What does approval of I-130 mean?

The I-130 Petition is the first part of the marriage-based green card application. If this is approved, it means that USCIS has agreed that your spouse qualifies for a green card and that you have provided the necessary documents to evidence your spousal relationship.

What is the next step after I-130 approval?

Adjustment of Status After I-130 is Approved

The foreign national would file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, as the primary form in an adjustment of status application package.

What does it mean when your petition is approved?

After USCIS approves your petition, they will transfer your case to the Department of State's National Visa Center (NVC) for pre-processing. The first step in this processing is the creation of your case in our system. Once this is complete, we will send you a Welcome Letter by e-mail or physical mail.

How long does it take to hear from NVC after I-130 approval?

That can often take six to eight weeks after approval of the I-130, and possibly even longer. When NVC receives your case, it will send you a notification, typically via email. If you're a "preference relative" (on a waiting list), that delay won't affect you much.

Is there an interview after I-130 approval?

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) does not send an interview notice for the I-130. So, if you file I-130 and I-485 together, that's your marriage-based petition for an alien relative and application for adjustment of status.

How long does it take for NVC to send interview letter 2020?

Interview and Final Fee

Once you've sent your supporting documents, it generally takes 1-2 months before your visa interview is scheduled. You'll receive a notice from either the NVC or your local U.S. consulate informing you of your interview time and date.

What happens after approval notice of I 131?

Once USCIS approves your I-130 application, your application will be sent to the U.S. Department of State's National Visa Center (NVC) for processing. If your family member's case is not subject to immediate processing, your I-130 application will remain with NVC until processing begins.

What happens after NVC approved documents?

After NVC receives your approved petition from USCIS, NVC creates a case file for you at the Department of State and assigns you an NVC case number. NVC will send you a letter or e-mail with your case number and a separate invoice ID number.

How long does it take USCIS to make a decision on I-130?

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.

What's the difference between I-130 and i 485?

What is the difference between Form I-485 and Form I-130? If you are helping a relative apply for a green card, Form I-485 (“Application for Adjustment of Status”) is the second step in the family-based green card process after submitting Form I-130 (“Petition for Alien Relative”).

What does it mean when USCIS is actively reviewing your case?

Simply means USCIS received your your response to the RFE they raised upon the conclusion of your interview and is now in the midst of “reviewing the response and/or documents received” and “no other action is…

What does I 131 approval mean?

Use this form to apply for a re-entry permit, refugee travel document, advance parole travel document (including parole into the U.S. for humanitarian reasons), or advance permission to travel for CNMI long-term residents.

How much does form I 131 cost?

USCIS Filing Fees for Form I-131

The fees are as follows (2022 figures, but double check, as USCIS often raises them): $575 for a reentry document or advance parole, plus an $85 biometrics (fingerprinting) fee for applicants between age 14 and 79 years of age.

How long does it take to get green card after approval notice?

After you receive the welcome notice, you should receive your Green Card in the mail sometime in the next 30 days. Altogether, that means you should receive your Green Card within 60 days of your approval for permanent resident status.

How do I know if my case is complete at NVC?

Confirming NVC Case Complete

Call NVC directly at 1-603-334-0700. In general, the call center is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to midnight, Eastern Standard Time. Consequently, the operator will confirm if you have NVC case complete. NVC text messages can be delayed by several hours to several days.

How do I check my NVC status?

Please log into for your most current case status and for a list of any documents you are required to submit. The latest updates for U.S. Embassies and Consulates, including operating status of the Consular Section, can be found at

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 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.

How long after case is being actively reviewed by USCIS?

According to Lawfully's data analysis of USCIS case status message updates, among the people who received the status message "Case Is Being Actively Reviewed By USCIS," the most probable next update message is "Case Approved," (at 79%) after an average of 9 days.

What happens after I-130 is approved for siblings?

Answer: After USCIS approved the sibling (brother or sister) immigrant visa petition of Form I-130, the U.S. citizen's brother or sister will receive a "priority date," based on the day USCIS first received the Form I-130 petition. Then, the long waiting for immigrant visa will begin.

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.

Do I need to file separate I-130 for my wife and child?

If you are a U.S. citizen petitioning for a spouse, and for your children with that spouse, you need to file separate Forms I-130 for each person.

Does USCIS check your text messages?

It doesn't. The best strategy is simply to assume that anything you post online will be seen and examined by immigration authorities. Some immigration attorneys may even recommend that you refrain from social media use entirely while your visa or green card application is pending.