USCIS · FORM I-130
I-130 processing time
Petition for Alien Relative. Below is every processing time USCIS publishes for this form, then USCIS's own quarterly counts.
Permanent resident filing for a spouse or child under 21
USCIS publishes 139–300.5 months at All Field Offices, 52–56.5 months at National Benefits Center, and 45.5–49.5 months at Service Center Operations (SCOPS).
USCIS note for this category: “***This processing time reflects statutory constraints on available immigrant visas, for which the wait times are typically much longer than the time it takes for USCIS to adjudicate the form.***USCIS service centers prioritize the processing of Form I-130 preference petitions for which an immigrant visa is available according to the Department of State Visa Bulletin. The visa bulletin, published monthly, lists available immigrant visas by priority date. We use the visa bulletin to determine the current visa categories and priority dates before processing Form I-130 preference petitions. We are prioritizing our adjudication efforts to focus on cases that have visas available.”
USCIS note for this category: “***Note: This calculation for the National Benefits Center’s processing time is specifically for adoption-based Form I-130s. The National Benefits Center adjudicates all adoption-based Form I-130s.***This processing time reflects statutory constraints on available immigrant visas, for which the wait times are typically much longer than the time it takes for USCIS to adjudicate the form.***USCIS service centers prioritize the processing of Form I-130 preference petitions for which an immigrant visa is available according to the Department of State Visa Bulletin. The visa bulletin, published monthly, lists available immigrant visas by priority date. We use the visa bulletin to determine the current visa categories and priority dates before processing Form I-130 preference petitions. We are prioritizing our adjudication efforts to focus on cases that have visas available.”
USCIS note for this category: “$2”
| Office | Processing time | Receipt date for a case inquiry | Data period |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Field Offices | 139–300.5 months | October 19, 2001 | March 2026 to August 2026 |
| National Benefits Center | 52–56.5 months | February 12, 2022 | March 2026 to August 2026 |
| Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 45.5–49.5 months | September 14, 2022 | March 2026 to August 2026 |
Permanent resident for unmarried son or daughter 21 or older
USCIS publishes 188.5–340 months at All Field Offices, 53.5–56 months at National Benefits Center, and 52.5–76 months at Service Center Operations (SCOPS).
USCIS note for this category: “***This processing time reflects statutory constraints on available immigrant visas, for which the wait times are typically much longer than the time it takes for USCIS to adjudicate the form.***USCIS service centers prioritize the processing of Form I-130 preference petitions for which an immigrant visa is available according to the Department of State Visa Bulletin. The visa bulletin, published monthly, lists available immigrant visas by priority date. We use the visa bulletin to determine the current visa categories and priority dates before processing Form I-130 preference petitions. We are prioritizing our adjudication efforts to focus on cases that have visas available.”
USCIS note for this category: “***Note: This calculation for the National Benefits Center’s processing time is specifically for adoption-based Form I-130s. The National Benefits Center adjudicates all adoption-based Form I-130s.***This processing time reflects statutory constraints on available immigrant visas, for which the wait times are typically much longer than the time it takes for USCIS to adjudicate the form.***USCIS service centers prioritize the processing of Form I-130 preference petitions for which an immigrant visa is available according to the Department of State Visa Bulletin. The visa bulletin, published monthly, lists available immigrant visas by priority date. We use the visa bulletin to determine the current visa categories and priority dates before processing Form I-130 preference petitions. We are prioritizing our adjudication efforts to focus on cases that have visas available.”
USCIS note for this category: “$2”
| Office | Processing time | Receipt date for a case inquiry | Data period |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Field Offices | 188.5–340 months | July 05, 1998 | March 2026 to August 2026 |
| National Benefits Center | 53.5–56 months | February 28, 2022 | March 2026 to August 2026 |
| Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 52.5–76 months | June 27, 2020 | March 2026 to August 2026 |
U.S. citizen filing for a brother or sister
USCIS publishes 286.5–306.5 months at All Field Offices, 57–66.5 months at National Benefits Center, and 174.5–177 months at Service Center Operations (SCOPS).
USCIS note for this category: “***This processing time reflects statutory constraints on available immigrant visas, for which the wait times are typically much longer than the time it takes for USCIS to adjudicate the form.***USCIS service centers prioritize the processing of Form I-130 preference petitions for which an immigrant visa is available according to the Department of State Visa Bulletin. The visa bulletin, published monthly, lists available immigrant visas by priority date. We use the visa bulletin to determine the current visa categories and priority dates before processing Form I-130 preference petitions. We are prioritizing our adjudication efforts to focus on cases that have visas available.”
