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U visa processing time

Short answer

USCIS took a median of 15.2 months to complete I-918 U visa petitions between April and June 2026, and had 480,114 pending at the end of June. That median covers the cases USCIS finished, not a new filing. Final U visas for principals are capped at 10,000 a year, and from Oct. 1, 2026 USCIS was approving petitions filed on or before Aug. 31, 2017. Before that, a bona fide determination can bring a work permit and deferred action.

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A U visa case has several waits, and each one has its own speed. USCIS first reviews the petition for a bona fide determination. Then it either grants deferred action with a work permit or places the case on the waiting list. Final U status comes only when a visa under the annual cap is free. This page gives the figures USCIS publishes for each step.

The steps and the time for each

StepWhat you getTime in the data
1. Bona fide determination (BFD)Deferred action and a work permitNo separate median. USCIS generally reviews oldest receipt dates first
2. Waiting list review, if no BFDIf placed on the list, deferred action, and you can ask for a work permitNo separate median
3. Final approval under the capU-1 status for up to 4 years and a work permitPetitions filed on or before Aug 31, 2017 (from Oct 1, 2026)
4. Green cardPermanent residence after 3 years in U statusSee I-485 processing time

The I-918 median of 15.2 months (April to June 2026) counts every petition USCIS completed that quarter: 6,515, with 4,476 approved and 2,039 denied. It doesn’t say which step each one was at.

Why the median and your wait are not the same

  • The cap. USCIS can give U status to 10,000 principals a year. Derivative family members don’t count. According to the I-918 page, USCIS reached the FY2026 cap on Sept. 5, 2026, and has reached it every year since FY2010.
  • The line. On Oct. 1, 2026, USCIS started approving principals again, beginning with petitions filed on or before Aug. 31, 2017. By our arithmetic, that is about nine years from filing to final approval for the cases at the front of the line today. It is our math from USCIS dates, not a USCIS estimate.
  • The backlog. USCIS received 15,170 I-918s in April to June 2026, completed 6,515 and had 480,114 pending at the end of June.

USCIS has the Vermont and Nebraska service centers share U petitions. It says both centers work according to the Vermont Service Center processing time (program updates). For the current ranges, choose the I-918 on the USCIS processing times page. You can read more on the Vermont and Nebraska service center pages.

The bona fide determination

The USCIS Policy Manual says a petition is bona fide when:

  • you properly filed a complete I-918 with the required initial evidence, including a Supplement B submitted within 6 months of the certifier’s signature and a personal statement about the facts of the victimization; and
  • USCIS has the results of your background and security checks, based on your biometrics.

USCIS then decides, at its discretion, whether to grant a BFD. If it does, you get a BFD work permit and deferred action. As a rule, it then doesn’t need to review you for the waiting list. BFDs are only for petitioners living in the US.

If USCIS doesn’t grant a BFD, that is not a denial. The I-918 page says it moves the case to waiting list review, usually with a request for evidence. The Policy Manual adds that not getting a BFD is not a final action, so there is no motion or appeal. On the status page, a request shows up as request for evidence and the biometrics step as fingerprints were taken.

The work permit while you wait

USCIS recommends filing the I-765 together with the I-918. If you didn’t, it sends a notice when your BFD review comes up. USCIS charges no fee for the I-765 tied to a BFD or to a place on the waiting list (I-918 page, questions 8 to 10), and the G-1055 lists $0 for an initial work permit under (a)(19), (a)(20) and (c)(14) for U petitioners. For renewals, check the G-1055 on the day you file. After final approval, principals get a work permit automatically, without an I-765. Family members in the U.S. are also allowed to work, but their card is not issued automatically: they file an I-765 to get one (U visa page).

USCIS’s I-765 counts for April to June 2026 (initial, renewal and replacement requests together; I-765 data by category, FY2026 Q3):

EAD categoryReceivedApproved / deniedPending
(a)(19) U-1 granted3,548319 / 26659,098
(a)(20) U family members3,9701,133 / 32870,337
(c)(14) deferred action, all programs26,1029,507 / 4,438176,250

Category (c)(14) covers every deferred action case, not only U petitioners. USCIS doesn’t publish a U-only median for work permits. The closest figure is the “all other” I-765 median of 3.3 months, which mixes many categories. See I-765 processing time.

Family members and the green card

Qualifying family members are petitioned for with the I-918A. USCIS doesn’t report the I-918A separately in its quarterly data. Later, a U-1 holder who applies for a green card can file Form I-929 for certain relatives. USCIS took a median of 26 months on I-929s in April to June 2026, with 2,265 pending. U status lasts up to four years. After three years of continuous presence you may apply for permanent residence (U visa page). Then follow the I-485 and your green card status.

What you can do during a long wait

  • Keep your address current. A wait of years means notices can go to an old address. Use the USCIS change of address page.
  • Mind the new filing addresses. USCIS changed where the I-918 is filed on Oct. 7, 2026. It accepts forms sent to the old locations if postmarked on or before Nov. 9, 2026 (I-918 page).
  • Check your case at USCIS case status. The YourCaseStatus app (coming soon) will alert you when your status changes.
  • Ask about a case outside the normal range through e-Request, or call the USCIS Contact Center.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a U visa take in 2026?

There are several waits. USCIS took a median of 15.2 months to complete I-918 petitions in April to June 2026. Final approvals are capped at 10,000 principals a year, and from Oct. 1, 2026 USCIS was approving petitions filed on or before Aug. 31, 2017.

What is a bona fide determination?

A first review of the I-918. If the petition is complete, has a Supplement B signed within six months before filing and passes background checks, USCIS may grant deferred action and a work permit while you wait for a final decision.

When can I work while my U visa is pending?

With a bona fide determination or a place on the waiting list, you can get a work permit. USCIS recommends filing the I-765 together with the I-918, and it charges no fee for the I-765 tied to a BFD or to the waiting list.

What if I don't get a bona fide determination?

It isn't a denial. USCIS moves the petition to waiting list review, usually with a request for evidence first. There is no appeal of that step.

How long does the I-918A for family members take?

USCIS doesn't publish a separate I-918A median in its quarterly data. Derivative family members don't count toward the 10,000 cap. Their work permits fall under category (a)(20).

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