Last updated: July 22, 2026. Data refreshed weekly from USCIS.gov processing-time pages. USVisaStack is not affiliated with USCIS, the Department of Labor, or the Department of State.
I-130 Processing Times by Service Center
| Service Center | Category | Processing Range | Data Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| NBC | Immediate Relative - Child of USC (under 21) | 12.0–18.0 months | Mar 2026 |
| NBC | Immediate Relative - Parent of USC | 13.5–21.0 months | Mar 2026 |
| NBC | Immediate Relative - Spouse of USC | 14.0–22.5 months | Mar 2026 |
| TSC | Immediate Relative - Spouse of USC | 17.0–23.5 months | Mar 2026 |
Source: USCIS.gov. Data updated regularly.
About I-130 — Petition for Alien Relatives
Form I-130 is used for: Family-Based Green Card. Processing times vary by USCIS service center and petition volume.
Premium processing (Form I-907) is available for many I-130 petitions — it guarantees a decision within 15 business days for an additional fee (currently $2,965).
What Is Form I-130 and Who Files It?
Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relatives) is the first step in the family-based green card process. A US citizen or lawful permanent resident files it to establish a qualifying relationship to a foreign national relative. USCIS approval of I-130 does not itself grant a visa or green card — it establishes the relationship and creates a priority date, which determines your relative's place in the visa queue.
Immediate relatives of US citizens — spouses, parents, and unmarried children under 21 — have no annual visa limit and can move through the process faster. All other relationships fall into preference categories (F1, F2A, F2B, F3, F4) that are subject to per-country annual caps, creating multi-year backlogs for applicants from high-demand countries such as Mexico, India, China, and the Philippines.
Filing early matters: your priority date is set when USCIS receives the I-130, not when it is approved. Even if your relative cannot immigrate for years due to visa number backlogs, starting now locks in an earlier priority date.
What USCIS Is Doing During I-130 Processing
During I-130 processing, USCIS reviews the petition to verify the qualifying relationship. This includes examining marriage certificates, birth certificates, and identity documents for both the petitioner and beneficiary. USCIS also runs background checks on the petitioner and checks for prior USCIS filings that might affect eligibility.
Processing does not include a visa interview — that comes later through the National Visa Center (NVC) after I-130 approval and, for preference categories, after a visa number becomes available. For immediate relatives, the NVC stage begins as soon as the I-130 is approved.
What to Do While Your I-130 Is Pending
- Keep your address current: File Form AR-11 (Alien's Change of Address) within 10 days of any move. USCIS mails all notices — missing an RFE deadline because of an outdated address can result in denial.
- Respond to RFEs immediately: If USCIS issues a Request for Evidence, you typically have 87 days to respond. Earlier is better — a complete, well-documented response significantly improves approval odds.
- Monitor the Visa Bulletin: If your relative is in a preference category, check travel.state.gov monthly to understand when a visa number may become available for their category and country of chargeability. Both the "Final Action" and "Dates for Filing" charts affect timing.
- Save copies of everything: Keep a copy of the petition, all supporting documents, and every USCIS notice in a secure location.
- Set up USVisaStack alerts: Get notified when I-130 processing times change and when Visa Bulletin dates advance for your preference category.
How to Check Your I-130 Case Status
Use your 13-character receipt number (on your I-797 Notice of Action) to check status two ways:
- USVisaStack Case Status Checker: usvisastack.ai/case-status — enter your receipt number for instant status with an AI explanation of what each status milestone means in plain English.
- USCIS official tracker: egov.uscis.gov/casestatus — the authoritative source directly from USCIS.
Check Your Case Status
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