Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, is the first step when a U.S. citizen or green card holder sponsors a family member for a green card. How long it takes to get approved depends mainly on who you are sponsoring and which USCIS office handles the case. Just as important, an approved I-130 is not the end of the wait for many families. This guide explains how I-130 timing works, how to check current processing times, and what happens after approval.
I-130 processing time at a glance: USCIS does not set one fixed time. It depends on your relationship to the relative and the USCIS office handling the case, and it changes often. To see the current time for your case, open the USCIS processing times tool, choose Form I-130, then your category and the office on your receipt notice. For most relatives other than spouses, children under 21 and parents of U.S. citizens, there is a second wait for a visa number after approval; check the Visa Bulletin.
How to Check Current I-130 Processing Times
USCIS publishes processing times for each form, category and office, and they change often. To check yours:
- Find the receipt notice (Form I-797C) USCIS sent after you filed. It shows your receipt number and the office handling the case.
- Go to the USCIS processing times page and choose Form I-130.
- Select the office and the category that matches your relative (for example, spouse of a U.S. citizen).
The figure shows how long USCIS took to complete most similar cases recently. Times range from several months to several years depending on the category and office.
USCIS changed the filing location for Form I-130 on October 7, 2026, with a grace period for petitions postmarked on or before November 9, 2026. Check the “Where to file” section on the USCIS Form I-130 page before mailing a new petition.
I-130 Approval vs the Wait for a Visa
Your relative’s total wait has two parts:
- I-130 processing: the time it takes USCIS to approve the petition and confirm the family relationship.
- Visa availability: for most relatives other than immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, the number of green cards each year is limited. After approval, your relative waits until their priority date (usually the date you filed the I-130) is current in the State Department’s monthly Visa Bulletin.
| Category | Who it covers | Annual visa limit and backlog? |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate relative | Spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of U.S. citizens (the citizen must be 21 or older) | No; a visa is available as soon as the I-130 is approved |
| F1 | Unmarried sons and daughters (21 and older) of U.S. citizens | Yes |
| F2A | Spouses and unmarried children under 21 of green card holders | Yes |
| F2B | Unmarried sons and daughters (21 and older) of green card holders | Yes |
| F3 | Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens | Yes |
| F4 | Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens | Yes, often many years |
For F1 through F4, the wait for a visa is often much longer than the I-130 itself, especially for relatives from countries with high demand, such as Mexico, the Philippines and India.
What Affects I-130 Processing Time
- The relationship. USCIS often processes immediate relative petitions differently from preference categories.
- The USCIS office. Workloads vary widely between offices.
- Whether you filed with Form I-485. When the relative is in the U.S. and a visa is available, the I-130 and I-485 can be filed together, and the I-130 is often decided along with the green card application, sometimes at the interview.
- How complete the petition is. Missing documents or weak evidence of the relationship lead to a Request for Evidence, which adds weeks or months. If you receive one, see what happens after an RFE response.
I-130 Filing Fee
As of October 2026, the filing fee is $675 for a paper filing and $625 if you file online. The inflation-adjusted USCIS fees that take effect October 16, 2026 do not change the I-130 fee. Fees change from time to time, so confirm the amount on the USCIS fee schedule before you file.
What Happens After I-130 Approval?
USCIS sends an approval notice (Form I-797). An approved I-130 does not give your relative a green card or permission to enter or stay in the U.S. The next step depends on where your relative is:
- In the U.S.: if they are eligible and a visa is available, they file Form I-485 to adjust status (or it is already pending if filed together). See how long adjustment of status takes.
- Abroad: USCIS sends the case to the National Visa Center (NVC), which collects fees and documents and, once a visa is available, schedules an immigrant visa interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
Spouses of U.S. citizens receive a green card coded IR1 or IR6, or CR1 or CR6 if the marriage is less than two years old. See what the IR6 category means.
Can You Speed Up an I-130?
Premium processing is not available for the I-130. You can ask USCIS to expedite a case, but only in limited situations, such as severe financial loss, urgent humanitarian reasons, or a clear USCIS error, and you must provide evidence. If your case is already outside normal processing times, you can submit an online case inquiry.
Get Help With Your I-130 Petition
A complete, well-documented petition helps avoid delays. BCA Law Firm prepares I-130 petitions for spouses, parents, children and siblings, and guides families through adjustment of status and consular processing. Learn more about our family immigration services or contact us to schedule a consultation.
We offer 30-minute consultations for $175, at our Norcross office or online. Book a consultation or call 678-292-6111.
This page provides general information and is not legal advice. Every case is different; speak with an attorney about your situation.
