Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, is the first step in sponsoring a family member for a Green Card. Processing times vary depending on the category type.
Our data indicates that Immediate Relatives (IR) of U.S. citizens (spouses, parents, and children under 18) going through consular processing are currently taking about 14 months. Petitions filed from within the U.S. together with an Adjustment of Status (Form I-485) are typically processed faster. Other family-based categories are subject to annual visa quotas, which often result in significantly longer processing times.
To help applicants stay informed, Track My Visa provides free case tracking and backlog insights for I-130 petitions. By joining our platform, you can follow your case progress, explore real processing patterns, and better understand where your petition stands - all at no cost. Basic tracking and insights are free, forever, as part of our commitment to supporting I-130 applicants.
To better understand the differences between Immediate Relative and Family Preference categories, visit our FAQ.
What does the current case backlog look like?
This graph shows the current status of I-130 applications being tracked on Track My Visa.
The backlog helps us understand the big picture. For example, we can see that USCIS generally processes cases in the order they were received.
Petitions filed with an Adjustment of Status (AOS) have the lowest wait times and are being processed on the right most side of the graph. In the middle of the graph, you will find a large spike in approvals and DOS transfers, corresponding to the processing of Immediate Relative consular petitions. Applications subject to annual visa quotas account for about 20% of all I-130 cases and may take much longer to be processed. We are actively growing our I-130 membership. Graphs will get more accurate as more applicants join our free product offering!
Like graphs like these? We offer many more free and paid insights, as well as free case tracking!
