Form I-130 Processing Times (September 2026): Family Petition Timelines

Wondering how long Form I-130 takes in September 2026? See current USCIS processing times by family category, how Visa Bulletin waits affect preference cases, and what can delay a petition.

Form I-130 Processing Time: Quick Answer for 2026

Form I-130 processing time depends on the petitioner’s immigration status, the family relationship, and the USCIS operation handling the petition.

USCIS processing time measures how long it took the agency to complete 80% of adjudicated cases during the previous six months. It is not a guarantee of how long an individual petition will take.

For immediate relatives of U.S. citizens—spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of U.S. citizens age 21 or older—an immigrant visa is immediately available. Family-preference categories such as F1, F2A, F2B, F3, and F4 are subject to numerical limits, so they may face an additional wait based on the Visa Bulletin.

Form I-130 approval also does not mean the beneficiary has received a Green Card. Adjustment of Status or consular processing is a separate stage.

How Long Does Form I-130 Take to Be Approved in 2026?

The latest USCIS processing time depends on both the family category and the USCIS reporting unit handling that category.

Source: USCIS Case Processing Times. Last checked September 7, 2026.

Important: Each number above is the processing-time figure for that USCIS reporting unit. Do not read the lowest and highest numbers as one continuous processing-time range for every I-130 petition.

How USCIS Calculates These Processing Times

USCIS calculates its displayed processing time using recently completed cases. The published number represents the amount of time it took USCIS to complete 80% of adjudicated cases during the previous six months, measured from when USCIS received the petition until it approved or denied it.

USCIS updates the Case Processing Times website monthly with the latest available data. Processing times are reference points, not deadlines or predictions for an individual case.

Learn more about how USCIS calculates processing times.

I-130 Processing Time vs. the Total Green Card Wait

Form I-130 processing time and the total wait for a Green Card are not the same.

For an immediate relative of a U.S. citizen, there is no separate wait for a visa number after the petition is approved, although Adjustment of Status or consular processing still takes additional time.

For family-preference categories—F1, F2A, F2B, F3, and F4—the beneficiary may also need to wait until a visa is available based on the priority date and the September 2026 Visa Bulletin. That Visa Bulletin wait is separate from the USCIS I-130 processing time.

Filed Form I-485 with Form I-130? USCIS says that if you filed Form I-485 together with Form I-130, use the Form I-485 processing time when checking the pending Adjustment of Status application.

USCIS Service Center Wait Times for Form I-130

USCIS no longer lists some processing times under individual service centers such as California, Nebraska, Texas, Potomac, or Vermont. For affected forms, USCIS may instead display Service Center Operations (SCOPS) because cases can be assigned across multiple service-center locations based on workload and staffing.

SCOPS includes USCIS service centers, but the National Benefits Center (NBC) is separate from SCOPS. Your receipt or transfer notice may still identify a specific service center even when the public processing-time tool shows SCOPS.

USCIS may also display an aggregate All Field Offices figure for some I-130 categories. However, USCIS states that it does not currently publish a processing time for a standalone Form I-130 that has been transferred to a specific local field office for an interview. If your case has been transferred, follow your most recent USCIS notice when checking where the case is being handled.

Family-Based Petition Wait Times by Relationship

Processing times for Form I-130 depend on the petitioner’s immigration status and relationship to the beneficiary. Use the USCIS category that matches your situation when checking the Case Processing Times tool.

For family-preference categories, remember that the USCIS processing time and the Visa Bulletin wait measure different parts of the immigration process.

How Long Does It Take to Process an I-130 for a Spouse?

Both U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents can file Form I-130 for a spouse, but the immigration category is different.

A spouse of a U.S. citizen is an immediate relative, so an immigrant visa is immediately available. A spouse of a lawful permanent resident is in the F2A family-preference category, which is subject to annual visa limits and the Visa Bulletin.

If You Are a U.S. citizen

These figures measure USCIS adjudication of Form I-130. Adjustment of Status or consular processing after or alongside the petition is a separate timeline.

If You Are a Permanent Resident

A permanent resident’s spouse is in the F2A category. Visa availability may therefore affect when the beneficiary can complete the Green Card process even after USCIS approves Form I-130.

Ready to start your petition? Learn how to file Form I-130 for a spouse.

How Long Does It Take to Process an I-130 for a Parent?

Only U.S. citizens who are 21 years of age or older can file Form I-130 to petition for a parent. Lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders) cannot petition for their parents.

