Updated USCIS Processing Times for I-130s and I-129Fs

March 22, 2024

Contents

Summary
Methodology
Table 1: Processing Times for standalone I-130s for immediate relatives and I-129Fs
Table 2: Numbers of immediate relative 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 slightly during the Biden administration, but processing times remain at a crisis level:

I-130s:
- Mar. 2024: 14 mo.
- Jan. 2023: 12 mo
- Jan. 2022: 13 – 17.5 mo.
- Jan. 2021: 13.5-17.5 mo.
I-129Fs:
- Mar. 2024: 12 mo.
- Jan. 2023: 10.5 mo
- Jan. 2022: 7 – 9.5 mo.
- Jan. 2021: 14-18 mo.

Table 2 below shows that at service centers the number of I-130s for immediate relatives approved in 2022 was up 211% over 2020, but the number pending at the end of 2022 was also up 264% over 2020:

2022:
- Approved: 506,854
- Pending: 466,837
2021
- Approved: 221,296
- Pending: 250,115
2020:
- Approved: 239,144
- Pending: 176,172

In response to AILA and other advocates, the Biden administration promised to decrease cycle times to 6 months by Oct. 2023. See USCIS Announces New Cycle Time Goals (Mar. 29, 2022). The administration did not reach that goal. See USICS, Completing an Unprecedented 10 Million Immigration Cases in Fiscal Year 2023, USCIS Reduced Its Backlog for the First Time in Over a Decade (Feb. 9, 2024).

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.

Changes in USCIS reporting methodology:

In Dec. 2003, for I-130s, USCIS began reporting just the “average” processing times across all Service Centers. USCIS explained: “USCIS posts one processing time for any Service Center location that processes Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative, specifically for Immediate Relative (IR) classification.  We keep these requests in an electronic system that allows us generally to assign adjudication-ready cases in the order USCIS receives them, regardless of where the customer is located, where the case is pending, or which service center will adjudicate.”
For I-129Fs and for I-130s prior to Dec. 2023 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 immediate relative 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: 2024-03-22
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	Average	14	2022-08-06
I-129F	California	14	2022-10-23
“	Nebraska	7	2023-04-21
“	Potomac	14.5	2022-08-07
“	Texas	15	2022-10-28
“	Vermont	11	2022-01-21
“	Average	12

Date Checked: 2024-02-22
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	Average	14	2022-08-06
I-129F	California	15	2022-08-17
“	Nebraska	6	2023-05-19
“	Potomac	14	2022-12-12
“	Texas	13	2022-09-29
“	Vermont	10	2022-02-13
“	Average	12

Date Checked: 2024-01-22
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	Average	14	2022-07-05
I-129F	California	15	2022-07-16
“	Nebraska	6	2023-04-17
“	Potomac	14	2022-11-10
“	Texas	13	2022-08-28
“	Vermont	10	2022-01-13
“	Average	12

Date Checked: 2023-12-13
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	Average	14	2022-05-25
I-129F	California	15.5	2022-05-22
“	Nebraska	5.5	2023-03-26
“	Potomac	14	2022-10-06
“	Texas	12.5	2022-07-28
“	Vermont	8	2022-01-16
“	Average	11

Date Checked: 2023-10-25
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	14.5	2022-04-05
“	Nebraska	13.5	2022-05-04
“	Potomac	14	2022-02-06
“	Texas	14	2022-05-30
“	Vermont	15	2022-03-12
“	Average	14
I-129F	California	16	2022-03-07
“	Nebraska	5	2023-03-07
“	Potomac	19	2021-09-14
“	Texas	12.5	2022-05-31
“	Vermont	7.5	2021-10-04
“	Average	12

Date Checked: 2023-09-22
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	14.5	2022-03-09
“	Nebraska	14.5	2022-03-09
“	Potomac	14.5	2022-01-01
“	Texas	13.5	2022-04-23
“	Vermont	15	2022-01-31
“	Average	14.5
I-129F	California	16.5	2022-01-29
“	Nebraska	4.5	2023-02-13
“	Potomac	19	2021-08-11
“	Texas	16.5	2022-01-29
“	Vermont	15.5	2020-04-20
“	Average	14.5

Date Checked: 2023-08-22
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	14.5	2022-02-07
“	Nebraska	15.5	2021-12-16
“	Potomac	15.5	2021-11-16
“	Texas	13.5	2022-03-11
“	Vermont	14.5	2021-12-07
“	Average	15
I-129F	California	16.5	2022-01-13
“	Nebraska	4.5	2023-08-22
“	Potomac	19	2019-10-07
“	Texas	16.5	2022-01-16
“	Vermont	10.5	2020-07-07
“	Average	13.5

