How long it takes I-130 to get approved?
Noah Mitchell
Published Jan 23, 2026
After filing Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, the approval process can take anywhere from 5 to 12 months for immediate relatives and could take several years for family preference categories. This is an approximation.
How long does it take after your I-130 is approved?
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 do I know if my i-130 is approved?
You can check your I-130 petition's status, and if you notice that your online case status is “approved,” but you still haven't received your NOA2, you can contact USCIS at 1-800-375-5283.
How can I get I-130 approved fast?
You can generally request expedited processing by calling the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833) or by asking Emma after you have obtained a receipt notice.
Can I-130 be approved without interview?
Generally, the Form I-130 petitioner must attend an interview with the principal's adjustment of status applicant, as well as all derivative applicants regardless of filing category.
26 related questions foundWhat's next after filing I-130?
Within two to three weeks after you file, the USCIS will send you written notification that they have received your I-130 petition. In addition, a Form I-797C, Notice of Action, will arrive in the mail, providing you with a receipt number you can use online to check your case status.
Can an I-130 be denied?
Yes, the I-130, like any other visa petition, can also be denied. USCIS denies thousands of such petitions every year – and while the reasons may vary, some of them may be easily avoided.
Is filing I-130 online faster?
Does filing online make things easier or faster? Submitting documents online is naturally faster than sending them through the mail. However, nothing else about the Form I-130 process is different. Filing the form online does not speed up the government's review process, nor does it change what authorities want to see.
How much is the fee for I-130?
What Is the Filing Fee? The filing fee for Form I-130 is $535. The filing fee for this petition cannot be waived. NOTE: The filing fee is not refundable, regardless of any action USCIS takes on this petition.
Why is USCIS taking so long to process 2020?
This backlog is largely due to the USCIS office closures amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Form I-131 (“Application for Travel Document – Advance Parole”): Applications for advance parole saw a large increase in processing times, from 4.6 months in FY 2020 to 7.7 months in FY 2021.
Can I file I-130 twice?
When More Than One Petitioner Should File I-130 for Same Immigrant. If one of the potential petitioners is the intending immigrant's immediate relative, so that the entire application process will go fairly quickly, you could simply file that one application, and assume all will go well.
Can I work while my I-130 is pending?
If you received work authorization while your green card application is pending, there are no restrictions on your employment, and you can work for any employer.
What does I-130 pending mean?
It doesn't mean that your I-130 was denied, nor does it mean it was approved. It just means that they're going to talk about that with you and your spouse or your sponsoring petitioner at the interview.
How long does I-130 take to get approved 2022?
I130 application for US citizen's spouse green card is taking 3 to 10 months at Texas service center.
Why is USCIS so slow?
New policies at USCIS are restricting legal immigration. For example, one policy requires USCIS officers to conduct duplicate reviews of past decisions, adding unnecessary work to each case. Such inefficient policies help explain why processing times are increasing even as USCIS application rates are decreasing.
Can immigration lawyer speed up process?
While an immigration attorney cannot per say “speed up” your case, the immigration attorney is knowledgeable in immigration law and will know the best strategy and options for your case. Undeniably, this avoids any unreasonable delay by anyone lacking specialized knowledge in this area of law.
Can I stay in the US while waiting for I-130?
If your family member or employer has merely started the process off for you, by filing what's known as a petition (typically on USCIS Form I-130 or I-140), that's not enough. A pending or approved petition from a U.S. sponsor gives you no rights to come to or remain in the United States.