Parents of U.S. citizens are classified as immediate relatives, so immigrant visas are not subject to annual numerical limits and are immediately available. However, the Form I-130 and Green Card application processes still require processing time.

If You Are a U.S. Citizen

Learn more about the eligibility requirements and filing steps in our guide on how to file Form I-130 for parents. You can also review the complete green card for parents process, including required documents, Adjustment of Status, and consular processing options.

Form I-130 Processing Time for Siblings

Only U.S. citizens who are 21 years of age or older can file Form I-130 to petition for a brother or sister. Lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders) cannot petition for siblings.

Sibling petitions fall under the F4 family-preference category. This creates two separate timelines: USCIS must adjudicate Form I-130, and the beneficiary must also wait for the priority date to become eligible under the Visa Bulletin before an immigrant visa can be issued or the Green Card process can be completed.

If You Are a U.S. Citizen

Because F4 is numerically limited, the Visa Bulletin wait can extend well beyond the USCIS petition-processing time. Check the current monthly Visa Bulletin for visa availability.

Ready to start your petition? Learn How to Obtain Green Card For Siblings.

Form I-130 Processing Time for a Child Under 21

The category for a child under 21 depends on the petitioner’s immigration status. The child must be unmarried to qualify under the immediate-relative or F2A categories described below.

If You Are a U.S. Citizen

An unmarried child under 21 of a U.S. citizen is an immediate relative. There is no separate wait for a visa number.

If You Are a Permanent Resident

An unmarried child under 21 of a lawful permanent resident falls under the F2A family-preference category. Visa availability under the Visa Bulletin can therefore affect when the child can complete the Green Card process.

Form I-130 Processing Time For Unmarried Son or Daughter 21 or Older

If you’re filing Form I-130 for your unmarried son or daughter who is 21 or older, the processing time depends on your immigration status. These cases fall under the F1 (U.S. citizen) or F2B (green card holder) family preference categories, both of which have long wait times due to annual visa limits.

These petitions are not for immediate relatives, so they face long wait times before a visa becomes available. Wait times vary by country—applicants from Mexico and the Philippines often wait even longer. After I-130 approval, your child must wait for their priority date to become current on the Visa Bulletin.

If You Are a U.S. Citizen

If you’re a U.S. citizen filing for your unmarried son or daughter who is 21 or older, your petition falls under the F1 family preference category. After the I-130 is approved, your child must wait for a visa number to become available before they can apply for a green card.

If You Are a Permanent Resident

If you’re a green card holder filing for your unmarried son or daughter who is 21 or older, your petition falls under the F2B family preference category. Since this category has annual limits, your child must wait for their priority date to become current before moving forward with a green card application.

Form I-130 Processing Time For a Married Son or Daughter

If you’re a U.S. citizen filing Form I-130 for a married son or daughter, your petition falls under the F3 family preference category. This group faces long wait times because of annual visa limits and high demand. Green card holders cannot file for their married children.

Applicants from countries with high demand (like Mexico or the Philippines) may face even longer delays. After I-130 approval, your child must wait for their priority date to become current on the Visa Bulletin before applying for a green card.

If You Are a U.S. Citizen

I-130 Timeline Explained: Step-by-Step

The exact time at each stage varies by case, so USCIS does not provide a standard week-by-week timeline for every Form I-130 petition.

Step 1. USCIS Receives Form I-130

After USCIS accepts the petition, it issues a Form I-797C, Notice of Action, containing the receipt number. You can use the receipt number to check the case status and processing information.

2. USCIS Reviews the Petition and Evidence

USCIS reviews whether the petitioner and beneficiary qualify for the claimed family relationship and whether the required evidence has been provided.

USCIS may transfer workload between locations as it processes the petition.

3. USCIS May Request Additional Information

If USCIS needs more information, it may issue a Request for Evidence (RFE). USCIS may also schedule an interview when required to resolve eligibility or evidence issues.

Not every Form I-130 case requires an interview.

USCIS Family-Based Petition Policy Update

On August 1, 2025, USCIS updated its policy guidance for family-based immigrant petitions, including Form I-130. The guidance clarifies eligibility and evidence requirements, screening and vetting, when USCIS requires an interview, and how family-based petitions are approved or denied. It applies to petitions pending or filed on or after August 1, 2025. The update does not establish a new standard Form I-130 processing time.

4. USCIS Approves or Denies Form I-130

USCIS completes the I-130 stage by approving or denying the petition. Approval establishes the qualifying family relationship for immigration purposes, but it does not by itself grant permanent resident status or permission to enter the United States.

