Employment-Based Visa Processing Timeline (Step-by-Step)

January 26, 2026
2:32 am

Getting a work visa for the U.S. is stressful. You hear stories from friends who waited forever, others who got lucky with premium processing, and then there’s the lottery dread with H-1B. Right now (January 2026), things feel even tighter—new fees hitting some people hard, the H-1B lottery about to get weighted toward higher salaries, and H-2B extra visas got cut back compared to last couple years.

I’m going to walk you through how it actually plays out for the visas most people ask about: H-1B, H2B visa employment, and the green card route. I’m using the latest numbers I could find from USCIS and the Visa Bulletin this month. Hope this helps you (or your employer) figure out realistic timelines.

First – What Even Counts as an Employment Visa?

This is the monster reason – 80-90% of refusals are because of this.

The whole US visa system thinks “this person probably wants to stay in America forever” until you prove the opposite.

You have to show them your real life is here in Pakistan – job, family, house, everything.

What Usually Makes Them Say No

Basically any visa where a US company sponsors you because they need skills they can’t easily find here. Temporary ones are nonimmigrant (american employment visa stuff like H-1B or H-2B). Long-term is the employment-based green card (EB1, EB2, EB3 mostly).

The main things you need almost every time:

Rules keep changing. Last year they slapped big extra fees on some new H1B consular cases, and premium processing is getting more expensive again soon.

H-1B – The One Everyone Talks About

H-1B (people just say H1B or H-1B visa USA) is still king for IT, engineering, finance, doctors, etc. Problem is there’s only 85,000 spots a year total (65k regular + 20k masters/PhD extra).

1. Employer figures out if you even qualify

They check if the job really needs a bachelor’s degree level brain and if your papers match. This part can drag if your degree is from outside the US and needs evaluation.

Costs start adding up fast for the company:

I-129 filing fee ~$800–$1,000
Training fee $750–$1,500
Fraud prevention $500
Premium processing ~$2,800 right now (going up again March 2026)
Sometimes that nasty $100k+ surcharge if it’s a brand new consular case

Takes 1–3 months just getting documents together.

2. The lottery part nobody likes

Most people have to go through the H1B lottery. Last one was March 2025 for this fiscal year. Next registration should be March 2026 for jobs starting October 2026. Huge change coming: from February 27, 2026 they’re doing weighted selection. Higher paying jobs get multiplied entries (Level 4 wage = 4x weight, Level 3 = 3x, etc.). So if your offer is low salary, chances drop hard.

3. LCA – the quick DOL step

After you win the lottery, employer files Labor Condition Application. DOL usually approves in 7–10 days if everything looks clean.

4. Main petition – I-129 to USCIS

This is where the real wait starts. File after LCA. Work start date almost always October 1.

Right now (Jan 2026) processing looks like:

You can check employment visa status on the USCIS website pretty easily.

5. Final visa stamp or status change

If you’re already in the US (say on student visa), approval changes your status. If you’re back home, you do the embassy interview – that can add 1–6 months depending where you are.

Realistic total work permit processing time in USA for H-1B: 6–18 months without premium, 3–6 months if you get premium and no big issues.

(Just to clear up confusion: H-1B visa Canada work permit or Canada H1B work permit is totally different – that’s Canada’s own program.)

H-2B – Seasonal / Temporary Jobs

This one’s for non-farm seasonal work – think hotels in summer, landscaping, crab processing in Alaska, etc.

1. DOL wage + labor certification

Employer gets official wage rate, files application 75–90 days before they need you, advertises the job to see if Americans apply. This step alone takes 2–4 months usually.

2. I-129 to USCIS

After DOL says yes, file petition. Normal wait 2–6 months; premium makes it 15 days.

3. Embassy/consulate visa

You go get the visa stamp.

Overall process time for work permit: 4–9 months is what most people experience.

Cap is 66,000 a year split in half. They added only 35,000 extra for FY 2026 (way less than previous years) and only for certain industries.

Green Card – If You Want to Stay Forever

Lots of people start on H-1B then try to switch to employment-based green card.

1. PERM labor certification

Employer advertises the job for months to prove no qualified US worker wants it. 6–18 months normal, audits push it to 2+ years sometimes.

2. I-140 immigrant petition

USCIS reviews. 6–12 months regular, 15–45 days premium.

3. Final step – I-485 or consular processing

You wait for your priority date to become “current” on the Visa Bulletin. January 2026 bulletin shows some categories moving forward, but India and China are still badly backlogged in EB-2/EB-3.

While waiting on I-485 you can get a work permit (EAD) – usually 3–8 months.

Total time? Easily 2–10+ years depending on your country and category.

Stuff That Makes It Slower (or Faster)

Work permit processing time and processing time of work permit change because of:

Right now H-1B normal is averaging 7–12 months, H-2B around 4–9, green card steps all over the place.

What Actually Helps

Start way earlier than you think – 12–18 months minimum for H-1B stuff.

Pay for premium processing if the employer can swing it.

Check the USCIS processing times page and Visa Bulletin every single month.

Get a decent immigration lawyer who knows current trends.

Keep refreshing employment visa status online.

Look – the system isn’t fair, it’s not fast, but if you plan smart and stay on top of updates you’ve got a better shot. Rules keep shifting (weighted lottery, fee hikes, smaller H-2B extras) so don’t sleep on official sites.

Disclaimer:

Some content on this website may be created or assisted using AI technology and is provided for general informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal, tax, accounting, financial, or immigration advice. Please consult a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.