I-129: Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker

Form I-129 is filed by employers to sponsor foreign workers for temporary (nonimmigrant) work visas, including H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN, and other work visa categories.

Quick Facts

Official NameI-129 — Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker
Filing Fee$460
Processing Time2–6 months (15 business days with premium processing)
Premium ProcessingAvailable ($2,805)

Purpose

Petition for a foreign worker to come to or remain in the United States temporarily for employment.

Common Case Statuses

  • Case Was Received
  • Case Is Being Actively Reviewed
  • Case Was Approved
  • Request for Evidence Was Sent

Tips

  • H-1B petitions are subject to an annual cap with a lottery system each March
  • Premium processing is available for most I-129 categories
  • Cap-exempt employers (universities, research organizations) can file H-1B at any time
  • Extensions and transfers do not require a new lottery selection
  • L-1 visas require the worker to have been employed abroad for at least 1 year in the past 3 years

Related Forms

Related Guides

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Look Up Your Case

For official information, visit the USCIS I-129 page.