How long is my form taking?
USCIS publishes a range per form and per office. Both matter — the same form can differ by months depending on where it is being handled.
Forms decided centrally, at the National Benefits Center or Service Center Operations. Here the category of work is what changes the answer, not the office.
I-130 — Petition for Alien Relative
24 to 31.5 months (2 to 2.6 years)
U.S. citizen filing for a spouse, parent, or child under 21 · Service Center Operations (SCOPS)
Estimated median
21.4 months
The published range is the slow tail, not the middle: USCIS's low figure is where about 80% of cases have finished and the high figure about 93%. So half of cases finish sooner than 21.4 months — three in four by 23.6, nine in ten by 30.8. An estimate from those two published anchors, not a figure USCIS publishes.
U.S. citizen filing for a spouse, parent, or child under 21
24–31.5 mo (2–2.6 yrs)
Service Center Operations (SCOPS)
Median about 21.4 mo · 75% by 23.6 mo · 90% by 30.8 mo
Permanent resident filing for a spouse or child under 21
52–55.5 mo (4.3–4.6 yrs)
National Benefits Center
Median about 50.8 mo · 75% by 51.8 mo · 90% by 55.2 mo
U.S. citizen filing for unmarried son/daughter 21 or older
52.5–55.5 mo (4.4–4.6 yrs)
National Benefits Center
Median about 51.5 mo · 75% by 52.4 mo · 90% by 55.2 mo
U.S. citizen filing for a spouse, parent, or child under 21
52.5–56.5 mo (4.4–4.7 yrs)
National Benefits Center
Median about 51.1 mo · 75% by 52.3 mo · 90% by 56.1 mo
Permanent resident for unmarried son or daughter 21 or older
53.5–57.5 mo (4.5–4.8 yrs)
National Benefits Center
Median about 52.1 mo · 75% by 53.3 mo · 90% by 57.1 mo
U.S. citizen filing for a married son or daughter
53.5–71 mo (4.5–5.9 yrs)
National Benefits Center
Median about 47.4 mo · 75% by 52.6 mo · 90% by 69.3 mo
Across 13 categories
- Fastest
- U.S. citizen filing for a spouse, parent, or child under 2124–31.5 mo (2–2.6 yrs)
- Slowest
- U.S. citizen filing for a brother or sister0–176 mo (0–14.7 yrs)
Ranges are as published by USCIS: the low figure is where about 80% of cases have finished and the high figure about 93%. Confirm on Check on USCIS's processing times page.