USCIS Processing Times for I-130s and I-129Fs Remain Stubbornly High

Contents

Summary
Methodology
Table 1: Processing Times for standalone I-130s for immediate relatives and I-129Fs
Table 2: Numbers of I-130s received, approved, denied, and pending at each service center

Summary

This article focuses on processing times for Forms I-130 (Petitions for Alien Relatives) on behalf of immediate relatives (i.e., spouses, parents, and children under age 21) and Forms I-129F (Petitions for Alien Fiancé(e)s) who will apply for their visas at U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad.

Table 1 below, based on our firm’s monthly check of USCIS processing times, shows that average processing times for such cases have decreased during the Biden administration:

I-130s:
- Nov. 2022: 12 mo.
- Jan. 2021: 13.5-17.5 mo.
I-129Fs:
- Nov. 2022: 13 mo.
- Jan. 2021: 14-18 mo.

USCIS is receiving an increased number of such I-130s:

2021: 310,877
2020: 236,767

According to USCIS’ own analysis, “Across the agency, the volume of pending cases increased.” Specifically, the number of such I-130s that are pending has increased significantly, suggesting that it will be difficult to significantly decrease processing times:

Mar. 2022: 334,652
Dec. 2020: 176,172

The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) has similarly reported on the Biden administration’s “still-growing backlog” and continuing “crisis-level processing delays.”

In response to AILA and other advocates, the Biden administration has promised to decrease cycle times to 6 months by Oct. 2023. See USCIS Announces New Cycle Time Goals. It remains to be seen whether that goal can be reached.

Methodology

Table 1 shows processing times at all Service Centers for:

Forms I-130, Petitions for Alien Relatives, filed by U.S. citizens for immediate relatives (i.e., spouses, parents, or children under 21). More specifically, these processing times are for standalone I-130s, meaning I-130s not filed together with Form I-485, Application to Adjust Status; and
Forms I-129F, Petitions for Alien Fiancé(e)s. Upon approval of such petitions, the beneficiaries apply for K-1 or K-2 visas at U.S. consular posts abroad.

Source: USCIS Case Processing Times. These I-130s and I-129Fs are filed with USCIS lockboxes and from there routed to different Service Centers according to workload.

Note that that the “average” processing times listed in Table 1 are the median of the processing times listed for each Service Center. These averages are not weighted by the number of petitions adjudicated at each center. This “average” may overstate processing times somewhat since presumably as USCIS lockboxes receive new I-130s they tend to route them for adjudication to Service Centers with the ability to adjudicate them quickest.

Table 2 shows numbers of I-130s received, approved, denied, and pending at each service center. Source: “Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, by Category, Case Status, and USCIS Field Office or Service Center Location,” USCIS Performance Data.

Table 1: Processing Times for standalone I-130s for immediate relatives and I-129Fs

Date Checked: 2022-11-22
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	10.5	2021-10-21
“	Nebraska	10.5	2021-10-09
“	Potomac	12	2021-08-22
“	Texas	11.5	2021-08-29
“	Vermont	16	2021-03-01
“	Average	12
I-129F	California	15	2021-08-13
“	Nebraska	3.5	2022-06-07
“	Potomac	8	2022-11-12
“	Texas	15	2021-07-12
“	Vermont	22	2019-11-10
“	Average	13

Date Checked: 2022-10-22
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	10.5	2021-09-22
“	Nebraska	10.5	2021-09-10
“	Potomac	12	2021-07-24
“	Texas	11.5	2021-07-31
“	Vermont	16	2021-01-31
“	Average	12
I-129F	California	14	2021-07-15
“	Nebraska	4	2022-05-13
“	Potomac	5	2022-02-26
“	Texas	14	2021-07-15
“	Vermont	20	2019-11-02
“	Average	11.5

Date Checked: 2022-09-22
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	10.5	2021-08-24
“	Nebraska	10.5	2021-08-12
“	Potomac	12	2021-06-25
“	Texas	11.5	2021-07-02
“	Vermont	16	2021-01-02
“	Average	12
I-129F	California	13.5	2021-06-29
“	Nebraska	4.5	2022-04-04
“	Potomac	4.5	2022-02-27
“	Texas	13	2021-07-02
“	Vermont	5.5	2020-03-11
“	Average	8

