Petition for Alien Relative
I-130 · Petition for Alien Relative
How a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident asks USCIS to recognize a qualifying relative for family-based immigration.
Median processing days
420 days
about 1.2 year
Typical range (80%)
180–900 days
Most cases decided within about 2.5 years
Approval rate
91.2%
Trailing 12 months · 2025 Q4
Source: USCIS Processing Times and official quarterly data (2025 Q4 snapshot). For reference only, not a time commitment.
Purpose and process
I-130 is step one of family-based immigration. Approval only establishes the qualifying relationship — it does not grant a visa or green card by itself. The beneficiary must then wait for the Visa Bulletin and either consular process through NVC or adjust status inside the U.S. with I-485.
Immediate relatives (spouse, unmarried child under 21, parents of U.S. citizens) have no annual cap; other categories are limited by the Visa Bulletin.
Who files it
U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPRs).
Official references
Common USCIS statuses for this form
Case Was Received
USCIS has received your filing and generated a receipt number. This is only the starting point — active review has not begun yet.
Case Was Approved
The case is approved.
Request For Additional Evidence Was Sent
USCIS issued a Request for Evidence — the officer needs additional evidence before making a decision.
Case Was Sent To The National Visa Center
USCIS forwarded the approved immigrant petition to the National Visa Center for consular processing.
Frequently asked questions
How long after I-130 approval until the green card?
Approval is only the first step. If the beneficiary is abroad, NVC processing, DS-260 and a consular interview add several months to years. If the beneficiary is in the U.S. and the priority date is current, they can file I-485 to adjust status. Total time depends on the category and country of birth.
How long does I-130 usually take?
Petitions filed by U.S. citizens for spouses, minor children or parents are usually 10–18 months. LPR petitions for spouses and minor children are similar. Sibling and married-child categories often take many years.
I-130 shows Case Was Approved — what next?
Beneficiaries abroad receive NVC emails and follow its instructions to pay fees and submit civil / financial documents. Beneficiaries in the U.S. can file I-485 alongside, or right after, if the priority date is current.
Track your I-130 case
Enter your receipt number. MyCases polls USCIS on a schedule and alerts you the moment the status changes — by email, Telegram or WeChat Work. Free forever.
General information only, not legal advice. Official USCIS notices in writing always take precedence.