Step 5: The Case Moves to the Applicable Green Card Process

What happens next depends on where the beneficiary is located, whether the beneficiary is eligible to adjust status, and whether an immigrant visa is available.

Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens do not have a separate numerical visa-category wait. Family-preference beneficiaries must also follow Visa Bulletin availability.

What Happens After Form I-130 Is Approved?

Approval of Form I-130 does not automatically give the beneficiary a Green Card.

If the beneficiary will complete the immigration process abroad and the petition is designated for consular processing, USCIS generally sends the approved petition to the Department of State’s National Visa Center (NVC).

If the beneficiary is in the United States and eligible for Adjustment of Status, the next stage may involve Form I-485. Whether a preference-category beneficiary can move forward depends on visa availability.

For F1, F2A, F2B, F3, and F4 cases, continue checking the Visa Bulletin even after the I-130 is approved.

Additional Factors That Influence I-130 Processing Time

USCIS Workload and Case Transfers

The amount of pending work and how USCIS distributes cases can affect processing times.

USCIS may move service-center work between locations based on staffing and operational needs, which is one reason the agency now reports some processing times under Service Center Operations rather than individual service centers.

Requests for Evidence (RFEs)

If USCIS needs additional evidence or clarification, it may issue a Request for Evidence (RFE). An RFE can extend the overall case timeline because the petitioner must respond and USCIS must review the additional evidence before completing adjudication.

Review the Form I-130 required documents checklist before filing to help identify commonly required supporting evidence.

Case-Specific Review

Some petitions require additional review because of the evidence submitted, the claimed relationship, related petitions, conflicting information, security or background checks, or the need for an interview. These factors can make an individual case take longer than the published processing time.

Tips to Minimize Avoidable I-130 Delays

1. File When You Are Eligible

For family-preference categories, filing establishes the petition’s priority date. Filing earlier does not make USCIS process the case faster, but delaying an eligible preference petition also delays the priority date.

2. Submit Complete and Consistent Evidence

Provide the required evidence establishing the family relationship and make sure names, dates, addresses, marital history, and other information are consistent across the form and supporting documents.

Incomplete or conflicting information can lead to an RFE or additional review.

3. Correctly Identify Adjustment of Status or Consular Processing

Form I-130 asks where and how the beneficiary expects to complete the immigration process.

Provide the beneficiary’s current address and accurately indicate whether the beneficiary intends to apply for Adjustment of Status in the United States or complete consular processing abroad.

Incorrect or incomplete routing information can delay what happens after the petition is approved and, in some situations, may require additional action to transfer the approved petition.

USCIS provides additional guidance on family-based immigrant petition approvals and case routing.

If the beneficiary’s location or intended processing path changes after filing, update USCIS so the petition can be routed correctly for Adjustment of Status or consular processing.

4. Monitor the Case and Respond to USCIS Notices

Use the receipt number on Form I-797C to check the case status. If USCIS sends an RFE, interview notice, transfer notice, or other request, follow the notice instructions and respond within the stated deadline.

When Can I Contact USCIS About a Delayed I-130?

The processing time shown by USCIS is not a deadline. It represents the time in which USCIS completed 80% of recently adjudicated cases.

To determine whether your case is outside normal processing times, use the USCIS Case Processing Times tool and enter the receipt date from your Form I-797C.

USCIS calculates case-inquiry eligibility separately using the time needed to complete 93% of adjudicated cases. If the USCIS tool says your case is eligible for an inquiry, you can submit an online case inquiry.

An expedite request is different from an outside-normal-processing-time inquiry. USCIS considers expedite requests separately and on a case-by-case basis.

Historical Form I-130 Processing Times

USCIS also publishes historical national median processing times. For immediate-relative Form I-130 petitions, USCIS currently reports:

These historical figures are medians, meaning half of completed cases were finished within the reported time. They should not be compared directly with the current Case Processing Times figure, which uses the time required to complete 80% of adjudicated cases during the previous six months.

The historical table above applies to USCIS’s Immediate Relative I-130 classification. Family-preference categories also have separate Visa Bulletin considerations.

FAQs About I-130 Processing Times

Check Your I-130 Timeline Before the Next Step

Your I-130 timeline depends on the petitioner’s status, family relationship, USCIS processing category, and—for family-preference cases—Visa Bulletin availability.

Check both the current USCIS processing time and the applicable Visa Bulletin category before estimating when the beneficiary may be able to move to the next stage.