Date Checked: 2022-08-22
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	10.5	2021-07-22
“	Nebraska	10.5	2021-07-10
“	Potomac	12	2021-05-23
“	Texas	11.5	2021-05-30
“	Vermont	16	2020-11-30
“	Average	12
I-129F	California	13.5	2021-05-27
“	Nebraska	4.5	2022-03-02
“	Potomac	4.5	2022-01-25
“	Texas	13	2021-05-30
“	Vermont	5.5	2020-02-07
“	Average	8

Date Checked: 2022-07-22
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	10.5	2021-06-24
“	Nebraska	10.5	2022-06-12
“	Potomac	12	2021-04-25
“	Texas	11.5	2021-05-02
“	Vermont	16	2020-11-02
“	Average	12
I-129F	California	13.5	2021-04-29
“	Nebraska	4.5	2022-02-02
“	Potomac	4.5	2021-12-28
“	Texas	13	2021-06-02
“	Vermont	5.5	2022-01-10
“	Average	8

Date Checked: 2022-06-22
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	9.5	2021-07-01
“	Nebraska	6	2021-11-05
“	Potomac	12	2021-03-09
“	Texas	11.5	2021-03-31
“	Vermont	15	2020-11-09
“	Average	11
I-129F	California	13	2021-03-31
“	Nebraska	4.5	2021-12-31
“	Potomac	4.5	2021-11-21
“	Texas	12.5	2021-04-04
“	Vermont	5	2020-03-02
“	Average	8

Date Checked: 2022-05-22
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	9.5	2021-06-07
“	Nebraska	6	2021-10-12
“	Potomac	12	2021-02-13
“	Texas	11.5	2021-03-07
“	Vermont	15	2020-10-16
“	Average	11
I-129F	California	13	2021-03-07
“	Nebraska	4.5	2021-12-07
“	Potomac	4.5	2021-10-28
“	Texas	12.5	2021-03-11
“	Vermont	5	2020-02-07
“	Average	8

Date Checked: 2022-04-22
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	6.5 – 8.5	2021-08-20
“	Nebraska	5 – 7	2021-09-24
“	Potomac	10 – 13	2021-03-27
“	Texas	11 – 14.5	2021-02-18
“	Vermont	12 – 16	2021-01-03
“	Average	9 – 12
I-129F	California	10 – 13	2021-03-27
“	Nebraska	none shown	none shown
“	Potomac	none shown	none shown
“	Texas	none shown	none shown
“	Vermont	none shown	none shown
“	Average	10 – 13

Date Checked: 2022-03-22
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	6.5 – 8.5	2021-07-20
“	Nebraska	5 – 7	2021-08-24
“	Potomac	10 – 13	2021-02-24
“	Texas	11 – 14.5	2021-01-18
“	Vermont	12 – 16	2020-12-03
“	Average	9 – 12
I-129F	California	10 – 13	2021-02-24
“	Nebraska	none shown	none shown
“	Potomac	none shown	none shown
“	Texas	none shown	none shown
“	Vermont	none shown	none shown
“	Average	10 – 13

Date Checked: 2022-02-22
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	29.5 – 38.5	2018-12-20
“	Nebraska	4.5 – 7	2021-07-27
“	Potomac	12.5 – 16	2020-11-01
“	Texas	10.5 – 14	2021-01-04
“	Vermont	11.5 – 15	2020-12-05
“	Average	13.5 – 18
I-129F	California	9 – 12	2021-03-07
“	Nebraska	none shown	none shown
“	Potomac	none shown	none shown
“	Texas	none shown	none shown
“	Vermont	none shown	none shown
“	Average	9 – 12

Date Checked: 2022-01-22
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	28.5 – 37	2019-01-03
“	Nebraska	4 – 7	2021-06-29
“	Potomac	12 – 16	2020-10-10
“	Texas	10.5 – 13.5	2020-12-15
“	Vermont	10.5 – 13.5	2020-12-17
“	Average	13 – 17.5
I-129F	California	7 – 9.5	2021-04-25
“	Nebraska	none shown	none shown
“	Potomac	none shown	none shown
“	Texas	none shown	none shown
“	Vermont	none shown	none shown
“	Average	7 – 9.5

