I-129 Transfer Processing Exceeds 6 Months Amid Filing Errors
An employer reports an I-129 petition for employee transfer has been pending over 6 months. Attorney errors in the original filing have raised concerns, with a second attorney recommending refiling with premium processing.
An employer posting to Reddit's H-1B community has reported that an I-129 petition filed to transfer an employee to their company has been pending for over six months, with no resolution in sight. The petition was filed in September, and as of the post date had been waiting for six months and eleven days without adjudication. Complicating the situation, the employer discovered post-submission that the original reviewing attorney failed to identify errors in the petition packet. This case highlights ongoing concerns about I-129 processing delays at USCIS, which have been a persistent issue for employers sponsoring workers. Standard processing times for I-129 petitions can vary significantly by service center and visa category, and delays beyond published timeframes are not uncommon. For EB-3 applicants and their sponsoring employers, this scenario underscores the importance of thorough legal review prior to filing. Errors in immigration petitions can result in Requests for Evidence (RFEs), denials, or the need to refile, all of which add time and cost to an already lengthy process.
USCIS has released quarterly performance data updated March 20, 2026, covering all petition types including volumes received, approved, denied, pending, and processing times — key insight for EB-3 applicants tracking backlogs.
A community-built tool at greencardtracker.com simplifies USCIS processing times for forms like I-485 and I-140, offering clearer insights than official estimates across EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, and more.
USCIS applicants are reporting a sudden drop in review and approval numbers across I-140, I-485, and I-765 cases. The cause of the slowdown remains unclear, prompting concern among EB-3 and other employment-based applicants.