Dive Right Into
The following report presents the latest updates on the processing times for H-2A, H-2B, and CW-1 visa applications based on data available as of March 1, 2025. The information is structured to provide clarity on processing statuses, average times, and pending applications.
VisaVerge.com
Updated as of March 1, 2025
Processing Status Overview
Cases Submitted (Feb 23-Mar 1)
555
Cases Issued First NOA/NOD
363
65% Complete
Avg. Processing (Complete Cases)
22
Calendar Days
Avg. Processing (Incomplete Cases)
36
Calendar Days
Initial Notices of Acceptance/Deficiency
| Case Receipt Week | Total Cases Submitted | Total Issued NOA/NOD | Percent Complete | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 16 – 22 | 525 | 525 | 100% | Complete |
| Feb 23 – Mar 1 | 555 | 363 | 65% | In Progress |
[1] Withdrawn and rejected applications are excluded from the total, which may cause these numbers to fluctuate.
Average Case Processing Times
| Processing Activity | Total Cases | Average Days |
|---|---|---|
| Complete Cases (last 2 weeks) | 1,228 | 22 Calendar Days |
| Incomplete Cases (last 2 weeks) | 737 | 36 Calendar Days |
[2] A complete H-2A application is defined as one containing all the documentation (e.g., housing inspection report, workers’ compensation information, recruitment report) necessary for the OFLC Certifying Officer to issue a final determination 30 days before the start date of need.
First Half FY 2025 (Oct-Mar) Processing Overview
Total Cases Certified
5,890
Total Workers Certified
110,347
Most Recent Month Status
32.4%
Jan 2025 NOA/NOD Issued
| Filing Window | Cases Submitted | Workers Requested | Cases Issued NOA/NOD | Percent Complete | Workers Certified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 2024 | 2,492 | 51,450 | 2,492 | 100% | 44,907 |
| Aug 2024 | 485 | 8,697 | 485 | 100% | 7,884 |
| Sep 2024 | 221 | 4,382 | 221 | 100% | 3,849 |
| Oct 2024 | 359 | 12,068 | 359 | 100% | 10,414 |
| Nov 2024 | 767 | 18,073 | 767 | 100% | 16,988 |
| Dec 2024 | 1,567 | 27,954 | 1,567 | 100% | 26,165 |
| Jan 2025 | 68 | 2,259 | 22 | 32.4% | 140 |
| Feb 2025 | 5 | 81 | — | — | — |
| Total | 5,890+ | 110,347+ | 5,890+ | — | 110,347 |
CW-1 Monthly Processing Status
Total Cases Submitted (FY 2025)
659
Total Workers Requested
3,300
Total Cases Certified
435
Total Workers Certified
1,375
Monthly Processing Details
| Month | Cases Submitted | Workers Requested | NOA/NOD Issued | Cases Pending | Cases Certified | Workers Certified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October | 147 | 819 | 147 (100%) | 2 | 145 | 644 |
| November | 132 | 693 | 132 (100%) | 2 | 130 | 290 |
| December | 127 | 545 | 127 (100%) | 10 | 117 | 361 |
| January | 116 | 545 | 116 (100%) | 73 | 43 | 80 |
| February | 121 | 604 | 102 (84.3%) | 102 | — | — |
| March | 16 | 94 | — | — | — | — |
Application Types
| Application Type | Cases Submitted | Workers Requested | NOA/NOD Issued | Cases Pending | Cases Certified | Workers Certified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New CW-1 Visas | 364 | 1,995 | 346 (95.1%) | 107 | 239 | 782 |
| Renewal of CW-1 Visas | 295 | 1,305 | 278 (94.2%) | 82 | 196 | 593 |
| TOTALS | 659 | 3,300 | 624 (94.7%) | 189 | 435 | 1,375 |
[6] Withdrawn and rejected applications are excluded from the total, which may cause these numbers to fluctuate.
[7] Total number of pending applications that either received a NOA and actively recruiting for U.S. workers or responding to a NOD.
