USCIS · FORM I-600
I-600 processing time
Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative. Below is every processing time USCIS publishes for this form, then USCIS's own quarterly counts.
U.S. citizen filing to adopt an orphan
USCIS publishes 28–34 months for this category, handled at National Benefits Center.
USCIS note for this category: “Some of the processing times calculated using this new method may appear significantly longer than before. This is because the new 80% completion method includes time where a petition is pending due to factors that are generally outside USCIS’ control. These factors may include the time it takes petitioners to respond to biometrics requests; to respond to a Request for Evidence or Notice of Intent to Deny; or to obtain documents from a child's country of origin. In some cases, it may also include the time it takes the U.S. Department of State to complete a required Form I-604 orphan determination before a USCIS decision.”
| Office | Processing time | Receipt date for a case inquiry | Data period |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Benefits Center | 28–34 months | December 22, 2023 | 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-600
| Quarter | Received | Approved | Denied | Pending | Processing time (months) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024 Q1 | 225 | 219 | 50 | 478 | 2.8602708 |
| FY2024 Q3 | 141 | 184 | 42 | 540 | 4.20821455 |
| FY2024 Q4 | 160 | 107 | 48 | 582 | 6.1808151 |
| FY2025 Q1 | 149 | 126 | 29 | 610 | 4.8 |
| FY2025 Q2 | 145 | 114 | 62 | 618 | 6.1 |
| FY2025 Q3 | 143 | 101 | 80 | 617 | 8.5 |
| FY2025 Q4 | 120 | 92 | 68 | 560 | 7.8 |
| FY2026 Q2 | 108 | 57 | 32 | 605 | 5.8 |
| FY2026 Q3 | 103 | 101 | 66 | 556 | 12.2 |
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
- U.S. citizen filing to adopt an orphan: 13.8 months in FY 2025, 19.2 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-600 | Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative | U.S. citizen filing to adopt an orphan | 5.3 | 6.3 | 5.8 | 7.4 | 13.8 | 19.2 |
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.