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I-129F processing times

Petition for Alien Fiancé(e). Newest: Apr–Jun 2026.

If you file today, most likely
7–11 months
could be 5–15 months
How we worked this out

The range starts from USCIS’s median of 9.0 months for Apr–Jun 2026 and widens it by how far real waits landed from the median in past quarters. In past quarters, the typical wait fell in the most likely range about half the time, and in the could-be range 8 times in 10.

Time to clear backlog

12 months

up from 9.1 months

Pending applications

35,871

+3% vs. previous quarter

Decided in Apr–Jun 2026

9,273

−19% vs. previous quarter

Approval rate

75%

unchanged vs. previous quarter

Next: the K-1 interview at a consulate, then the I-485 once you marry in the US. The K-1 timeline puts the whole wait as dates.

If you file today

CategoryMost likely (50%)Could be (80%)USCIS median
I-129F7–11 months5–15 months9.0 months

What happened to the applications

  • Approved
  • Denied
  • Pending at quarter end
  • Filed
010k20k30k40k50k60k202120222023202420252026
Source: USCIS’s quarterly All USCIS Application and Petition Form Types reports, via the Immigration and Citizenship Data page. A diamond marks a pending count that doesn't match the quarter before's count plus the quarter's filings minus its decisions: it is what USCIS reported, but USCIS doesn't say why they differ, so the pages draw no conclusions from it.

USCIS median and backlog over time

Time to clear backlog is how long USCIS would need to decide every pending case if it kept deciding them at the same speed. It is not your wait: the pile includes cases on hold and cases USCIS cannot decide yet.

How to read the chart

For Apr–Jun 2024, USCIS published the quarter before's medians again, so the chart has none for Apr–Jun 2024.

  • Time to clear backlog
  • USCIS median processing time
05101520months202120222023202420252026
USCIS’s median is how long the cases it decided in the quarter had taken. A diamond marks a pending count that doesn't match the quarter before's count plus the quarter's filings minus its decisions: it is what USCIS reported, but USCIS doesn't say why they differ, so the pages draw no conclusions from it.