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.
Processing time for the Travel Information Update form (used by all students and scholars under Emory's immigration sponsorship), is 5 business days.
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:
- The H-1B required wage analysis
- Filing a Labor Condition Application
- 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.
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 |