Date Checked: 2021-12-22
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	27.5 – 35.5	2019-01-10
“	Nebraska	3.5 – 7	2021-05-26
“	Potomac	12.5 – 16	2020-08-31
“	Texas	10.5 – 14	2020-11-04
“	Vermont	10 – 13	2020-12-05
“	Average	13 – 17
I-129F	California	6.5 – 8.5	2021-04-19
“	Nebraska	none shown	none shown
“	Potomac	none shown	none shown
“	Texas	none shown	none shown
“	Vermont	none shown	none shown
“	Average	6.5 – 8.5

Date Checked: 2021-11-24
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	26.5 – 34.5	2019-01-21
“	Nebraska	3.5 – 7	2021-04-28
“	Potomac	12.5 – 16.5	2020-07-19
“	Texas	10.5 – 13.5	2020-10-18
“	Vermont	9.5 – 12.5	2020-11-19
“	Average	12.5 – 17
I-129F	California	6 – 8	2021-03-27
“	Nebraska	none shown	none shown
“	Potomac	none shown	none shown
“	Texas	none shown	none shown
“	Vermont	none shown	none shown
“	Average	6 – 8

Date Checked: 2021-10-22
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	25.5 – 33	2019-01-28
“	Nebraska	3 – 7	2021-03-26
“	Potomac	13 – 16.5	2020-06-08
“	Texas	10 – 13	2020-10-05
“	Vermont	9.5 – 12	2020-10-30
“	Average	12 – 16.5
I-129F	California	6 – 8	2021-02-28
“	Nebraska	none shown	none shown
“	Potomac	none shown	none shown
“	Texas	none shown	none shown
“	Vermont	none shown	none shown
“	Average	6 – 8

Date Checked: 2021-09-22
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	24.5 – 32	2019-02-07
“	Nebraska	2.5 – 7	2021-02-25
“	Potomac	13 – 16.5	2020-05-10
“	Texas	10 – 13	2020-09-06
“	Vermont	23.5 – 30	2019-03-28
“	Average	14.5 – 19.5
I-129F	California	6 – 8	2021-01-25
“	Nebraska	none shown	none shown
“	Potomac	none shown	none shown
“	Texas	none shown	none shown
“	Vermont	9 – 11.5	2020-10-13
“	Average	7.5 – 10

Date Checked: 2021-08-22
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	23.5 – 30.5	2019-2-19
“	Nebraska	1.5 – 7	2021-1-28
“	Potomac	13 – 17	2020-04-11
“	Texas	9 – 11.5	2020-09-23
“	Vermont	32 – 41.5	2018-03-24
“	Average	16 – 21.5
I-129F	California	6 – 8	2020-12-28
“	Nebraska	none shown	none shown
“	Potomac	none shown	none shown
“	Texas	none shown	none shown
“	Vermont	8 – 10.5	2020-10-25
“	Average	7 – 9

Date Checked: 2021-07-22
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	22.5 – 29	2019-2-23
“	Nebraska	1 – 7	2020-12-24
“	Potomac	13 – 17	2020-03-01
“	Texas	8.5 – 10.5	2020-09-07
“	Vermont	31 – 40	2018-03-28
“	Average	13 – 21
I-129F	California	5.5 – 7.5	2020-12-13
“	Nebraska	none shown	none shown
“	Potomac	none shown	none shown
“	Texas	none shown	none shown
“	Vermont	7 – 9	2020-10-26
“	Average	6 – 8

Date Checked: 2021-05-27
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	21.5 – 28	2019-02-09
“	Nebraska	2 – 7	2020-10-30
“	Potomac	13 – 17	2020-01-09
“	Texas	8.5 – 10.5	2020-07-13
“	Vermont	30 – 39	2018-03-13
“	Average	15 – 20.5
I-129F	California	6 – 8	2020-10-04
“	Nebraska	none shown	none shown
“	Potomac	none shown	none shown
“	Texas	none shown	none shown
“	Vermont	6 – 8	2020-10-04
“	Average	6 – 8

