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“Case Is Pending at a Local Office”on your I-140 · Employment-based green card petition

I-140 petitions are usually decided at a service center, so this status is unusual.
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WHICH STEP ARE YOU ON?
Receipt notice
Review by an officer · here
Request for evidence (if needed)
Decision
Approval notice mailed

What to do, in 3 steps

Check processing times for your field office.
Keep your address current for interview notices.
Start getting your interview documents ready.
22months
20 to 22 monthsTypical time for a complete I-140. USCIS published times. Typical ranges, never an exact date.
In this statusWaits at local offices range from weeks to many months.

What it means for your I-140

I-140 petitions are usually decided at a service center, so this status is unusual. It can happen when the file was sent to a field office together with an I-485 for an interview. The case is still pending; wait for the local office to act.

In general, on any form:

Your case is at a USCIS field office near you. Field offices handle interviews and some final reviews. The case is waiting there for the next step. The wait depends on that office's workload.

Avoid these mistakes

Going to the field office without an appointment.
Comparing your wait with a different office.

Quick questions

What does "Case Is Pending at a Local Office" mean on an I-140?

I-140 petitions are usually decided at a service center, so this status is unusual. It can happen when the file was sent to a field office together with an I-485 for an interview. The case is still pending; wait for the local office to act.

Which local office has my case?

Your online account or the transfer notice usually shows it.

Will I get an interview?

Many cases at a local office are waiting for one, but not all need it.

Can I visit the office to ask?

Only with an appointment made through USCIS.

How long does an I-140 take?

The typical range published by USCIS is 20 to 22 months. It depends on the office and your case; it is not an exact date.

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Other statuses of your I-140

Case Is Being Actively Reviewed By USCISReviewCase Was ReopenedReviewCorrespondence Was Received And USCIS Is Reviewing ItReviewCase Was ReceivedIntakeCase Was Received and A Receipt Notice Was SentIntakeCase Rejected Because I Sent An Incorrect FeeIntakeCase Was Received and A Receipt Notice Was EmailedIntakeCase Accepted By The USCIS LockboxIntakeFees Were WaivedIntake

Every status of an I-140 →

This same status on other forms

I-485Green card from inside the U.S.Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust StatusI-130Petition for a family memberPetition for Alien RelativeN-400Become a U.S. citizenApplication for NaturalizationI-751Remove conditions on 2-year green cardPetition to Remove Conditions on ResidenceI-129FK-1 fiancé(e) visa petitionPetition for Alien Fiancé(e)I-821DDACA request or renewalConsideration of Deferred Action for Childhood ArrivalsI-129Temporary work visa petitionPetition for a Nonimmigrant WorkerI-589Asylum applicationApplication for Asylum and for Withholding of RemovalI-821TPS application or re-registrationApplication for Temporary Protected Status

AI-assisted explanation based on the official USCIS status, reviewed by CaseAlerta. Not legal advice. Times are typical ranges, never an exact date.