An apparatus for multi-standard bin decoding in a video decoder for decoding two video coded in two different video coding standards is disclosed. The apparatus includes a first bin decoder to decode one or more first bin strings, a second bin decoder to decode one or more second bin strings, a standard change control module coupled to the first bin decoder and the second bin decoder and a system controller coupled to the standard change control module, the first bin decoder and the second bin decoder. The standard change control module or the system controller selects either a next slice or picture to be decoded by the first bin decoder or the second bin decoder based on one or more control parameters including the decoding time information.