Date Checked: 2021-04-27
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	20.5 – 26.5	2019-02-17
“	Nebraska	2 – 7	2020-10-31
“	Potomac	13 – 16.5	2019-12-18
“	Texas	8 – 10.5	2020-06-23
“	Vermont	29 – 37.5	2018-03-22
“	Average	14.5 – 19.5
I-129F	California	5.5 – 7.5	2020-09-20
“	Nebraska	none shown	none shown
“	Potomac	none shown	none shown
“	Texas	none shown	none shown
“	Vermont	5 – 7	2020-10-01
“	Average	5.5 – 7.5

Date Checked: 2021-03-27
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	19.5 – 25.5	2019-02-27
“	Nebraska	2 – 7	2020-08-31
“	Potomac	12.5 – 16.5	2019-11-23
“	Texas	9 – 12	2020-04-02
“	Vermont	28 – 36	2018-03-31
“	Average	14 – 19.5
I-129F	California	5 – 7	2020-08-29
“	Nebraska	none shown	none shown
“	Potomac	none shown	none shown
“	Texas	none shown	none shown
“	Vermont	23.5 – 30	2018-09-29
“	Average	14 – 18.5

Date Checked: 2021-02-27
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	18.5 – 24	2019-03-11
“	Nebraska	5 – 7	2020-08-02
“	Potomac	12 – 16	2019-11-16
“	Texas	8.5 – 11	2020-04-03
“	Vermont	27 – 35	2018-04-12
“	Average	12.5 – 18.5
I-129F	California	5.5 – 7.5	2020-08-01
“	Nebraska	none shown	none shown
“	Potomac	none shown	none shown
“	Texas	none shown	none shown
“	Vermont	22.5 – 29	2018-10-11
“	Average	14 – 18

Date Checked: 2021-01-27
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	16 – 21	2019-05-08
“	Nebraska	6 – 8	2020-06-09
“	Potomac	11.5 – 15	2019-11-02
“	Texas	8.5 – 10.5	2020-03-17
“	Vermont	26 – 33.5	2018-04-18
“	Average	13.5 – 17.5
I-129F	California	6 – 8	2020-06-03
“	Nebraska	none shown	none shown
“	Potomac	none shown	none shown
“	Texas	none shown	none shown
“	Vermont	21.5 – 27.5	2018-10-17
“	Average	14 – 18

Date Checked: 2020-12-27
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	15 – 19.5	2019-05-17
“	Nebraska	7 – 9	2020-04-09
“	Potomac	11.5 – 14.5	2019-10-15
“	Texas	8 – 10.5	2020-02-23
“	Vermont	25 – 32.5	2018-04-27
“	Average	13.5 – 17
I-129F	California	7.5 – 9.5	2020-03-27
“	Nebraska	none shown	none shown
“	Potomac	none shown	none shown
“	Texas	none shown	none shown
“	Vermont	20.5 – 26.5	2018-10-26
“	Average	14 – 18

Date Checked: 2020-11-27
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	14 – 18.5	2019-05-25
“	Nebraska	7 – 9.5	2020-02-27
“	Potomac	11 – 14.5	2019-09-24
“	Texas	7.5 – 9.5	2020-02-13
“	Vermont	24 – 31.5	2018-04-26
“	Average	13 – 17
I-129F	California	6.5 – 8	2020-03-30
“	Nebraska	none shown	none shown
“	Potomac	none shown	none shown
“	Texas	none shown	none shown
“	Vermont	18.5 – 24	2019-01-29
“	Average	12.5 – 16

Date Checked: 2020-10-27
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	12 – 16	2019-07-14
“	Nebraska	6.5 – 8.5	2020-02-20
“	Potomac	10.5 – 13.5	2019-09-17
“	Texas	6.5 – 8.5	2021-02-21
“	Vermont	22 – 28.5	2018-06-15
“	Average	11.5 – 15
I-129F	California	5 – 7	2020-03-30
“	Nebraska	none shown	none shown
“	Potomac	none shown	none shown
“	Texas	none shown	none shown
“	Vermont	16.5 – 21.5	2019-01-29
“	Average	11 – 14

