I-130 at Service Center Operations (SCOPS)

Permanent resident filing for a spouse or child under 21

49.5 months

Case inquiry possible for receipt dates on or before September 16, 2022.

Family-preference category: this time includes the wait for visa availability (Visa Bulletin), not just USCIS processing.

USCIS Service Centers Operations (SCOPS) prioritizes the adjudication of Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, preference petitions when the Department of State Visa Bulletin shows an immigrant visa is available or will soon become available. This is the most efficient way to process these, because beneficiaries can adjust status or consular process based on an approved petition only when an immigrant visa is available. Generally, we process visa-available cases in the order we receive them, regardless of where we adjudicate the petition. We may also prioritize cases filed for multiple family members at the same time, to ensure families are processed together. We may also prioritize cases due to country conditions, if an executive directive identifies an urgent humanitarian situation or U.S. national interest. In addition, petitioners may request expedited processing of their Form I-130 in certain situations. See USCIS Policy Manual Volume 1, Part A, Chapter 5 (https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-1-part-a-chapter-5) for additional information. To minimize confusion related to the adjudication of Form I-130 preference category petitions, we do not post a processing time in most instances. If the Visa Bulletin (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin.html) indicates that the preference category is current for a particular country (indicated by a “C” in the Visa Bulletin), we post one processing time for all service centers that process those petitions. We generally do not post processing times until 6 months after the visa category becomes current, to ensure an accurate processing time estimate. If the preference category is not current for a particular country, We do not list a processing time for that category. Instead, customers should refer to the dates listed in the Visa Bulletin.

U.S. citizen filing for a spouse, parent, or child under 21

25.5 – 34 months

Case inquiry possible for receipt dates on or before December 29, 2023.

USCIS posts one processing time for any Service Center location that processes Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative, specifically for Immediate Relative (IR) classification.  We keep these requests in an electronic system that allows us generally to assign adjudication-ready cases in the order USCIS receives them, regardless of where the customer is located, where the case is pending, or which service center will adjudicate.

U.S. citizen filing for unmarried son/daughter 21 or older

109.5 months

Case inquiry possible for receipt dates on or before September 17, 2017.

Family-preference category: this time includes the wait for visa availability (Visa Bulletin), not just USCIS processing.

USCIS Service Centers Operations (SCOPS) prioritizes the adjudication of Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, preference petitions when the Department of State Visa Bulletin shows an immigrant visa is available or will soon become available. This is the most efficient way to process these, because beneficiaries can adjust status or consular process based on an approved petition only when an immigrant visa is available. Generally, we process visa-available cases in the order we receive them, regardless of where we adjudicate the petition. We may also prioritize cases filed for multiple family members at the same time, to ensure families are processed together. We may also prioritize cases due to country conditions, if an executive directive identifies an urgent humanitarian situation or U.S. national interest. In addition, petitioners may request expedited processing of their Form I-130 in certain situations. See USCIS Policy Manual Volume 1, Part A, Chapter 5 (https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-1-part-a-chapter-5) for additional information. To minimize confusion related to the adjudication of Form I-130 preference category petitions, we do not post a processing time in most instances. If the Visa Bulletin (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin.html) indicates that the preference category is current for a particular country (indicated by a “C” in the Visa Bulletin), we post one processing time for all service centers that process those petitions. We generally do not post processing times until 6 months after the visa category becomes current, to ensure an accurate processing time estimate. If the preference category is not current for a particular country, We do not list a processing time for that category. Instead, customers should refer to the dates listed in the Visa Bulletin.

Permanent resident for unmarried son or daughter 21 or older

76 months

Case inquiry possible for receipt dates on or before June 29, 2020.

Family-preference category: this time includes the wait for visa availability (Visa Bulletin), not just USCIS processing.

