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Spouse, parent or child of a US citizen, living abroad

IR-1, CR-1, IR-2 and IR-5 visas, through a US embassy or consulate.

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NVC review done most likely:
in 13–27 months
if you start today

  1. USCIS decides the I-130 petition

    Most likely 11–22 months after you file

    For now, from our reading of the numbers: USCIS decided 51% fewer of these cases in Apr–Jun 2026 than its average over the four quarters before. Plan for the later end of the range.

    Your US citizen relative files Form I-130 with USCIS. I-130 processing times.

    How we worked this out

    Based on USCIS’s median time of 13.0 months for I-130 (Immediate Relative) cases (Apr–Jun 2026 data), and on how far real waits landed from the median in past quarters: about half landed in the most likely range and 8 in 10 in the wider one.

  2. NVC creates your case

    Most likely 14–64 days after you file

    USCIS sends the approved petition to the National Visa Center (NVC), which emails you your case number. NVC wait times.

    How we worked this out

    On October 5, 2026, NVC was taking 24 days to create cases after USCIS sent them, by its own timeframes, which it updates weekly.

    USCIS usually takes a few weeks after the approval to send the case on, which no published timeframe covers, so this counts up to a month for it.

  3. You pay the fees and submit your documents

    As soon as you submit them

    You pay the fees, fill in the DS-260 and upload your documents on CEAC.

  4. NVC reviews your documents

    Most likely 37–87 days after the step before

    For now, from our reading of the numbers: NVC’s document review has almost stopped moving: anything submitted now may take longer than 62 days.

    NVC checks documents in the order they came in. When it accepts all of yours, your case is documentarily complete. NVC wait times.

    How we worked this out

    On October 5, 2026, NVC was reviewing documents submitted on August 4, 2026: a 62-day queue, by its own timeframes.

    If NVC asks you to correct a document, your case goes back in line when you submit it again.

  5. Interview at your consulate

    Choose your consulate above to see its queue

    NVC schedules interviews in the order cases became documentarily complete. Consulate interview queues.

  6. Visa and travel

    If the visa is approved, your passport comes back with it within weeks. Pay the USCIS immigrant fee; the green card comes by mail after you enter the US.

  7. Later: removing the conditions (I-751)

    Most likely 19–38 months after the step before

    If you were married for less than 2 years when you got your green card, it is valid for 2 years. File the I-751 in the 90 days before it expires. I-751 processing times.

    How we worked this out

    Based on USCIS’s median time of 22.6 months for the I-751 cases (Apr–Jun 2026 data), and on how far real waits landed from the median in past quarters: about half landed in the most likely range and 8 in 10 in the wider one.

Newest numbers: USCIS: Apr–Jun 2026; NVC: October 5, 2026; consulate queues: October 7, 2026. Your case can take longer: a request for evidence or a background check can add months.