Date Checked: 2020-09-27
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	11 – 14.5	2019-07-24
“	Nebraska	6.5 – 8.5	2017-01-17
“	Potomac	9 – 11.5	2019-10-15
“	Texas	6 – 7.5	2020-01-13
“	Vermont	21 – 27.5	2018-06-25
“	Average	11 – 14
I-129F	California	5 – 7	2020-02-29
“	Nebraska	none shown	none shown
“	Potomac	none shown	none shown
“	Texas	none shown	none shown
“	Vermont	15.5 – 20	2019–01-29
“	Average	10 – 13.5

Date Checked: 2020-08-27
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	11 – 14.5	2019-06-23
“	Nebraska	6.5 – 8.5	2019-12-17
“	Potomac	9 – 11.5	2019-07-14
“	Texas	6 – 7.5	2020-01-13
“	Vermont	21 – 27.5	2018-05-25
“	Average	11 – 14
I-129F	California	5 – 7	2020-01-29
“	Nebraska	none shown	none shown
“	Potomac	none shown	none shown
“	Texas	none shown	none shown
“	Vermont	15.5 – 20	2018-12-29
“	Average	10 – 13.5

Date Checked: 2020-07-28
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	5 – 7	2019-12-29
“	Nebraska	7 – 9.5	2019-10-27
“	Potomac	10 – 12.5	2019-07-17
“	Texas	4.5 – 7	2019-12-31
“	Vermont	20.5 – 26.5	2018-05-25
“	Average	9.4 – 12.5
I-129F	California	5 – 7	2019-12-28
“	Nebraska	none shown	none shown
“	Potomac	none shown	none shown
“	Texas	none shown	none shown
“	Vermont	14.5 – 19	2019-01-07
“	Average	10 – 13

Date Checked: 2020-06-28
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	none shown	none shown
“	Nebraska	10.5 – 13.5	2019-05-26
“	Potomac	7 – 9	2019-10-02
“	Texas	6 – 8	2019-11-07
“	Vermont	19.5 – 25	2018-06-03
“	Average	11 – 14
I-129F	California	5 – 7	2019-11-29
“	Nebraska	none shown	none shown
“	Potomac	none shown	none shown
“	Texas	none shown	none shown
“	Vermont	13.5 – 17.5	2019-01-16
“	Average	9 – 12

Date Checked: 2020-05-22
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	none shown	none shown
“	Nebraska	12.5 – 16	2019-01-30
“	Potomac	7 – 9	2019-08-27
“	Texas	5 – 7	2019-10-25
“	Vermont	17.5 – 22.5	2018-07-14
“	Average	10.5 – 13.5
I-129F	California	5 – 7	2019-10-23
“	Nebraska	none shown	none shown
“	Potomac	none shown	none shown
“	Texas	none shown	none shown
“	Vermont	17 – 22.5	2018-07-23
“	Average	11 – 15

Date Checked: 2020-04-23
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	none shown	none shown
“	Nebraska	12.5 – 16	2018-12-31
“	Potomac	9 – 12	2019-05-07
“	Texas	7.5 – 9.5	2019-07-21
“	Vermont	16.5 – 21	2018-07-25
“	Average	11.5 – 14.5
I-129F	California	5 – 7	2019-09-30
“	Nebraska	none shown	none shown
“	Potomac	none shown	none shown
“	Texas	none shown	none shown
“	Vermont	16 – 21	2018-08-09
“	Average	10.5 – 14

Table 2: Numbers of I-130s received, approved, denied, and pending at each service center