[8] Indicates employer is requesting to hire a foreign worker who is not already performing work in the CNMI in CW-1 visa status.
[9] Indicates employer is requesting to extend the employment of a foreign worker in CW-1 visa status.
[7] Total number of pending applications that either received a NOA and actively recruiting for U.S. workers or responding to a NOD.
[8] Indicates employer is requesting to hire a foreign worker who is not already performing work in the CNMI in CW-1 visa status.
[9] Indicates employer is requesting to extend the employment of a foreign worker in CW-1 visa status.
H-2A Visa Processing Times
The H-2A program allows employers to hire foreign agricultural workers temporarily. The following table outlines the issuance of Notices of Acceptance (NOA) and Notices of Deficiency (NOD) for recent applications.
I. Issuance of Initial NOA or NOD
| Case Receipt Week | Total Cases Submitted | Cases Issued First NOA or NOD | Percentage Issued NOA or NOD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 16 – 22 | 525 | 525 | 100% |
| Feb 23 – Mar 1 | 555 | 363 | 65% |
II. Average Case Processing Times
| Processing Activity | Total Cases | Current Status |
| Average Days to Process Complete Cases | 1,228 | 22 Calendar Days |
| Average Days to Process Incomplete Cases | 737 | 36 Calendar Days |
A complete H-2A application must include all necessary documentation such as a housing inspection report, workers’ compensation details, and a recruitment report.
H-2B Visa Processing Times
The H-2B program is used for hiring temporary non-agricultural workers. Below is the processing data for applications based on different timeframes.
Applications for Requested Date of Need from Oct 1, 2024, through Mar 31, 2025
| Filing Window | Total Cases Submitted & Positions Requested | Cases Issued NOA or NOD | Percentage Issued First NOA or NOD | Pending Cases Post NOA or NOD | Cases Issued Final Decision & Positions Certified |
| Jul 2024 | 2,492 (51,450 Workers) | 2,492 | 100% | — | 2,492 (44,907 Workers) |
| Aug 2024 | 485 (8,697 Workers) | 485 | 100% | — | 485 (7,884 Workers) |
| Sep 2024 | 221 (4,382 Workers) | 221 | 100% | — | 221 (3,849 Workers) |
| Oct 2024 | 359 (12,068 Workers) | 359 | 100% | — | 359 (10,414 Workers) |
| Nov 2024 | 767 (18,073 Workers) | 767 | 100% | 1 (40 Workers) | 766 (16,988 Workers) |
| Dec 2024 | 1,567 (27,954 Workers) | 1,567 | 100% | 8 (275 Workers) | 1,559 (26,165 Workers) |
| Jan 2025 | 68 (2,259 Workers) | 22 | 32.4% | 5 (45 Workers) | 18 (140 Workers) |
| Feb 2025 | 5 (81 Workers) | — | — | — | — |
Applications for Requested Date of Need from April 1, 2025, through September 30, 2025
| Filing Window | Total Cases Submitted & Positions Requested | Cases Issued NOA or NOD | Percentage Issued First NOA or NOD | Pending Cases Post NOA or NOD | Cases Issued Final Decision & Positions Certified |
| Jan 1-3 Group A | 1,983 (29,099 Workers) | 1,983 | 100% | 105 (1,759 Workers) | 1,878 (26,476 Workers) |
| Jan 1-3 Group B | 1,078 (16,232 Workers) | 1,078 | 100% | 220 (3,539 Workers) | 858 (12,255 Workers) |
| Jan 1-3 Group C | 1,015 (17,852 Workers) | 1,015 | 100% | 924 (16,185 Workers) | 91 (1,577 Workers) |
| Jan 1-3 Group D | 1,097 (18,949 Workers) | 1,017 | 92.7% | 1,016 (17,368 Workers) | 1 (0 Workers) |
CW-1 Visa Processing Times
The CW-1 visa is used by employers in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) for hiring foreign workers.