USCIS note for this category: “***Note: This calculation for the National Benefits Center’s processing time is specifically for adoption-based Form I-130s. The National Benefits Center adjudicates all adoption-based Form I-130s.***This processing time reflects statutory constraints on available immigrant visas, for which the wait times are typically much longer than the time it takes for USCIS to adjudicate the form.***USCIS service centers prioritize the processing of Form I-130 preference petitions for which an immigrant visa is available according to the Department of State Visa Bulletin. The visa bulletin, published monthly, lists available immigrant visas by priority date. We use the visa bulletin to determine the current visa categories and priority dates before processing Form I-130 preference petitions. We are prioritizing our adjudication efforts to focus on cases that have visas available.”
USCIS note for this category: “$2”
| Office | Processing time | Receipt date for a case inquiry | Data period |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Field Offices | 286.5–306.5 months | April 20, 2001 | March 2026 to August 2026 |
| National Benefits Center | 57–66.5 months | April 14, 2021 | March 2026 to August 2026 |
| Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 174.5–177 months | January 30, 2012 | March 2026 to August 2026 |
U.S. citizen filing for a married son or daughter
USCIS publishes 110.5–159 months at All Field Offices, 53.5–64.5 months at National Benefits Center, and 121–151 months at Service Center Operations (SCOPS).
USCIS note for this category: “***This processing time reflects statutory constraints on available immigrant visas, for which the wait times are typically much longer than the time it takes for USCIS to adjudicate the form.***USCIS service centers prioritize the processing of Form I-130 preference petitions for which an immigrant visa is available according to the Department of State Visa Bulletin. The visa bulletin, published monthly, lists available immigrant visas by priority date. We use the visa bulletin to determine the current visa categories and priority dates before processing Form I-130 preference petitions. We are prioritizing our adjudication efforts to focus on cases that have visas available.”
USCIS note for this category: “***Note: This calculation for the National Benefits Center’s processing time is specifically for adoption-based Form I-130s. The National Benefits Center adjudicates all adoption-based Form I-130s.***This processing time reflects statutory constraints on available immigrant visas, for which the wait times are typically much longer than the time it takes for USCIS to adjudicate the form.***USCIS service centers prioritize the processing of Form I-130 preference petitions for which an immigrant visa is available according to the Department of State Visa Bulletin. The visa bulletin, published monthly, lists available immigrant visas by priority date. We use the visa bulletin to determine the current visa categories and priority dates before processing Form I-130 preference petitions. We are prioritizing our adjudication efforts to focus on cases that have visas available.”
USCIS note for this category: “$2”
| Office | Processing time | Receipt date for a case inquiry | Data period |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Field Offices | 110.5–159 months | August 01, 2013 | March 2026 to August 2026 |
| National Benefits Center | 53.5–64.5 months | June 17, 2021 | March 2026 to August 2026 |
| Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 121–151 months | March 24, 2014 | March 2026 to August 2026 |
U.S. citizen filing for a spouse, parent, or child under 21
USCIS publishes 83.5–113 months at All Field Offices, 53–58 months at National Benefits Center, and 25.5–34 months at Service Center Operations (SCOPS).
USCIS note for this category: “USCIS service centers are now prioritizing the processing of Form I-130 preference petitions for which the Department of State Visa Bulletin shows that an immigrant visa is available. The visa bulletin, published monthly, lists available immigrant visas by priority date. USCIS uses the visa bulletin to determine the current visa categories and priority dates before processing a Form I-130 preference petition. Service centers have prioritized our adjudication efforts so that we can focus on those cases that have visas available.”
USCIS note for this category: “***Note: This calculation for the National Benefits Center’s processing time is specifically for adoption-based Form I-130s. The National Benefits Center adjudicates all adoption-based Form I-130s.*** The Department of State visa bulletin, published monthly, lists available immigrant visas by priority date. USCIS uses the visa bulletin to determine the current visa categories and priority dates before processing a Form I-130 preference petition.”
USCIS note for this category: “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.”
| Office | Processing time | Receipt date for a case inquiry | Data period |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Field Offices | 83.5–113 months | May 23, 2017 | March 2026 to August 2026 |
| National Benefits Center | 53–58 months | January 01, 2022 | March 2026 to August 2026 |
| Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 25.5–34 months | December 27, 2023 | March 2026 to August 2026 |
U.S. citizen filing for unmarried son/daughter 21 or older
USCIS publishes 195–268 months at All Field Offices, 52.5–55.5 months at National Benefits Center, and 96.5–109.5 months at Service Center Operations (SCOPS).
