I-130 — Petition for Alien Relative
familyFiling fee: $625
Median wait (p50)
38.0 months
Range: 13.7–38.0 months
Fastest subtype
13.7 months
Immediate Relative
Slowest subtype
38.0 months
All Other Relative
Year-over-year
16.2 mo+16.2 mo
vs. Sep 25 last year
What is I-130?
Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, is the first step in the family-based immigration process. A U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident files this petition to establish a qualifying family relationship with a foreign national relative. Approval of the I-130 does not grant a Green Card directly — it places the beneficiary in line for an immigrant visa.
Who files this form?
- U.S. citizens petitioning for spouses, parents, children, or siblings
- Lawful permanent residents petitioning for spouses or unmarried children
Typical processing time today
Immediate relative petitions (spouses, parents, and unmarried children under 21 of U.S. citizens) are currently processed in about 13–19 months. Other relative categories can take significantly longer due to visa availability backlogs.
I-130 Processing Times by Subtype
Current p50 and p93 wait times across all subtypes
Heatmap
p50 and p93 months by subtype
| p50 | p93 | |
|---|---|---|
| All Other Relative | 38.0 | 53.2 |
| Immediate Relative | 13.7 | 19.2 |
| Row | Column | Value |
|---|---|---|
| All Other Relative | p50 | 38.0 |
| Immediate Relative | p50 | 13.7 |
| All Other Relative | p93 | 53.2 |
| Immediate Relative | p93 | 19.2 |
Range Bars
p50 → p93 spread per subtype
| Series | Typical (p50) | Slow (p93) |
|---|---|---|
| All Other Relative | 38.0 months | 53.2 months |
| Immediate Relative | 13.7 months | 19.2 months |
| Subtype | p50 | p93 | Spread | Explore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Immediate Relative | 13.7 months | 19.2 months | 5.5 mo | Calculate ETA → |
| All Other Relative | 38.0 months | 53.2 months | 15.2 mo | Calculate ETA → |
I-130 Historical Processing Trend
Quarterly median processing time over the available data period
Median Processing Time Trend
7 quarterly data points
| Month | I-130 Median |
|---|---|
| December 2023 | 10.9 months |
| June 2024 | 11.6 months |
| September 2024 | 13.6 months |
| December 2024 | 26.4 months |
| March 2025 | 27.9 months |
| June 2025 | 28.5 months |
| September 2025 | 29.7 months |
Year-over-Year Comparison
Overlay processing times by calendar year to reveal seasonal patterns
I-130 Processing Times by Year
Each line represents one calendar year
| Month | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | — | — | — |
| Feb | — | — | — |
| Mar | — | — | 27.9 months |
| Apr | — | — | — |
| May | — | — | — |
| Jun | — | 11.6 months | 28.5 months |
| Jul | — | — | — |
| Aug | — | — | — |
| Sep | — | 13.6 months | 29.7 months |
| Oct | — | — | — |
| Nov | — | — | — |
| Dec | 10.9 months | 26.4 months | — |
I-130 Volume & Approval Rate
Quarterly case volumes and disposition breakdown
Quarterly Volume Trend
Receipts, approvals, denials, and pending cases
| Month | Receipts | Approvals | Denials | Pending |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 2023 | 235,480 | 172,582 | 31,667 | 2,026,350 |
| June 2024 | 243,397 | 175,966 | 29,058 | 1,949,814 |
| September 2024 | 229,978 | 186,535 | 25,593 | 2,194,373 |
Latest Quarter
FY2024 Q4
| Slice | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Approved | 186,535 | 7.8% |
| Denied | 25,593 | 1.1% |
| Pending | 2,194,373 | 91.2% |
Receipts (latest qtr)
229,978
Approval rate
87.9%
Currently pending
2,194,373
Quarter-over-Quarter Movement
How the median processing time has changed each quarter
Median Changes
Green = faster, Red = slower
| Series | Delta |
|---|---|
| Dec 24 | +12.9 mo |
| Sep 24 | +2.0 mo |
| Mar 25 | +1.5 mo |
| Sep 25 | +1.3 mo |
| Jun 24 | +0.7 mo |
| Jun 25 | +0.6 mo |
Processing Time Distribution for I-130
How processing times for I-130 are distributed, based on national p50 and p93 data
| Metric | Months |
|---|---|
| Typical (p50) | 38.0 months |
| Slow (p93) | 53.2 months |
| Your case | — |
Estimate Your I-130 Timeline
Pre-filled with this form — just pick a subtype and enter your receipt date