Date Checked: 2023-07-22
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	14.5	2022-01-10
“	Nebraska	15.5	2021-11-17
“	Potomac	15.5	2021-10-18
“	Texas	13.5	2022-02-10
“	Vermont	14.5	2021-12-09
“	Average	15
I-129F	California	16.5	2021-02-15
“	Nebraska	4.5	2023-01-04
“	Potomac	19	2019-09-08
“	Texas	16.5	2021-12-18
“	Vermont	10.5	2020-06-08
“	Average	13.5

Date Checked: 2023-06-22
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	14.5	2021-09-18
“	Nebraska	15.5	2021-10-07
“	Potomac	16	2021-09-20
“	Texas	13.5	2021-12-23
“	Vermont	15	2021-09-18
“	Average	15
I-129F	California	16.5	2021-12-04
“	Nebraska	5	2022-12-14
“	Potomac	15	2021-05-14
“	Texas	16.5	2021-12-03
“	Vermont	9.5	2020-08-06
“	Average	12.5

Date Checked: 2023-05-22
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	14.5	2021-10-11
“	Nebraska	14.5	2021-09-28
“	Potomac	16	2021-08-14
“	Texas	13	2021-11-15
“	Vermont	14.5	2021-06-29
“	Average	14.5
I-129F	California	16.5	2021-11-08
“	Nebraska	5	2022-11-08
“	Potomac	13	2020-04-29
“	Texas	16.5	2021-11-08
“	Vermont	8	2020-08-19
“	Average	12

Date Checked: 2023-04-22
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	15	2021-08-09
“	Nebraska	14	2021-09-27
“	Potomac	16	2021-07-05
0″	Texas	12.5	2021-10-21
“	Vermont	14	2021-06-11
“	Average	14.5
I-129F	California	16.5	2021-10-29
“	Nebraska	5	2022-10-09
“	Potomac	8.5	2022-04-20
“	Texas	16.5	2021-10-29
“	Vermont	7	2020-12-02
“	Average	10.5

Date Checked: 2023-03-22
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	10.5	2022-02-18
“	Nebraska	10.5	2022-02-06
“	Potomac	12	2021-12-20
0″	Texas	11.5	2021-12-27
“	Vermont	16	2021-06-29
“	Average	12
I-129F	California	15.5	2021-10-23
“	Nebraska	4	2022-09-14
“	Potomac	8.5	2022-05-31
“	Texas	15.5	2021-10-23
“	Vermont	8	2021-05-31
“	Average	10.5

Date Checked: 2023-02-22
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	10.5	2022-01-21
“	Nebraska	10.5	2022-01-09
“	Potomac	12	2021-11-22
“	Texas	11.5	2021-11-29
“	Vermont	16	2021-06-01
“	Average	12
I-129F	California	15.5	2021-09-25
“	Nebraska	4	2022-08-17
“	Potomac	8.5	2022-05-03
“	Texas	15.5	2021-09-25
“	Vermont	8	2020-05-02
“	Average	10.5

Date Checked: 2023-02-06
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	10.5	2022-01-04
“	Nebraska	10.5	2021-12-24
“	Potomac	12	2021-11-05
“	Texas	11.5	2021-11-12
“	Vermont	16	2021-05-16
“	Average	12
I-129F	California	15.5	2021-08-18
“	Nebraska	4	2022-08-02
“	Potomac	8	2022-04-16
“	Texas	15.5	2021-09-17
“	Vermont	9	2020-03-27
“	Average	10.5

Date Checked: 2022-12-22
Form	USCIS service center	Estimated time range (in months)	Receipt date for a case inquiry
I-130	California	10.5	2021-11-20
“	Nebraska	10.5	2021-11-08
“	Potomac	12	2021-09-21
“	Texas	11.5	2021-09-28
“	Vermont	16	2021-03-31
“	Average	12
I-129F	California	15.5	2021-08-04
“	Nebraska	4	2022-06-18
“	Potomac	8	2022-03-02
“	Texas	15.5	2021-08-03
“	Vermont	9	2021-12-11
“	Average	10.5

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	2021-11-12
“	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 immediate relative I-130s received, approved, denied, and pending at each service center