USCIS Service Centers Operations (SCOPS) prioritizes the adjudication of Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, preference petitions when the Department of State Visa Bulletin shows an immigrant visa is available or will soon become available. This is the most efficient way to process these, because beneficiaries can adjust status or consular process based on an approved petition only when an immigrant visa is available. Generally, we process visa-available cases in the order we receive them, regardless of where we adjudicate the petition. We may also prioritize cases filed for multiple family members at the same time, to ensure families are processed together. We may also prioritize cases due to country conditions, if an executive directive identifies an urgent humanitarian situation or U.S. national interest. In addition, petitioners may request expedited processing of their Form I-130 in certain situations. See USCIS Policy Manual Volume 1, Part A, Chapter 5 (https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-1-part-a-chapter-5) for additional information. To minimize confusion related to the adjudication of Form I-130 preference category petitions, we do not post a processing time in most instances. If the Visa Bulletin (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin.html) indicates that the preference category is current for a particular country (indicated by a “C” in the Visa Bulletin), we post one processing time for all service centers that process those petitions. We generally do not post processing times until 6 months after the visa category becomes current, to ensure an accurate processing time estimate. If the preference category is not current for a particular country, We do not list a processing time for that category. Instead, customers should refer to the dates listed in the Visa Bulletin.

U.S. citizen filing for a married son or daughter

151 months

Case inquiry possible for receipt dates on or before March 26, 2014.

Family-preference category: this time includes the wait for visa availability (Visa Bulletin), not just USCIS processing.

USCIS Service Centers Operations (SCOPS) prioritizes the adjudication of Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, preference petitions when the Department of State Visa Bulletin shows an immigrant visa is available or will soon become available. This is the most efficient way to process these, because beneficiaries can adjust status or consular process based on an approved petition only when an immigrant visa is available. Generally, we process visa-available cases in the order we receive them, regardless of where we adjudicate the petition. We may also prioritize cases filed for multiple family members at the same time, to ensure families are processed together. We may also prioritize cases due to country conditions, if an executive directive identifies an urgent humanitarian situation or U.S. national interest. In addition, petitioners may request expedited processing of their Form I-130 in certain situations. See USCIS Policy Manual Volume 1, Part A, Chapter 5 (https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-1-part-a-chapter-5) for additional information. To minimize confusion related to the adjudication of Form I-130 preference category petitions, we do not post a processing time in most instances. If the Visa Bulletin (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin.html) indicates that the preference category is current for a particular country (indicated by a “C” in the Visa Bulletin), we post one processing time for all service centers that process those petitions. We generally do not post processing times until 6 months after the visa category becomes current, to ensure an accurate processing time estimate. If the preference category is not current for a particular country, We do not list a processing time for that category. Instead, customers should refer to the dates listed in the Visa Bulletin.

U.S. citizen filing for a brother or sister

177 months

Case inquiry possible for receipt dates on or before February 01, 2012.

Family-preference category: this time includes the wait for visa availability (Visa Bulletin), not just USCIS processing.

USCIS Service Centers Operations (SCOPS) prioritizes the adjudication of Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, preference petitions when the Department of State Visa Bulletin shows an immigrant visa is available or will soon become available. This is the most efficient way to process these, because beneficiaries can adjust status or consular process based on an approved petition only when an immigrant visa is available. Generally, we process visa-available cases in the order we receive them, regardless of where we adjudicate the petition. We may also prioritize cases filed for multiple family members at the same time, to ensure families are processed together. We may also prioritize cases due to country conditions, if an executive directive identifies an urgent humanitarian situation or U.S. national interest. In addition, petitioners may request expedited processing of their Form I-130 in certain situations. See USCIS Policy Manual Volume 1, Part A, Chapter 5 (https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-1-part-a-chapter-5) for additional information. To minimize confusion related to the adjudication of Form I-130 preference category petitions, we do not post a processing time in most instances. If the Visa Bulletin (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin.html) indicates that the preference category is current for a particular country (indicated by a “C” in the Visa Bulletin), we post one processing time for all service centers that process those petitions. We generally do not post processing times until 6 months after the visa category becomes current, to ensure an accurate processing time estimate. If the preference category is not current for a particular country, We do not list a processing time for that category. Instead, customers should refer to the dates listed in the Visa Bulletin.