Petition for Alien Relative
U.S. citizens and permanent residents use this to sponsor a qualifying family member for a green card.
Filing fee
$675
Typical processing
8-25 months
As of 2026-06-12
Category
family
USCIS Lockbox facility (online or by mail)
How Form I-130 compares across PetitionPace forms
Total USCIS fee rank
#10 of 26
total fee $675
Vs median fee
+$135
median $540 across 26 forms
Processing high-end rank
#5 of 19
+7 mo vs median high end
Fee comparisons use only the in-repo PetitionPace USCIS form records and the cited USCIS fee schedule/form pages. They do not imply eligibility, legal strategy, or a guarantee that USCIS will accept a filing.
Processing time
This is a point-in-time estimate. USCIS changes published ranges frequently and the live tool can vary by service center and case type.
Typical range: 8-25 months
Estimate based on USCIS data reviewed 2026-06-12. Always check the live USCIS processing-times tool at egov.uscis.gov/processing-times before making decisions.
Historical processing-time trend
USCIS fiscal-year medians · FY2016–FY2024How long Form I-130 has actually taken, year over year — straight from USCIS fiscal-year data. This is the trend the live point-in-time tool can't show you: use it to see whether waits have been getting longer or shorter.
Immediate Relative
Latest 11 mo (FY2024) · peak 11.8 mo (FY2023) · ▲ rising
| Basis for filing | FY16 | FY17 | FY18 | FY19 | FY20 | FY21 | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Immediate Relative | 4.9 | 6.5 | 7.6 | 8.6 | 8.3 | 10.2 | 10.3 | 11.8 | 11 |
Median months from receipt to completion. National median months from receipt to completion across all USCIS offices. FY2024 reflects Oct 1, 2023 – Jan 31, 2024 (partial year). Historical fiscal-year medians use a different methodology than the live USCIS processing-times tool and are not directly comparable. Source: USCIS Historical Processing Times Trends ↗.
Filing fee
Filing fees shown here are based on the USCIS fee schedule effective April 1, 2024. USCIS fees can change; always confirm the current fee at uscis.gov before submitting a form.
Filing fee: $675
Source: USCIS Form G-1055 (effective April 1, 2024); uscis.gov/i-130
Fees and form details last reviewed June 2026 against the USCIS fee schedule (Form G-1055, effective April 1, 2024). Always confirm the current fee at uscis.gov before filing.
Where to file
Processing times are estimates based on USCIS historical data and change frequently. Always check the live USCIS processing-times tool at egov.uscis.gov/processing-times for current official ranges before making any decisions.
USCIS Lockbox facility (online or by mail); some cases at field offices
Always confirm the current filing location and instructions at uscis.gov official I-130 page .
Common questions
- What is Form I-130?
- U.S. citizens and permanent residents use this to sponsor a qualifying family member for a green card.
- How much does it cost to file Form I-130?
- The USCIS filing fee for Form I-130 is $675, from the fee schedule effective April 1, 2024. Always confirm the current fee at uscis.gov before paying.
- How long does I-130 take?
- USCIS reports a typical processing range of 8-25 months for Form I-130 as of 2026-06-12. Processing times change monthly; always check egov.uscis.gov/processing-times for the current range.
- How has Form I-130 processing time changed over the years?
- Official USCIS fiscal-year data shows the median processing time for Form I-130 rising recently — it peaked at about 11.8 months in FY2023 and was about 11 months in FY2024. These are national fiscal-year medians from USCIS, useful for spotting the trend; the live tool reflects the current range.