Period	Service Center	Petitions Received	Approved	Denied	Pending
Apr. 2022-Jun. 2022	California	23,283	10,282	557	108,123
	Nebraska	23,441	14,221	3,012	73,530
	Texas	23,418	14,857	3,296	92,430
	Vermont	23,940	14,168	523	102,055
	Potomac	23,409	12,670	1,264	105,679
	Total	117,491	66,198	8,652	481,817
Jan. – Mar. 2022	California	20,903	11,244	1,077	67,048
”	Nebraska	21,012	19,344	24,742	37,134
”	Texas	21,031	15,670	2,682	78,237
”	Vermont	21,197	14,745	498	72,397
”	Potomac	21,083	12,757	1,412	79,836
”	Total	87,226	73,760	30,411	334,652
2021 Total	—	310,887	221,296	19,229	—
Oct. – Dec. 2021	California	20,418	8,976	772	58,660
“	Nebraska	19,502	12,598	791	34,230
“	Texas	19,536	11,601	886	74,887
“	Vermont	21,437	8,640	392	65,918
“	Potomac	19,690	12,459	4,746	75,080
“	Total	80,165	45,298	6,815	250,115
Jul. – Sept. 2021	California	19,964	9,473	626	48,006
”	Nebraska	20,101	14,086	957	26,814
”	Texas	20,105	15,698	1,137	69,088
”	Vermont	20,262	9,560	490	54,883
”	Potomac	20,167	15,633	1,061	69,981
“	Total	80,635	54,977	3,645	220,766
Apr. -Jun. 2021	California	21,877	4,989	675	38,231
”	Nebraska	21,964	20,605	1,263	20,137
”	Texas	21,888	12,810	1,168	66,601
”	Vermont	22,310	8,045	475	44,270
”	Potomac	22,035	13,216	1,215	67,387
“	Total	88,197	54,676	4,121	198,395
Jan. -Mar. 2021	California	10,915	7,595	965	21,180
”	Nebraska	18,045	21,142	1,736	19,812
”	Texas	18,737	19,943	1,112	58,116
”	Vermont	11,078	10,413	881	28,708
”	Potomac	14,020	14,847	919	60,096
“	Total	61,880	66,345	4,648	166,732
2020 Total	—	236,787	239,144	23,956	—
Oct.-Dec. 2020	California	4,924	6,268	818	16,427
”	Nebraska	12,475	20,311	1,809	24,370
”	Texas	19,653	16,546	1,077	63,422
”	Vermont	4,580	6,571	400	25,803
”	Potomac	14,083	11,400	1,041	62,577
“	Total	50,791	54,828	4,327	176,172
Jul.-Sept. 2020	California	5,732	7,603	1.196	16,832
”	Nebraska	16,159	21,816	3,019	31,720
”	Texas	26,090	16,828	999	60,008
”	Vermont	5,705	6,651	188	27,453
”	Potomac	14,482	13,151	1,575	59,317
“	Total	62,436	58,446	5,781	178,498
Apr.-June 2020	California	3,981	16,004	2,972	17,373
“	Nebraska	12,832	23,723	4,729	39,942
“	Texas	17,078	25,981	707	52,814
“	Vermont	4,175	7,289	155	27,149
“	Potomac	11,317	14,458	1,202	58,296
“	Total	62,436	58,446	5,781	178,498
Jan.-Mar. 2020	California	7,516	2,999	613	27,590
“	Nebraska	22,285	21,512	4,220	62,060
“	Texas	28,624	21,954	1,669	68,456
“	Vermont	7,910	4,346	111	37,540
“	Potomac	19,339	6,607	1,055	69,778
“	Total	78,158	54,419	7,055	237,834
Oct.-Dec. 2019	California	(Data withheld)	3,005	551	5,088
“	Nebraska	27,923	22,215	1,511	94,925
“	Texas	41,411	35,577	1,995	96,169
“	Vermont	252	287	129	3,366
“	Potomac	19.052	7,678	1,205	53,296
“	Total	69,605	65,757	4,840	247,756

