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How long does it take to adjudicate an I-526 after it is assigned to an officer?

After an I-526 case has been assigned to an officer, how long does it take to adjudicate? How often should investors contact USCIS?

Answers

• Bernard P Wolfsdorf

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on May 24, 2019

  You cannot presently contact them unless it was filed prior to February 2017. Adjudication times vary, but expect a few months.

• Barbara Suri

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on May 20, 2019

  That would depend on the officer's case load.

• Charles Foster

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on May 15, 2019

  It depends upon how long it takes to adjudicate an I-526 petition once it has been assigned to a USCIS adjudicator. It would depend upon whether or not it's a direct investment or has an approved exemplar, and whether or not there's a prior approval of other I-526 petitions in the same project. It also depends upon the work ethic of the individual adjudicator and his or her vacation schedule.

• Fredrick W Voigtmann

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on May 15, 2019

  The amount of time needed for an officer to adjudicate an I-526 petition will vary depending on the complexity of the petition. USCIS does not publish actual adjudication time statistics, only total processing times, but one can assume it could take a few hours or a few days for the officer to make a determination to approve a petition or to request additional evidence. Of course, sometimes the officer must wait for certain checks or information from other government agencies in the United States or abroad, but in general the officers are supposed to adjudicate (and are trained to adjudicate) these cases quickly. Investors and their attorneys should refrain from contacting USCIS until the I-526 petition has gone past the normal processing times. The current processing time range for an I-526 petition is 22 to 28.5 months.

• Phuong Le

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on May 15, 2019

  As of now, typically about a year and a half isn't unusual (although anecdotal evidence might say closer to a year).

• Blake Harrison

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on May 14, 2019

  USCIS currently lists the estimated time range for I-526 adjudications as 22 to 28.5 months. However, applications are often adjudicated outside of the listed estimated time ranges.

• Belma Demirovic Chinchoy

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on May 14, 2019

  It should be a couple of weeks after assignment, but there is no "standard" timeframe. USCIS/IPO asks that you contact them no more than once a month.

• Salvatore Picataggio

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on May 14, 2019

  Average processing times are about 24 months. Once the "inquiry date" passes your filing date, then you can start asking about the case. Not one day sooner. (Trust me, I have tried!)

• Lynne Feldman

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on May 14, 2019

  Check the current processing times and inquire after you are 30 days beyond normal processing times and each 30 days thereafter.

• Sally Amirghahari

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on May 14, 2019

  Currently, the USCIS' processing time for the I-526 is between 22 months to 28 months.

• Julia Roussinova

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on May 14, 2019

  There is no specific time frame for a I-526 petition to be adjudicated after it is assigned to an officer. Average processing times for I-526 petitions are about two years. Some cases get adjudicated sooner and others later. USCIS may also issue a RFE if it is warranted. This generally extends the processing time.

• Marko Issever

  EB-5 Broker Dealer

  Answered on May 14, 2019

  The current processing time for the I-526 application is 22 months to 28.5 months. In other words, USCIS is reviewing now cases that were received by them on Jan. 23, 2017. That said, this is an average date. Some cases are processed much faster and some much slower. Unfortunately, the same uncertainty carries on even after the officer is assigned to adjudicate the case. It depends on a number of factors, such as the caseload of the adjudicator, vacation schedules, the simplicity or complication of your source of funds analysis, and (last but not least) the pace under which the adjudicator is working. Some are able to come to a conclusion fast and some end up conducting more analysis. That is why it is impossible to predict how long it will take.

• A Olusanjo Omoniyi

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on May 14, 2019

  There is no specific deadline on when you can contact the USCIS. However, it is advisable that you be working with your attorney who would have access to information regarding your case and processing times. Furthermore, the processing of I-526 depends in large part on the national origin of each petitioner.

• Hassan Elkhalil

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on May 14, 2019

  Today, according to the USCIS website, the processing times for the I-526 is between 22 to 28 months. You should contact the USCIS after the 28 months.

• BoBi Ahn

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on May 14, 2019

  The current processing time for I-526 is approximately 24 months from filing.