Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative is the first step for U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who want to bring close family members to live in the United States. Knowing how long it takes in 2025 can help you plan ahead and reduce stress. The process involves two parts: getting the petition approved by USCIS and then waiting for a green card slot if your family category has annual limits.
In 2024, the average I-130 processing time across all categories was about 11.7 months, according to USCIS data. For 2025, immediate relatives may wait close to a year, while many family preference petitions can take several years or longer because of strict visa quotas.
Why Processing Times Differ
Two things control the I-130 wait time: how fast USCIS handles your petition and whether a visa number is ready for your relative’s category. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, such as spouses, parents, and unmarried children under 21, have no annual cap. This makes their petitions move faster. Family preference visas F1, F2A, F2B, F3, and F4 face yearly limits and long lines.
Immigration lawyers explain that USCIS often gives priority to petitions with short or no visa queues. For example, it may approve a U.S. citizen’s petition for a spouse faster than a sibling petition that cannot move forward for decades. Sibling petitions in the F4 category often stretch 12 to 22 years or more before a green card is issued.
Immediate Relative I-130 Timeline
Immediate relatives have the fastest I-130 approval times because their visas are always available. USCIS has recently averaged 14 to 15 months to approve these petitions. Many U.S. citizens filing for spouses who are already in the country file I-130 and I-485 (Adjustment of Status) together. When filed this way, the green card interview and I-130 approval can happen in less than a year.
If the spouse or parent lives abroad, the petition usually takes about 14.5 months before moving to the next step. Inside the U.S., concurrent filing has been faster. Recent figures show family-based I-485 approvals in a median of 8.2 months, which often matches the I-130 approval timeline.
Family Preference Categories (F1–F4)
When sponsoring adult children, married children, siblings, or when a lawful permanent resident files for a spouse or child, the wait is much longer. USCIS sometimes takes years to approve these petitions, especially when visa availability is decades away.
For instance, green card holders filing for a spouse or minor child under the F2A category are now facing 4.5 to 7 years of USCIS processing before approval. Sibling petitions (F4) and married children of U.S. citizens (F3) can also sit for years.
After approval, the case moves into the Visa Bulletin queue. As of mid-2025, the bulletin showed that F4 siblings from Mexico were being served for dates from March 2001, and the Philippines for 2005. Worldwide F1 unmarried adult children of citizens. It was around 2016, showing a nine-year backlog.
Adjustment of Status vs Consular Processing
After the petition is approved, your relative either adjusts status in the U.S. or completes the process abroad through the National Visa Center (NVC).
Adjustment of Status is faster when a visa is available. In 2025, most family-based I-485 applications were approved in about 8 months once filed. Applicants inside the U.S. can also apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) with Form I-765. Median work permit wait times recently dropped to about 2 months, letting many people work legally while waiting for a green card.
Consular processing can add delays. After USCIS approval, the NVC collects fees and documents, then waits for an interview slot at a U.S. embassy or consulate. Backlogs have been shrinking but remain significant. In late 2024, over 363,000 immigrant visa applicants were ready and waiting for interviews. Embassies were scheduling about 50,000 interviews each month, so waits can still stretch several months.
Avoiding Delays and Speeding Up Your I-130
- File as soon as possible. Your priority date sets your place in line, and earlier is better. The current I-130 filing fee is $675 by mail or $625 online.
- Send a complete package. Missing proof of relationship or translations can cause a Request for Evidence (RFE). Each RFE can add months.
- Track your case online. The USCIS case status tool can alert you to updates or lost notices. You can ask USCIS for help if your petition is outside normal times.
- Request an expedite if truly urgent. Expedited approval is rare and only for emergencies such as severe hardship or military deployment.
- Get professional advice if needed. Complex cases or past denials often benefit from an experienced immigration attorney. Over 99 percent of I-130 petitions are approved, but denials often come from missing or weak evidence.
Life After I-130 Approval
Approval is a major milestone, but not the final step.
- If your family member is in the U.S., they can continue or finish their green card application through Adjustment of Status. Many applicants receive their interview and green card within a year after filing.
- If your family member is abroad. The case moves to the National Visa Center. You pay fees, submit civil and financial documents, and wait for the priority date to become current. Once a slot opens, the NVC schedules a consular interview. After the visa is issued, your relative enters the U.S. as a permanent resident and the green card is mailed.
Navigate I-130 Delays & Keep Your Family’s Case Moving
Filing Form I-130 is just the first step. Long waits, missing documents, or USCIS backlogs can stall your family’s green card journey. Our team helps you prepare a strong petition, avoid RFEs, track processing updates, and plan the next move, whether your relative is adjusting status in the U.S. or completing consular processing abroad.
If this feels overwhelming, you’re not alone. The Chidolue Law Firm provides clear strategy, precise filing, and hands-on support every step of the way.
📞 Call The Chidolue Law Firm today at:
➡ 407-995-6567
➡ 678-325-1037
💬 For WhatsApp inquiries, contact us at:
➡ 404-333-8751
Let us help you overcome delays and bring your loved ones home faster.