29 comments

Dennis Walter says:
August 19, 2020 at 1:23 am
With the current COVID situation, what is the I-129f situation and are there any steps one can take to ensure a prompt processing?
Reply
1. Gary Chodorow says:
  September 6, 2020 at 10:41 am
  See Consular Posts May Prioritize K-1 Visas.
  Reply
Bukaz yasin says:
September 11, 2020 at 6:49 pm
How long will processing of my I-129F petition take? It was received by USCIS on June 11.
Reply
1. Gary Chodorow says:
  September 13, 2020 at 11:35 am
  Bukaz: You raise an important question. The processing times shown here report current processing times. But you are asking for a prediction about future processing times, which may be impacted by various factors, such as: (a) how will COVID-19 impact the number of applications/petitions submitted and the number of officers assigned to adjudicate them? (b) how will USCIS’ budgetary woes (Update: USCIS Cancels Employee Furlough, But Processing Delays Loom) impact processing times? (c) what priority is USCIS giving to this type of case now under the Trump administration, and how might that change if there were a Biden administration? Unfortunately, I don’t have a crystal ball.
  Reply
Rupi says:
September 15, 2020 at 8:01 pm
Hi
My priority date is October 2019 for an I-130 in the F2A category (spouse or unmarried child of a permanent resident) filed at the California Service Center. The processing times posted by USCIS seem to increase every month.
Thanks
Reply
1. Tina says:
  October 6, 2020 at 1:01 am
  I’m having this problem too
  Reply
Alysha says:
September 19, 2020 at 4:46 pm
Hi
I’m a US citizen. I filed an I-130 for my spouse. The Texas Service Center received it May 7, 2019, but no decision has been made yet. What should I do?
Reply
1. Gary Chodorow says:
  September 20, 2020 at 11:18 am
  Alysha: USCIS suggests: “We have posted a ‘Receipt date for a case inquiry’ … to show when you can inquire about your case. If your receipt date is before the ‘Receipt date for a case inquiry,’ you can submit an ‘outside normal processing time’ service request online.” You may also want to scheduled a consultation to have our firm review your I-130 for any issues that could potentially cause delay.
  Reply
King says:
September 19, 2020 at 8:32 pm
My receipt date on Form I-129F for K3 (spouse of U.S. citizen) is December 2019. It is already outside the normal processing time per USCIS website. I completed the Form for Outside Normal Processing Time, waited 1 month, no response. Are they really processing I129Fs?
Reply
1. Gary Chodorow says:
  September 20, 2020 at 11:11 am
  King: Thanks for checking in. This webpage tracks processing time for K-1s and K-2s but not K-3s or K-4s.
  Reply
VCP says:
November 2, 2020 at 11:40 pm
Hello!! I submitted I-130s for my parents in Nov. 2019. When do you think the I-130s will be adjudicated?
Reply
1. Gary Chodorow says:
  November 4, 2020 at 5:50 pm
  VCP: Which USCIS service center are the I-130s pending at?
  Reply
2. PMC says:
  November 12, 2020 at 7:35 am
  Hello. USCIS sent a receipt notice of our I-129F K-1 Fiancé Visa on April 13, 2020.
  The last update on their website about our case is from April 15, 2020. (Current status: Case was receieved)
  Should we expect an update in the next 4 days as it will be 7months by that time?
  Reply
  1. Gary Chodorow says:
    November 12, 2020 at 7:45 am
    PMC:
    Start by checking the status of your I-129F online. Find the receipt number on your receipt notice and then check the status here: https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/landing.do.
    Assuming the status shows your case is still pending, you next should look at your receipt notice to identify which USCIS service center is handling your case. Then, you can look at the above table to identify the estimated processing time. Finally, if the receipt date for your I-129F is earlier than the “receipt date for a case inquiry,” you should file an inquiry with USCIS to check the status of your case. The inquiry can be made by phone to the USCIS Contact Center or by using the “Case Outside Normal Processing Time” e-Request form at https://egov.uscis.gov/e-request/Intro.do.
    Reply
PMC says:
November 12, 2020 at 7:53 am
Thank you sir. Our I-129F is at the California Service Center.
Reply
1. Gary Chodorow says:
  November 12, 2020 at 8:05 am
  PMC: So, it’s still too early to file an inquiry per the “Receipt Date for Case Inquiry.” Hopefully you’ll receive your decision soon.
  Reply
Lucky says:
November 17, 2020 at 11:20 am