CW-1 Monthly Processing
| Month | Total Cases Submitted & Positions Requested | Cases Issued NOA or NOD | Percentage Issued First NOA or NOD | Pending Cases Post NOA or NOD | Cases Issued Final Decision & Positions Certified |
| October | 147 (819 Workers) | 147 | 100% | 2 (5 Workers) | 145 (644 Workers) |
| November | 132 (693 Workers) | 132 | 100% | 2 (20 Workers) | 130 (290 Workers) |
| December | 127 (545 Workers) | 127 | 100% | 10 (64 Workers) | 117 (361 Workers) |
| January | 116 (545 Workers) | 116 | 100% | 73 (353 Workers) | 43 (80 Workers) |
| February | 121 (604 Workers) | 102 | 84.3% | 102 (544 Workers) | — |
CW-1 New vs. Renewal Applications
| Application Type | Total Cases Submitted & Positions Requested | Cases Issued NOA or NOD | Percentage Issued First NOA or NOD | Pending Cases Post NOA or NOD | Cases Issued Final Decision & Positions Certified |
| New CW-1 Visas | 364 (1,995 Workers) | 346 | 95.1% | 107 (645 Workers) | 239 (782 Workers) |
| Renewal of CW-1 Visas | 295 (1,305 Workers) | 278 | 94.2% | 82 (341 Workers) | 196 (593 Workers) |
Conclusion
The processing of H-2A, H-2B, and CW-1 visas continues to progress steadily, with a high percentage of applications receiving initial NOA or NOD decisions. However, pending applications, especially in later months, indicate ongoing processing delays. Employers and applicants should ensure complete documentation to minimize delays and expedite processing times.
VisaVerge.com – Work Visa Processing Times
Up-to-date H-2A, H-2B, and CW-1 processing information
H-2A Processing Times
I. Issuance of Initial Notices of Acceptance (NOA) or Deficiency (NOD)
| Case Receipt Week | Total Cases Submitted | Total Cases Issued First NOA/NOD | Percent Issued NOA/NOD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 16 – 22 | 525 | 525 | 100% |
| Feb 23 – Mar 1 | 555 | 363 | 65% |
II. Average Case Processing Times (Calendar Days)
| Processing Activity | Total Cases (Last 2 Weeks) | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| Average Days to Process Complete Cases | 1,228 | 22 Calendar Days |
| Average Days to Process Incomplete Cases | 737 | 36 Calendar Days |
H-2B Processing Times
Applications (Oct 1, 2024 → Mar 31, 2025)
| Filing Window | Total Cases Submitted & Positions Requested | Total Cases Issued NOA or NOD | % Issued First NOA or NOD | Total Cases Pending – Post NOA/NOD | Total Cases Issued Final Decision & Positions Certified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2024 | 2,492 (51,450 Workers) | 2,492 | 100% | — | 2,492 (44,907 Workers) |
| Aug 2024 | 485 (8,697 Workers) | 485 | 100% | — | 485 (7,884 Workers) |
| Sep 2024 | 221 (4,382 Workers) | 221 | 100% | — | 221 (3,849 Workers) |
| Oct 2024 | 359 (12,068 Workers) | 359 | 100% | — | 359 (10,414 Workers) |
| Nov 2024 | 767 (18,073 Workers) | 767 | 100% | 1 (40 Workers) | 766 (16,988 Workers) |
| Dec 2024 | 1,567 (27,954 Workers) | 1,567 | 100% | 8 (275 Workers) | 1,559 (26,165 Workers) |
| Jan 2025 | 68 (2,259 Workers) | 22 | 32.4% | 5 (45 Workers) | 18 (140 Workers) |
| Feb 2025 | 5 (81 Workers) | — | — | — | — |
Total Cases Issued Final Decision and Positions Certified (for FY 2025 First Half Visa Cap): 5,890 (110,347 Workers)
Applications (Apr 1, 2025 → Sep 30, 2025)
