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How long does it take to bring wife to USA?

Author

Emily Sparks

Published Jan 21, 2026

Spouses and family members who are considered to be in the immediate relative category usually obtain their visas within 5-12 months of submitting their applications. Those in the family preference category will experience a longer wait as it can take anywhere from 6 months to 6 years to obtain their visas.

What is the fastest way to bring your wife to USA?

Historically, family reunification has been the easiest and fastest way of bringing your loved ones to the United States.

How much money do I need to bring my wife to USA?

The most common minimum annual income required to sponsor a spouse or family member for a green card is $22,887. This assumes that the sponsor — the U.S. citizen or current green card holder — is not in active military duty and is sponsoring only one relative.

How long does it take to bring spouse to USA with citizenship?

Provided all things being equal and there were no complexities during the application, the total processing time for a spouse green card, on average, is: About 12 to 18 months for U.S. citizen spouse green card. Around 24 to 36 months for a green card holder or lawful permanent resident spouse green card.

How long does it take to bring spouse to USA 2022?

Spousal Sponsorship I-130 Processing Time 2022

It will usually take anywhere from 7 to 24 months for USCIS to process and approve a spousal sponsorship visa. It can take an additional 6 to 10 months to get an immigrant visa to the US.

44 related questions found

How long does it take to get a green card after marriage 2022?

The current total wait time for a marriage-based green card ranges between 9 to 36 months, depending on whether you are married to a U.S. citizen or green card holder and where you currently live (not including possible delays).

Which is faster fiance visa or spouse?

If the goal is for the couple to be together in the U.S. as soon as possible, the K-1 visa is most likely the fast path. From the date of filing to the date of admission to the U.S., it will take approximately 5-10 months on a K-1 fiancé visa. On the other hand, the marriage visa may take 10-16 months.

How long does it take to bring spouse to USA 2021?

Average time - Between five and 14.5 months to get a Form I-130 petition (Petition for Alien Relative) approved by USCIS as of early 2022; another six to 11 months or longer to get an immigrant visa to come to the United States.

How long does it take to bring spouse to USA 2020?

Total Processing Time for a Spouse Green Card

As long as there are no delays or complicating factors: A spouse of a permanent resident's immigration processing time is about 24 to 36 months on average from start to finish. A spouse of a U.S. citizen's Green Card processing time today averages about 12-18 months.

Can my wife stay in the U.S. while waiting for green card?

Adjustment versus Consular Processing

In most cases, spouses who are eligible to adjust status prefer to do so. It allows the foreign spouse to stay in the United States while waiting for the marriage green card. On the other hand, consular processing can often result in quicker processing times.

How long does it take for USCIS to approve I-130 for spouse?

Form I-130 Processing Times

For immediate relatives (spouse or unmarried child) of a U.S. green card holder (legal permanent resident), processing times for Form I-130 currently vary between 5 and 37 months (as of April. 13, 2022).

How long does it take to get work permit after marriage?

Typically, you can expect it to take between five to seven months to receive the employment authorization document (work permit). If you are married to a lawful permanent resident, the time frame to get a work permit after marriage can be considerably longer.

How long does it take to get a fiancé visa 2021?

It takes 10-13 months on average (as of April 2022) for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to process Form I-129F (technically called the “Petition for Alien Fiancé”), and an additional 3-4 weeks to receive instructions from the National Visa Center (NVC) to continue the process.

Can my spouse come to US while waiting for spouse visa?

The visa allows the foreign spouse to join their partner in the U.S. while they await their lawful permanent resident status. Unlike the tourist visa, the K-3 visa applicant has clear intentions of not only visiting their spouse but also staying in the U.S. as they await their green card.

How long does it take to get a green card through marriage 2020?

On average, to get a green card through marriage, you will need between 11 months to 14.5 months. So we can say that to get a marriage green card depends on three main factors that impact the green card timeline.

Can my spouse visit me on tourist visa?

Can my fiancé(e) visit me in the United States on a tourist visa? The short answer is yes, you can. The same rules for spouses of U.S. citizens (as described above) also apply to engaged partners with a pending K-1 (fiancé or fiancee visa).

What percentage of spouse visas are approved?

But considering the USDHS statistics table, experience, and other sources, the spouses' approval rating goes as far as 99%. On the other side, the K-1 visa statistics show a bit less of approval percentage: around 80% of applicants.

Can I divorce after green card?

If you already have a green card and are a permanent resident at the time of the divorce, the divorce should not change your status. However, the divorce may force you to wait longer to apply for naturalization. In this case, you would need to wait five years, rather than three.

Can I bring my girlfriend to USA?

The fiancé(e) K-1 nonimmigrant visa is for the foreign-citizen fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen. The K-1 visa permits the foreign-citizen fiancé(e) to travel to the United States and marry his or her U.S. citizen sponsor within 90 days of arrival.

How long does it take to bring my fiance to USA?

The exact K-1 fiancé processing times can vary, but many applicants are able to enter the United States within 6 to 9 months. There are multiple steps and the process is handled by multiple agencies from (USCIS) to the National Visa Center to the U.S. Department of State.

Can I bring my second wife to USA?

Polygamy is not legal in the United States. Your second marriage is not valid in the United States. You must get legally divorced BEFORE you can marry your second wife.

What documents do I need to bring my wife to USA?

Required Documentation

  • A copy of your valid U.S. passport OR.
  • A copy of your U.S. birth certificate OR.
  • A copy of Consular Report of Birth Abroad OR.
  • A copy of your naturalization certificate OR.
  • A copy of your certificate of citizenship.

How can I sponsor my wife to USA?

If you are a U.S. citizen you have two ways to bring your foreign spouse (husband or wife) to the United States to live. They are: Immigrant visa for a Spouse of a U.S. Citizen (IR1 or CR1) - An immigrant Petition for Alien Relative, Form I-130 is required. Learn more.

What are the benefits of marrying a U.S. citizen?

If you are married to a U.S. citizen, you will enjoy many benefits, but also face a few inconveniences.

  • No Annual Limit on Visas. ...
  • Long Wait for Government Processing of Applications. ...
  • Possibility to Adjust Status After Legal U.S. Entry. ...
  • First Two Years of Residence Are Likely to Be Conditional.

Can I travel after marrying a U.S. citizen?

Can I leave the United States at all after I get married? After you marry a U.S. citizen, you can apply for a green card. While USCIS is processing your application, you can apply for “advance parole,” which gives you permission to travel.