Hi, why is there no I-129F processing time listed for the USCIS Texas Service Center?
Reply
1. Gary Chodorow says:
  November 17, 2020 at 11:37 am
  Lucky: USCIS has not assigned USCIS Texas, Potomac, or Nebraska Service Center to adjudicate I-129Fs. All I-129Fs are currently being adjudicated by the California and Vermont Service Centers.
  Reply
Aida Garcia says:
December 18, 2020 at 11:09 am
Hola Abogado…
Presenté dos formularios de I-130 para mis hijos menores de edad.En este caso mi petición es de primer órden??
Que tiempo se podría demorar???
Lo están procesando en en Centro de Servicios de Nebraska.
Gracias…
Reply
1. Gary Chodorow says:
  December 18, 2020 at 11:13 am
  Hola Aida: Si usted es ciudadana y sus hijos menores de eded son solteros, entonces estas peticiones deben ser clasificados “immediate relatives.”
  Reply
Laura says:
February 10, 2021 at 4:23 am
Hello – Is there a way to determine whether the California or Vermont Service Center will process my I-129F? They both have drastically different processing times so I am just curious as to what factors will determine which service center processes the application. Thanks in advance!
Reply
1. Gary Chodorow says:
  February 10, 2021 at 7:27 am
  Laura: USCIS says these I-130s and I-129Fs are filed with USCIS lockboxes and from there routed to different Service Centers according to “workload.” https://www.uscis.gov/forms/all-forms/service-center-forms-processing.
  Reply
bh jones says:
May 31, 2021 at 10:01 pm
Just to get this right, it is now taking 3 years to process I-130s through the Vermont Service Center?!? Really?? The “Receipt date for a case inquiry” is the full 39 months earlier. A year earlier it was 16 to 18 months (less than 1/2 the time). Did the people at the VSC just take a year’s vacation during Covid?
Is there any type of “National Association of Immigration Attorneys”? Can’t you guys talk to someone in charge to say “Hey, what’s the problem here?”.
Reply
1. Gary Chodorow says:
  June 1, 2021 at 8:14 am
  BH Jones: The first thing to realize is that the Trump administration policy was to slow legal immigration, and many tactics were used to that end, including slowing down I-130 processing times.
  The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) is advocating strongly that the Biden administration restore reasonable processing times. For example, see America as a Welcoming Nation: A Roadmap, https://www.aila.org/advo-media/tools/ailastandswithdreamers-week-of-action/american-as-a-welcoming-nation-a-roadmap. And for more details, see Policy Brief: How USCIS Can Dismantle the Invisible Wall Slowing Case Adjudication, https://www.aila.org/advo-media/aila-policy-briefs/policy-brief-recommendations-for-how-uscis.
  Hopefully the Biden administration will take steps to turn around the trend of increasing processing times. Here is one policy statement by the administration: FACT SHEET: President Biden Outlines Steps to Reform Our Immigration System by Keeping Families Together, Addressing the Root Causes of Irregular Migration, and Streamlining the Legal Immigration System, https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/02/02/fact-sheet-president-biden-outlines-steps-to-reform-our-immigration-system-by-keeping-families-together-addressing-the-root-causes-of-irregular-migration-and-streamlining-the-legal-immigration-syst/
  Reply
  1. bh jones says:
    June 4, 2021 at 2:44 am
    Gary, thanks for the reply and the links.
    “The first thing to realize is that the Trump administration policy was to slow legal immigration, and many tactics were used to that end, including slowing down I-130 processing times.” Imagine your boss telling you to “work slower”.
    Reply
Hossein says:
September 22, 2021 at 5:54 am
Now that the I130 is taking so long at the california center, should I apply for K3 visa right after applying for I 130 ?
Reply
1. Gary Chodorow says:
  September 27, 2021 at 8:44 am
  Probably not. See Choosing the Best Visa Strategy for a Fiancée or Spouse: K-1, K-3, or CR1/IR1 Immigrant Visa?.
  Reply
Erik says:
June 27, 2022 at 10:14 am
Are I-129Fs still only being processed in California?
Reply
1. Gary Chodorow says:
  July 2, 2022 at 8:10 am
  Erik: Our above table shows that I-129Fs are being processed at the California and Vermont Service Centers.
  Reply

Summary

Methodology

Table 1: Processing Times for standalone I-130s for immediate relatives and I-129Fs

Table 2: Numbers of I-130s received, approved, denied, and pending at each service center

29 comments

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