Key takeaways
- The selected September post sample and the August timing sample describe different groups.
- The 119-day median comes from 14 usable August timing reports, separately from the 22-post September sample.
- USCIS figures describe completed petitions, not the approval chance of a filing cohort.
- AAO appeals and published success stories have different selection biases.
- The selected 22-post September sample does not establish all September cases or personal approval chances.
Community sample
Reviewed September reports
We reviewed 22 community posts reporting September 2026 NIW I-140 outcomes: 19 reported approvals and 3 reported denials. These are self-reported results from a selected sample, not all September cases or a measure of your approval chances. The sample remains separate from the historical tracker.
Separately, the existing August timing sample is summarized below.
Sep. 2024
Oldest estimated filing date in the August sample.
Jul. 2026
Newest estimated filing date in the August sample.
119 days
Median among 14 reports with timing data.
Cohort figures use 14 of 36 approval reports from August 1 to 17, 2026. 12 involved premium processing or an upgrade, so the median is not a typical USCIS processing time. Full community dashboard.
USCIS and research findings
Processed from USCIS data. These figures do not track one filing cohort or predict an individual outcome.
| Finding | Population and denominator | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 55.3% approval share in FY2026 Q3 | 3,835 approvals and 3,103 denials among 6,938 completed cases | USCIS Form I-140 quarterly data |
| 13,831 NIW petitions received | 96,297 petitions pending at the end of FY2026 Q3 | USCIS Form I-140 quarterly data |
| 49.1% FY2026 year-to-date approval share | 9,238 approvals and 9,585 denials through Q3 | USCIS Form I-140 quarterly data |
| 83.8% did not satisfy national importance | 253 of 302 2026 AAO decisions where that issue was decided | PetitionMatcher analysis of AAO decisions |
| 92.4% did not satisfy Prong 2 | 85 of 92 2026 AAO decisions where well positioned was decided | PetitionMatcher analysis of AAO decisions |
| 5,276 published successful case studies analyzed | 5,114 had usable evidence reporting for the evidence analysis | PetitionMatcher published-case dataset |
55.3%
FY2026 Q3 completion approval share, up 7.2% percentage points from the prior quarter.
96,297
Pending at quarter end, 29.4% above FY2025 Q4.
426
2026 AAO NIW decisions analyzed: 385 dismissed, 37 remanded, and 4 sustained.
5,276
Published successful NIW case studies analyzed across 14 professional fields.
Evidence reported in published NIW case studies
Reported in 5,114 selected successful case studies. These figures are not legal requirements or approval odds.
| Evidence type | Reported | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Publications | 5,063 | 99.0% |
| Citations | 5,038 | 98.5% |
| Peer review | 3,699 | 72.3% |
| Recommendation letters | 2,860 | 55.9% |
| Funding | 1,926 | 37.7% |
| Government support | 1,649 | 32.2% |
| Patents | 473 | 9.2% |
| Implementation | 446 | 8.7% |
| Commercialization | 21 | 0.4% |
Download and cite the data
Figures are fixed to the September snapshot. Cite each population and reporting window separately. Current dashboard downloads may differ.
Suggested citation
PetitionMatcher Research Team. “September 2026 NIW roundup: Reporting totals and an August timing sample.” PetitionMatcher, September 25, 2026, revised October 6, 2026. https://www.petitionmatcher.com/blog/eb2-niw-statistics
Explore the interactive statistics dashboard
See quarterly trends, country data, processing times, AAO analysis, case-study patterns, and community reports.
Methodology and data notes
USCIS, AAO, published case studies, and community reports describe different populations and are analyzed separately.
USCIS figures are processed from agency data. They do not track one filing cohort or predict an individual outcome.
Community figures are self-reported. The reviewed September sample includes 22 distinct primary reports from 85 listed source rows, with 23 excluded and 40 unresolved. Original posts must support a firsthand NIW I-140 final outcome and September 2026 date evidence. It is not USCIS verification, complete coverage or an approval probability, and remains separate from the historical tracker. August timing estimates use case-level data through August 17, 2026.
Published-case evidence reflects selected successful case studies, not legal requirements or all NIW filings.
Sources
- USCIS, Immigration and Citizenship DataSource for quarterly Form I-140 filing and decision data.
- USCIS, AAO Non-Precedent DecisionsSource repository for the AAO decisions analyzed.
- PetitionMatcher methodologyDefinitions, source limitations, and analysis methods.
Links to external sources are provided for reference and do not imply any endorsement of PetitionMatcher.
By PetitionMatcher Research Team
Updated
The PetitionMatcher Research Team analyzes public immigration case records, including USCIS Administrative Appeals Office decisions and publicly reported outcomes. PetitionMatcher provides informational content and is not a law firm.
PetitionMatcher provides informational content and is not a law firm. Nothing here is legal advice, and using the site does not create an attorney-client relationship.