How We Calculate Processing Times

All processing time data published on EB5Status originates from the USCIS Processing Times Tool at egov.uscis.gov/processing-times. This is a government publication and carries the Blue (Official) trust tier.

USCIS updates the Processing Times Tool approximately once per month. The exact publication date varies, but updates typically appear between the 10th and 20th of each month. We monitor for updates daily and capture new data within five business days of publication.

USCIS reports processing times as a range defined by two percentiles:

When we display a processing time range on EB5Status, the lower number is the 50th percentile and the upper number is the 93rd percentile. We label both endpoints clearly so readers understand which figure they are viewing.

We track the following USCIS form types relevant to the EB-5 program:

Where USCIS breaks down processing times by service center (e.g., Texas Service Center vs. California Service Center), we track each center independently and present the data separately. We do not combine or average service center figures.

We present USCIS processing time ranges exactly as published. We do not modify, average, smooth, or round the official figures. Every processing time displayed on EB5Status carries the Blue (Official) trust tier, indicating it comes directly from a government agency publication.

When industry sources such as IIUSA or practitioner surveys provide alternative processing time estimates, we may include them for context. These are always labeled clearly with the Yellow (Estimated) trust tier and are presented separately from official USCIS figures. Industry estimates are never blended with or substituted for official data.

For a complete explanation of how trust tiers work, see our Trust Tier Definitions page.

We record each monthly update from the USCIS Processing Times Tool to build a longitudinal dataset of processing trends. This historical data allows practitioners and researchers to identify patterns, compare current times to historical baselines, and assess the impact of policy changes on adjudication speed.

Our Data Update Schedule page documents our specific freshness commitments for processing time data.

We believe in being explicit about what processing time data can and cannot tell you. The following limitations apply to all processing time figures published on EB5Status:

• •Retrospective, not predictive. USCIS processing times are calculated from completed cases. They reflect how long past adjudications took, not how long your case will take. Current queue conditions, staffing changes, and policy shifts may cause actual processing to differ significantly from published figures.
• •RFE clock pauses are excluded. When USCIS issues a Request for Evidence (RFE), the processing clock pauses until the response is received. Published processing times do not account for this pause, meaning cases that received RFEs may have experienced significantly longer total wait times than the published range suggests.
• •Rural processing advantages are policy, not guarantee. The EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act (RIA) directs USCIS to prioritize rural and high unemployment area petitions. While this has resulted in faster processing for these categories to date, the specific timeline advantage is a policy commitment subject to change, not a statutory guarantee.
• •Service center assignments vary. USCIS may reassign petition types between service centers. When this happens, historical comparisons across centers may not be directly meaningful.

Processing Times Overview | Current processing times for all EB-5 form types.

Current Processing Times Data | The latest monthly snapshot with trend indicators.

Full Methodology | Our complete data methodology, including trust tiers, confidence labels, and calculation descriptions.