I-129 processing time at California Service Center (2026)
Work Visa Petition (incl. H-1B)
National processing time
3 to 8 months
All classifications (incl. H-1B) · Manifest Law
as of July 2026Source: manifestlaw.com
National figure shown. We do not yet have a verified California Service Center-specific figure for I-129, so the number above is the current national figure, which applies to most cases. Office-level tracking is being added. We never show a number we cannot source.
Form I-129 is filed by an employer to sponsor a temporary worker in classifications such as H-1B, L-1, O-1, and TN. Premium processing is available for many categories and changes the timeline substantially.
Estimate your I-129 timeline
Enter your filing (receipt) date. We apply the current Work Visa Petition (incl. H-1B) range of 3 to 8 months to estimate a completion window.
Common questions
- How long does I-129 take at the California Service Center?
- As of July 2026, the I-129 (Work Visa Petition (incl. H-1B)) processing time at the California Service Center is 3 to 8 months, per Manifest Law. Times change monthly; check the current figure and your case status.
- What is I-129?
- Form I-129 is filed by an employer to sponsor a temporary worker in classifications such as H-1B, L-1, O-1, and TN. Premium processing is available for many categories and changes the timeline substantially.
- Why do I-129 processing times vary?
- Processing time depends on the category, the office handling the case, current caseloads, and whether premium processing applies. The range shown reflects recent reported cases, not a guarantee for any individual case.
- Is the I-129 processing time getting faster or slower?
- We date every figure and refresh it on a schedule so you can see the current number. Compare the "as of" date here with older pages elsewhere, which often show stale figures.