Request Processing Times

In general, we recommend that you make immigration-related requests as early as you can, since Emory doesn't have control over government processing times. The submission deadlines listed below allow for any government processing times involved in the request.

** Please note that if additional information or follow up is needed, additional time will be added to the processing time.

Here's how long you can typically expect to wait for ISSS to process certain requests:

F-1 students

Document or request type Submission deadline Processing time
Change of program/major Within 10 calendar days after you change your major 5 business days
Change of degree level Within 10 calendar days of your admission to new program 5 business days
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization 10 business days before start date 5 business days
Employment with an international organization 90 calendar days in advance Your new I-20 will be made during your appointment with your ISSS advisor.
I-20 for F-2 dependent 30 calendar days before their visa appointment 5 business days
I-20 for newly admitted student 30 calendar days before their visa appointment 3 business days
Invitation letter for visiting family 30 calendar days before their visa interview 5 business days
Leave of absence At the time the leave request is submitted to program 5 business days
Optional Practical Training (OPT) authorization 95 calendar days before your OPT start date 5 business days
Program extension 30 calendar days before your current I-20 end date 5 business days
Reduced course load 10 business days before dropping below full course load 5 business days
Reinstatement As soon as possible, but no later than 5 months after violation 5 business days
Replacement or updated I-20 No set deadline 5 business days
Return from a leave of absence 90 calendar days in advance 5 business days
Return from research abroad 60 calendar days before returning 5 business days
Social Security Letters No more than 30 days before employment start date 5 business days
SEVIS transfer 15 calendar days before your current I-20 end date 5 business days
Work authorization based on severe economic hardship 95 calendar days before your employment start date Your new I-20 will be made during your appointment with your ISSS advisor.

J-1 students

Document or request type Submission deadline Processing time
Initial DS-2019 60 calendar days before program start date 10 business days
Academic Training authorization No later than 10 business days before start date or before your DS-2019 end date, whichever is earlier 5 business days
Change of program/major Within 10 calendar days after you change your major 5 business days
Change of degree level Within 10 calendar days of your admission to new program 5 business days
DS-2019 for J-2 dependent 30 calendar days before their visa appointment 5 business days
Leave of absence At the time the leave request is submitted to program 5 business days
Program extension 30 calendar days before your current DS-2019 end date 5 business days
Reduced course load 10 business days before dropping below full course load 5 business days
Reinstatement As soon as possible after the violation occurs 5 business days
Replacement or updated DS-2019 No set deadline 5 business days
Return from a leave of absence 90 calendar days in advance 5 business days
Return from research abroad 60 calendar days before returning 5 business days
SEVIS Transfer 30 calendar days before your current DS-2019 end date 5 business days
Work authorization based on severe economic hardship 10 business days before your employment start date Your new DS-2019 will be made during your appointment with your ISSS advisor.

J-1 scholars

Document or request type Submission deadline Processing time
Initial DS-2019 Hosting department should submit request at least 3 months before J-1 start date 10 business days
DS-2019 for J-2 dependent 30 calendar days before visa appointment 5 business days
Program DS-2019 extension or amendment Hosting department should submit request 3 months in advance but at least 45 days before current DS-2019 end date/before changes take place 5 business days
Replacement DS-2019 No set deadline; as needed 5 business days
Transfer to another institution 6 weeks before transfer 5 business days

H-1B employees

Hiring departments should submit requests 8 months before an H-1B employee's employment start date or their status expiration date.

Three-steps of the H-1B petition:

  1. The H-1B required wage analysis
  2. Filing a Labor Condition Application
  3. Filing an H-1B petition with USCIS 

The process begins with an analysis of the required wage and then submission of the Labor Condition Application (LCA) to the US Department of Labor (DOL). Once the LCA has been certified, ISSS will prepare the H-1B petition for filing with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). 

Upon submitting a complete request related to an H-1B employee—including the initial request, extensions, and other employment changes, ISSS will complete the initial comprehensive case analysis within 5-10 business days, with detailed information about DOL and USCIS government processes to follow. Government processing times vary per agency. 

Permanent residency

Depending on the category that the scholar is qualified for (EB-1, EB-2, etc.), the permanent residency process can vary widely.

USCIS processing times >>

Please contact isss@emory.edu for case-specific guidance and to initiate the process of filing an employment-based permanent residency petition. 

Other

Document or request type Processing time
Email and phone inquiries ISSS will respond within 1–2 business days
Social security number letter 5 business days