USCIS note for this category: “***This processing time reflects statutory constraints on available immigrant visas, for which the wait times are typically much longer than the time it takes for USCIS to adjudicate the form.***USCIS service centers prioritize the processing of Form I-130 preference petitions for which an immigrant visa is available according to the Department of State Visa Bulletin. The visa bulletin, published monthly, lists available immigrant visas by priority date. We use the visa bulletin to determine the current visa categories and priority dates before processing Form I-130 preference petitions. We are prioritizing our adjudication efforts to focus on cases that have visas available.”
USCIS note for this category: “***Note: This calculation for the National Benefits Center’s processing time is specifically for adoption-based Form I-130s. The National Benefits Center adjudicates all adoption-based Form I-130s.***This processing time reflects statutory constraints on available immigrant visas, for which the wait times are typically much longer than the time it takes for USCIS to adjudicate the form.***USCIS service centers prioritize the processing of Form I-130 preference petitions for which an immigrant visa is available according to the Department of State Visa Bulletin. The visa bulletin, published monthly, lists available immigrant visas by priority date. We use the visa bulletin to determine the current visa categories and priority dates before processing Form I-130 preference petitions. We are prioritizing our adjudication efforts to focus on cases that have visas available.”
USCIS note for this category: “$2”
| Office | Processing time | Receipt date for a case inquiry | Data period |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Field Offices | 195–268 months | July 04, 2004 | March 2026 to August 2026 |
| National Benefits Center | 52.5–55.5 months | March 17, 2022 | March 2026 to August 2026 |
| Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 96.5–109.5 months | September 15, 2017 | March 2026 to August 2026 |
How USCIS describes these numbers: “We generally process cases in the order we receive them. This processing time is based on how long it took us to complete 80% of adjudicated cases over the past six months. Each case is unique, and some cases may take longer than others. Processing times should be used as a reference point, not an absolute measure of how long your case will take to be completed.”
Source: USCIS, Check Case Processing Times, published September 17, 2026; recorded by greencardline October 17, 2026. USCIS shows a range for most forms; what the range means and how the inquiry date is used are explained, with quotes from USCIS, in How USCIS processing times work.
USCIS quarterly counts for I-130
| Quarter | Received | Approved | Denied | Pending | Processing time (months) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024 Q1 | 235,480 | 172,582 | 31,667 | 2,026,350 | 10.8821799 |
| FY2024 Q3 | 243,397 | 175,966 | 29,058 | 1,949,814 | 11.5725901 |
| FY2024 Q4 | 229,978 | 186,535 | 25,593 | 2,194,373 | 13.5451906 |
| Quarter | Received | Approved | Denied | Pending | Processing time (months) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 Q1 | 193,443 | 126,933 | 9,833 | 852,120 | 14.3 |
| FY2025 Q2 | 203,682 | 147,093 | 12,734 | 902,455 | 15.7 |
| FY2025 Q3 | 188,381 | 211,975 | 15,209 | 871,740 | 14.4 |
| FY2025 Q4 | 173,595 | 232,609 | 16,679 | 801,745 | 13.7 |
| FY2026 Q2 | 126,666 | 132,960 | 17,243 | 761,638 | 12.5 |
| FY2026 Q3 | 126,417 | 82,636 | 16,661 | 786,723 | 13 |
| Quarter | Received | Approved | Denied | Pending | Processing time (months) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 Q1 | 67,593 | 18,591 | 7,371 | 1,448,873 | 33.6 |
| FY2025 Q2 | 66,182 | 15,023 | 8,931 | 1,493,382 | 35.3 |
| FY2025 Q3 | 58,328 | 15,627 | 17,707 | 1,529,528 | 36.5 |
| FY2025 Q4 | 51,382 | 18,496 | 13,156 | 1,555,603 | 38 |
| FY2026 Q2 | 37,808 | 13,402 | 10,182 | 1,597,832 | 39.4 |
| FY2026 Q3 | 39,905 | 7,951 | 8,883 | 1,617,823 | 43.3 |
Source: USCIS, "Number of Service-wide Forms by Quarter, Form Status, and Processing Time" (each quarter links to its file on uscis.gov). Fiscal years start October 1. "Withheld" means USCIS suppressed a small number.
National median by fiscal year
- Adoptions: 45.9 months in FY 2025, 45.9 months in FY 2026 (partial year, as published)
| Form | Form Description | Classification or Basis for Filing | FY 2021 | FY 2022 | FY 2023 | FY 2024 | FY 2025 | FY 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I-130 | Petition for Alien Relative | Adoptions | 27.7 | 35.4 | 49.2 | 37.3 | 45.9 | 45.9 |
Source: USCIS, Historical National Median Processing Time (in Months) for All USCIS Offices for Select Forms By Fiscal Year, Fiscal Year 2021 to 2026 (up to August 30, 2026). Recorded October 17, 2026.