Processing times
There is no single worldwide time. We show each stage separately, with the source and the date we checked it.
USCIS: how long cases have taken
Average months from receipt to completion for cases USCIS finished each month. The big number is the lowest to highest monthly average across the 5 months of 2026 we checked. Checked Oct 25, 2026.
Form I-130
15–18 months
Petition for Alien Relative, all categories. Latest: 18.1 (August 2026)
Form I-485
9–12 months
Adjust status, family-based. Latest: 12.4 (August 2026)
Form I-751
22–26 months
Remove conditions on residence. Latest: 21.9 (August 2026)
Month by month
| Month | I-130Fee: $675 paper · $625 online | I-485 (family)Fee: $1,440 paper · $1,390 online | I-751Fee: $750 paper · $700 online | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 18.1 | 12.4 | 21.9 | USCIS data for August 2026 |
| July 2026 | 17.7 | 11.8 | 23.5 | USCIS data for July 2026 |
| June 2026 | 17.1 | 11.4 | 22.7 | USCIS data for June 2026 |
| May 2026 | 18.4 | 11.9 | 24.3 | USCIS data for May 2026 |
| February 2026 | 14.8 | 9.2 | 26.3 | USCIS data for February 2026 |
Processing figures are months. Fees are what USCIS charges for the form: USCIS Fee Schedule (G-1055), edition 10/16/26. We are missing March, April and September 2026 because we did not check them.
The backlog behind the averages
At the end of August 2026, USCIS reported 2,475,445 Form I-130 petitions pending, and 2,165,902 of them had been pending more than six months. In February 2026 the figures were 2,357,158 and 2,020,098.
How to read these numbers
- These are averages of cases USCIS finished in that month, measured from receipt to completion. They look backwards. They do not predict how long your case will take.
- The ranges show the lowest and highest monthly average among the months we checked, rounded to whole months. The exact values are shown beside them.
- The I-130 figure covers every I-130 category together. Immediate-relative cases and preference-category cases can take very different amounts of time, and USCIS publishes no separate average here.
- USCIS notes that this average may differ from the times shown on its online processing times tool, which uses a different method.
- The I-485 figure is for family-based cases only. The I-751 figure is for removing conditions on residence.
Source: USCIS, FY22 Appropriations Reporting Requirement – Application Processing Data (monthly). For your own case type and service center, use the USCIS processing times tool.
Other stages
We have not yet verified numbers for these stages, so we do not show any.
| Stage | What it covers | Official source | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa Bulletin availability | Whether a visa number is available in categories with waits (F1 to F4, F2A, F2B). | Visa Bulletin | Not currently verified |
| NVC processing | Document review and interview scheduling at the National Visa Center. The NVC fills interview slots as embassies offer them. | Travel.State.Gov | Not currently verified |
| Consulate interview scheduling | Wait times at a specific embassy or consulate. Since Nov 1, 2025 the NVC schedules applicants in their country of residence, or nationality if requested (State Department, checked Oct 25, 2026). | U.S. embassies and consulates | Not currently verified |
| Post-interview administrative processing | Extra review after an interview. Length varies and is not predictable. | Travel.State.Gov | Not currently verified |
How we handle this data
- A number is shown only with its source link and the date we checked it.
- If we cannot confirm current data, we show "Not currently verified" instead of a guess.
- We never promise an exact completion date.
Move to America is an independent information and preparation service. We are not a government agency, not affiliated with USCIS or the U.S. government, and not a law firm. Nothing here is legal advice, and we cannot guarantee any visa or immigration outcome.