Form I-130 Processing Time

The form I-130 confirms the existence of a family connection between the U.S citizen or green card holder and someone seeking a green card. The form is commonly called “the "I-130 petition." Making an I-130 request with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), one of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is the initial step in the green card application process based on family members. Are you not sure if your family is eligible to receive a family-based green card? Check your eligibility.

When applying for the marriage visa, an I-130 petition is submitted to show you are legal (based on an official marital certificate). The second phase is part of the green card procedure where you have to submit evidence (for instance, joint bank statements and joint insurance papers, and photographs) to verify the marriage is "authentic" -- that is, it's not founded on fraud.

The I-130 petition will also secure your position in line to receive an available green card. Unless you're the spouse or parent, or child (under 21 years old) of a U.S. citizen (who gets to skip the line altogether), Your place in the line is determined by your "priority date," which is simply the date when USCIS accepted your I-130 petition. In general, applications are reviewed in the order they were submitted. Look through the Visa Bulletin to learn more about the wait times for particular types of green cards.

What Happens After Filing Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative

Form I-130 (also known as Request of Alien Relative, is the initial step towards obtaining permanent residence for the family (green card) in the United States. The U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident can submit Form I-130 to establish a qualified connection with the beneficiary (intending to become an immigrant). It is normal to want to know how long it will take to process the Form I-130 timeline and what happens throughout the different stages.

While the processes are pretty consistent, the I-130 processing time may differ significantly depending on the nature of the relationship (between the petitioner and the recipient), USCIS caseload, and your capacity to file a properly completed I-130 petition. The following outline outlines the essential procedure for filing the I-130 timeline for most people.

Request Form to submit An I-130 with the U.S. Embassy due to extraordinary circumstances

Although most immigrant visa petitions are filed within the United States, there are some restrictions on filing certain kinds of petition forms outside of the United States. Check out this page on the USCIS site for specific guidance on when you need to file an I-130 petition for the Alien Related may be accepted and adjudicated in the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok.

If you think you are eligible for an extraordinary circumstance that warrants an exemption from making the I-130 petition with the United States, please submit the request form listed below. The petitioner must reside in Thailand but not within the United States and be available to visit the U.S. Embassy to interview and present an I-130 application in person. The person who is the beneficiary of the petition submitted must be able to stay within Thailand for the length of the period required to take care of Visa applications.

Some examples of extraordinary circumstances are:

Emergencies involving military personnel Emergencies involving a U.S. service member who is currently abroad but is not subject to the blanket authorization of the military. U.S. service members stationed at military bases abroad and bases are informed of a new assignment or transfer with short notice. This can happen when there is a situation where the U.S. service member is given notice that is significantly less than what is usually expected.

Medical emergencies The petitioner or beneficiary has to deal with an emergency medical situation that demands urgent travel.

Personal safety threats: A beneficiary or petitioner is in danger of imminent harm to their security. A beneficiary or petitioner may be forced to leave their home country due to conflict or natural disasters. They are currently in dangerous circumstances in a country not part of the United States.

Nearly reaching the retirement age - The beneficiary may be within a couple of months of reaching the age of the program's eligibility.

The petitioner was naturalized recently - The petitioner and a family member(s) are currently in the country for an interview for an immigrant visa. Still, the petitioner is become naturalized, and their family member(s) require new applications based on their citizenship.

The adoption of children An adoptive parent has been adopted outside of the country. And is in a position to leave the country. This case should only be examined if the petitioner can obtain the child's complete and final adoption decree. The adoptive parent(s) was legally in the child's custody and lived jointly together with their child for a minimum of two years.

Notice of a short-term relocation An U.S. citizen petitioner, who is working and living in another country, has been offered an offer of employment in the United States or reassignment to the United States with little notice of the necessary commencement date.