Period	Service Center	Petitions Received	Approved	Denied	Pending
Jul. – Sept. 2023	California	22,394	23,523	1,575	84,639
Jul. – Sept. 2023	Nebraska	22,376	17,551	728	79,264
Jul. – Sept. 2023	Texas	22,051	25,445	2,470	85,625
Jul. – Sept. 2023	Vermont	22,215	26,689	1,030	90,782
Jul. – Sept. 2023	Potomac	22,092	24,923	2,066	84,105
Jul. – Sept. 2023	Total	111,128	118,131	7,869	424,415
Apr. – Jun. 2023	California	23,259	25,586	1,123	90,325
Apr. – Jun. 2023	Nebraska	22,898	11,336	594	83,332
Apr. – Jun. 2023	Texas	22,879	32,566	871	90,366
Apr. – Jun. 2023	Vermont	23,229	19,875	646	96,496
Apr. – Jun. 2023	Potomac	22,967	34,888	1,626	89,751
Apr. – Jun. 2023	Total	115,232	124,251	4,860	450,270
Jan. – Mar. 2023	California	23353	22603	969	96749
Jan. – Mar. 2023	Nebraska	23137	5345	607	95978
Jan. – Mar. 2023	Texas	23020	24173	908	82702
Jan. – Mar. 2023	Vermont	23157	17680	631	106226
Jan. – Mar. 2023	Potomac	23091	29557	1211	95412
Jan. – Mar. 2023	Total	115758	99358	4326	477067
2022 Total	—	877432	506854	104650	—
Oct. – Dec. 2022	California	21974	12590	943	97742
Oct. – Dec. 2022	Nebraska	22560	5848	643	86911
Oct. – Dec. 2022	Texas	21685	16986	514	78555
Oct. – Dec. 2022	Vermont	21988	12481	705	101210
Oct. – Dec. 2022	Potomac	22003	15257	535	102419
Oct. – Dec. 2022	Total	110210	63162	3340	466837
Jul. – Sept. 2022	California	23232	7988	1163	89919
Jul. – Sept. 2022	Nebraska	22837	9490	5195	72223
Jul. – Sept. 2022	Texas	22832	12376	3327	74037
Jul. – Sept. 2022	Vermont	22994	10653	549	93087
Jul. – Sept. 2022	Potomac	22894	9800	2522	98922
Jul. – Sept. 2022	Total	114789	50307	12486	428188
Apr. – Jun. 2022	California	23283	10282	557	108123
Apr. – Jun. 2022	Nebraska	23441	14221	3012	73530
Apr. – Jun. 2022	Texas	23418	14857	3296	92430
Apr. – Jun. 2022	Vermont	23940	14168	523	102055
Apr. – Jun. 2022	Potomac	23409	12670	1264	105679
Apr. – Jun. 2022	Total	117491	66198	8652	481817
Jan. – Mar. 2022	California	20903	11244	1077	67048
Jan. – Mar. 2022	Nebraska	21012	19344	19344	37134
Jan. – Mar. 2022	Texas	21031	15670	2682	78237
Jan. – Mar. 2022	Vermont	21197	14745	498	72397
Jan. – Mar. 2022	Potomac	21083	12757	1412	79836
Jan. – Mar. 2022	Total	87226	73760	30411	334652
2021 Total	—	310887	221296	19229	—
Oct. – Dec. 2021	California	20418	8976	772	58660
Oct. – Dec. 2021	Nebraska	19502	12598	791	34230
Oct. – Dec. 2021	Texas	19536	11601	886	74887
Oct. – Dec. 2021	Vermont	21437	8640	392	65918
Oct. – Dec. 2021	Potomac	19690	12459	4746	75080
Oct. – Dec. 2021	Total	80165	45298	6815	250115
Jul. – Sept. 2021	California	19964	9473	626	48006
Oct. – Dec. 2021	Nebraska	20101	14086	957	26814
Oct. – Dec. 2021	Texas	20105	15698	1137	69088
Oct. – Dec. 2021	Vermont	20262	9560	490	54883
Oct. – Dec. 2021	Potomac	20167	15633	1061	69981
Oct. – Dec. 2021	Total	80635	54977	3645	220766
Apr. -Jun. 2021	California	21877	4989	675	38231
Apr. -Jun. 2021	Nebraska	21964	20605	1263	20137
Apr. -Jun. 2021	Texas	21888	12810	1168	66601
Apr. -Jun. 2021	Vermont	22310	8045	475	44270
Apr. -Jun. 2021	Potomac	22035	13216	1215	67387
Apr. -Jun. 2021	Total	88197	54676	4121	198395
Jan. -Mar. 2021	California	10915	7595	965	21180
Jan. -Mar. 2021	Nebraska	18045	21142	1736	19812
Jan. -Mar. 2021	Texas	18737	19943	1112	58116
Jan. -Mar. 2021	Vermont	11078	10413	881	28708
Jan. -Mar. 2021	Potomac	14020	14847	919	60096
Jan. -Mar. 2021	Total	61880	66345	4648	166732
2020 Total	—	236787	239144	23956	—
Oct.-Dec. 2020	California	4924	6268	818	16427
Oct.-Dec. 2020	Nebraska	12475	20311	1809	24370
Oct.-Dec. 2020	Texas	19653	16546	1077	63422
Oct.-Dec. 2020	Vermont	4580	6571	400	25803
Oct.-Dec. 2020	Potomac	14083	11400	1041	62577
Oct.-Dec. 2020	Total	50791	54828	4327	176172
Jul.-Sept. 2020	California	5732	7603	1.196	16832
Jul.-Sept. 2020	Nebraska	16159	21816	3019	31720
Jul.-Sept. 2020	Texas	26090	16828	999	60008
Jul.-Sept. 2020	Vermont	5705	6651	188	27453
Jul.-Sept. 2020	Potomac	14482	13151	1575	59317
Jul.-Sept. 2020	Total	62436	58446	5781	178498
Apr.-June 2020	California	3981	16004	2972	17373
Apr.-June 2020	Nebraska	12832	23723	4729	39942
Apr.-June 2020	Texas	17078	25981	707	52814
Apr.-June 2020	Vermont	4175	7289	155	27149
Apr.-June 2020	Potomac	11317	14458	1202	58296
Apr.-June 2020	Total	62436	58446	5781	178498
Jan.-Mar. 2020	California	7516	2999	613	27590
Jan.-Mar. 2020	Nebraska	22285	21512	4220	62060
Jan.-Mar. 2020	Texas	28624	21954	1669	68456
Jan.-Mar. 2020	Vermont	7910	4346	111	37540
Jan.-Mar. 2020	Potomac	19339	6607	1055	69778
Jan.-Mar. 2020	Total	78158	54419	7055	237834
Oct.-Dec. 2019	California	(Data withheld)	3005	551	5088
Oct.-Dec. 2019	Nebraska	27923	22215	1511	94925
Oct.-Dec. 2019	Texas	41411	35577	1995	96169
Oct.-Dec. 2019	Vermont	252	287	129	3366
Oct.-Dec. 2019	Potomac	19.052	7678	1205	53296
Oct.-Dec. 2019	Total	69605	65757	4840	247756

