligible for an extension beyond the six-year period.
Getting Legal Help
An immigration attorney can be a valuable resource for you and your employer in the I-140 process. An immigration attorney can offer useful advice on the timing issues for your particular case, and provide assistance in the preparation process to ensure a timely filing.