| Filing Window | Total Cases Submitted & Positions Requested | Total Cases Issued NOA or NOD | % Issued First NOA or NOD | Total Cases Pending – Post NOA/NOD | Total Cases Issued Final Decision & Positions Certified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1-3 Group A | 1,983 (29,099 Workers) | 1,983 | 100% | 105 (1,759 Workers) | 1,878 (26,476 Workers) |
| Jan 1-3 Group B | 1,078 (16,232 Workers) | 1,078 | 100% | 220 (3,539 Workers) | 858 (12,255 Workers) |
| Jan 1-3 Group C | 1,015 (17,852 Workers) | 1,015 | 100% | 924 (16,185 Workers) | 91 (1,577 Workers) |
| Jan 1-3 Group D | 1,097 (18,949 Workers) | 1,017 | 92.7% | 1,016 (17,368 Workers) | 1 (0 Workers) |
| Jan 1-3 Group E | 1,035 (18,525 Workers) | — | — | — | — |
| Jan 1-3 Group F | 996 (17,970 Workers) | — | — | — | — |
| Jan 1-3 Group G | 820 (13,619 Workers) | — | — | — | — |
| Jan 1-35 | 5 (8 Workers) | — | — | — | — |
| Jan 4 | 8 (59 Workers) | — | — | — | — |
| Jan 5-11 | 56 (778 Workers) | — | — | — | — |
| Jan 12-18 | 88 (1,270 Workers) | — | — | — | — |
| Jan 19-25 | 36 (544 Workers) | — | — | — | — |
| Jan 26 – Feb 1 | 205 (1,924 Workers) | — | — | — | — |
| Feb 2-8 | 158 (1,131 Workers) | — | — | — | — |
| Feb 9-15 | 702 (10,810 Workers) | — | — | — | — |
| Feb 16 – 22 | 97 (2,138 Workers) | — | — | — | — |
| Feb 23 – Mar 1 | 80 (847 Workers) | — | — | — | — |
Total Cases Issued Final Decision and Positions Certified (for FY 2025 Second Half Visa Cap): 2,828 (40,308 Workers)
[3] Withdrawn/rejected apps excluded, which may cause numbers to fluctuate.
[4] Pending apps actively recruiting U.S. workers or responding to NOD.
[5] Filed Jan 1-3 with start dates of need after Apr 1, 2025.
CW-1 Processing Times
By Month of Receipt
| Month of Receipt | Total Cases Submitted & Positions Requested | Total Cases Issued NOA or NOD | % Issued First NOA or NOD | Total Cases Pending – Post NOA/NOD | Total Cases Issued Final Decision & Positions Certified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October | 147 (819 Workers) | 147 | 100% | 2 (5 Workers) | 145 (644 Workers) |
| November | 132 (693 Workers) | 132 | 100% | 2 (20 Workers) | 130 (290 Workers) |
| December | 127 (545 Workers) | 127 | 100% | 10 (64 Workers) | 117 (361 Workers) |
| January | 116 (545 Workers) | 116 | 100% | 73 (353 Workers) | 43 (80 Workers) |
| February | 121 (604 Workers) | 102 | 84.3% | 102 (544 Workers) | — |
| March | 16 (94 Workers) | — | — | — | — |
By Type of Application
| Application Type | Total Cases Submitted & Positions Requested | Total Cases Issued NOA or NOD | % Issued First NOA or NOD | Total Cases Pending | Total Cases Issued Final Decision & Positions Certified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New CW-1 Visas | 364 (1,995 Workers) | 346 | 95.1% | 107 (645 Workers) | 239 (782 Workers) |
| Renewal of CW-1 Visas | 295 (1,305 Workers) | 278 | 94.2% | 82 (341 Workers) | 196 (593 Workers) |
| Total | 659 (3,300 Workers) | 624 | 94.7% | 189 (986 Workers) | 435 (1,375 Workers) |
[6] Withdrawn/rejected apps excluded.
[7] Pending apps actively recruiting or responding to NOD.
[8] Employer requests a foreign worker not already in CNMI with CW-1 status.
[9] Employer requests to extend a foreign worker in CW-1 status.
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