29 responses to “Updated USCIS Processing Times for I-130s and I-129Fs”

Dennis Walter

August 19, 2020

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
  
  September 6, 2020
  
  See Consular Posts May Prioritize K-1 Visas.
  
  Reply
Bukaz yasin

September 11, 2020

How long will processing of my I-129F petition take? It was received by USCIS on June 11.

Reply
1. Gary Chodorow
  
  September 13, 2020
  
  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

September 15, 2020

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
  
  October 6, 2020
  
  I’m having this problem too
  
  Reply
Alysha

September 19, 2020

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
  
  September 20, 2020
  
  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

September 19, 2020

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
  
  September 20, 2020
  
  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

November 2, 2020

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
  
  November 4, 2020
  
  VCP: Which USCIS service center are the I-130s pending at?
  
  Reply
2. PMC
  
  November 12, 2020
  
  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
    
    November 12, 2020
    
    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

November 12, 2020

Thank you sir. Our I-129F is at the California Service Center.

Reply
1. Gary Chodorow
  
  November 12, 2020
  
  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

November 17, 2020

Hi, why is there no I-129F processing time listed for the USCIS Texas Service Center?

Reply
1. Gary Chodorow
  
  November 17, 2020
  
  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

December 18, 2020

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
  
  December 18, 2020
  
  Hola Aida: Si usted es ciudadana y sus hijos menores de eded son solteros, entonces estas peticiones deben ser clasificados “immediate relatives.”
  
  Reply
Laura

February 10, 2021

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
  
  February 10, 2021
  
  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

May 31, 2021

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
  
  June 1, 2021
  
  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
    
    June 4, 2021
    
    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

September 22, 2021

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
  
  September 27, 2021
  
  Probably not. See Choosing the Best Visa Strategy for a Fiancée or Spouse: K-1, K-3, or CR1/IR1 Immigrant Visa?.
  
  Reply
Erik

June 27, 2022

Are I-129Fs still only being processed in California?

Reply
1. Gary Chodorow
  
  July 2, 2022
  
  Erik: Our above table shows that I-129Fs are being processed at the California and Vermont Service Centers.
  
  Reply