I-130 Processing Time 2026
I-130 — Petition for Alien Relative
Typical processing time
10–17 months
Most cases land around 14 months. Ranges vary by service center, field office, and category.
Data snapshot as of July 2026 — check the official USCIS tool for your specific office and category.
What the I-130 is
The I-130 establishes a qualifying family relationship between a U.S. citizen or green card holder and a relative who wants to immigrate. It is the first step of almost every family-based green card case.
Who files it: U.S. citizens petitioning for a spouse, parent, child, or sibling; green card holders petitioning for a spouse or unmarried child.
Why I-130 cases get delayed
- Petitions for relatives in preference categories (e.g. siblings, married children) sit in long visa-number queues even after approval.
- Requests for Evidence (RFEs) about proof of the relationship — especially marriage bona fides — can add several months.
- Cases filed by green card holders (not citizens) are often routed to slower workloads.
- Standalone I-130s (relative abroad) and concurrently-filed I-130s can move at different speeds.
Practical tips for I-130 filers
- Front-load evidence of the relationship (joint finances, photos over time, correspondence) to avoid an RFE.
- Approval of the I-130 does not by itself grant status — consular processing or I-485 adjustment follows.
- If your relative is in a preference category, track the Visa Bulletin as well; the wait there can exceed the USCIS processing time.
Waiting longer than 17 months?
If your receipt date is older than the official case inquiry date for your office, you can submit an “outside normal processing time” request. See how the case inquiry date works →