Thinking of applying for EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver)? One of the first questions everyone asks is: How long will it take? We have worked on it and break down EB2 NIW processing times by country to country.
So, this article of EB2 NIW processing times by country (including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Canada, Australia), explain what causes delays, and how to make your case smoother.
What is the EB-2 NIW Timing Process? Basic Stages
Before we dive into country-by-country, here are the main steps in the EB-2 NIW route and where time is usually spent:
- You prepare and file Form I-140 (the immigrant petition). Under NIW, you don’t need labor certification (PERM), which saves months.
- USCIS reviews the I-140, may issue a Request for Evidence (RFE), then approves (or denies).
- Visa Bulletin / Priority Date Wait: Even after I-140 approval, if the visa (green card) number is not yet available for your country of chargeability, you wait until your “priority date” is current.
- Final step: Either adjust status (if you’re in the U.S.) or use consular processing (if abroad). This involves the interview / paperwork at a U.S. Consulate.
Each of these steps adds to the total time. Some can be fast; others depend heavily on country, USCIS service center, and visa availability.
Approximate Timeline Across All Countries
Based on recent data (2025), here is what applicants worldwide are experiencing:
- I-140 processing (without premium processing): ~6 to ~15 months, depending on service center and complexity.
- I-140 with premium processing (available for NIW): Decision promised within 45 calendar days (for the I-140 stage) once USCIS accepts the premium request.
- Adjustment of Status (if inside U.S.) once priority date is current: around 6-8 months, sometimes up to ~12+ months.
- Consular processing (if outside U.S.): often about 4-12 months after visa becomes available depending on consulate workload.
So in many cases, from filing I-140 to having a green card (or immigrant visa) ready, people from countries without backlog might expect roughly 12-24 months, plus any wait for visa number availability. For applicants from countries with large demand, that wait can extend substantially.
EB2 NIW Processing Times By Country
As of 2025, these countries (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Canada, Australia) are under what are often called “Rest of World” or “ROW” in visa bulletin terms. This means:
- They generally do not face the huge backlog that India and China do under EB-2.
- For many applicants from these countries, once I-140 is approved, visa availability is relatively prompt. Their priority dates are often “current” or close to becoming current in the monthly Visa Bulletin
Here are estimated timelines and what people from these countries might expect:
| Country | Likely I-140 Processing Time (Regular) | Likely Overall Time (I-140 + visa availability + final steps) |
| Saudi Arabia | ~6-12 months | ~12-20 months (if priority date is current) |
| UAE | ~6-12 months | ~12-20 months |
| Qatar | ~6-12 months | ~12-20 months |
| Canada | Similar to ROW – ~6-10 months; maybe faster in some service centers | ~10-18 months |
| Australia | Also in ROW category – ~6-10 months I-140; overall ~10-18 months |
These are estimates. Cases with RFEs, weaker documentation, or unusual circumstances may take longer.
Also note: if priority dates retrogress (move backward) or there’s a surge in demand, even ROW countries could see small delays.
Why Some Applicants Wait Much Longer
If you’re from a country with backlog (mainly India, China, sometimes Mexico and Philippines in certain categories), delays are almost always longer because of visa number limits per country. Even if your I-140 is approved fast, you may be stuck waiting for several years for your priority date to become current.
Also, other common delay causes:
- Request for Evidence (RFE) or Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID), which require additional documentation and time.
- USCIS service center workload and staffing.
- Consular delays if applying from outside U.S. (interview slots, background checks).
- Retrogression in the Visa Bulletin (dates moving backward), which occasionally happens even for ROW, though much less severe than for backlog countries.
What the Visa Bulletin Shows for These Countries
The U.S. Department of State publishes the monthly Visa Bulletin. For EB-2, the “Final Action Dates” chart shows whether visas are available for your priority date. As of recent bulletins:
- For All Other Areas (which covers Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Australia, Canada etc.), the EB-2 final action date is relatively current. That means once you file your I-140 and the petition is approved, you usually don’t wait years for visa availability.
- For countries like India and China, final action dates are much older, showing large backlogs.
How Eb2Hub Can Help You Shorten Delays and Boost Your Chances
At Eb2Hub, we specialize in documentation support – because often delays or problems in EB-2 NIW cases are caused by weak or incomplete documentation. Here’s how we assist:
- We help you optimize your CV / resume so that it clearly demonstrates your advanced degree, exceptional ability, and achievements relevant to the national interest waiver criteria.
- We deliver a comprehensive, detailed petition within a few days, reducing time you spend gathering and preparing documents.
- We offer free consultations so you understand where you stand, what documentation is essential, and how strong your case likely is.
- We also provide guidance for Green Card process, U.S. citizenship & immigration documentation to ensure each step is handled correctly, avoiding RFE delays or mistakes that can cost months.