US Family Sponsorship Processing Time: How Long Will It Take?

1. What Are the Processing Times for Immediate Relatives?

Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, such as spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents, typically enjoy the fastest processing times. The immediate relative category is not subject to annual visa limits, which is why it usually gets priority in processing.

As of 2024, the estimated processing time for immediate relatives is between 8 to 14 months. However, this can change depending on the location of the processing office, whether the application is complete, and any unforeseen delays.

2. The Role of Country-Specific Quotas

For family preference categories (which include siblings of U.S. citizens, adult married children, and permanent residents' relatives), wait times are significantly longer. These categories are subject to yearly numerical limits, and demand far outpaces the number of visas available.

Here’s where it gets complicated: the country of origin matters. Some countries like Mexico, India, and the Philippines face longer wait times due to high demand. For example, if you are a U.S. citizen petitioning for your brother from Mexico, the wait could be as long as 20 years. Yes, 20 years.

3. Preference Categories and Their Impact on Wait Times

Family Preference Categories are divided into several subcategories, each with its own backlog of applications. The longer the backlog, the longer the wait.

• F1 (Unmarried adult children of U.S. citizens): Expect to wait 7-8 years.
• F2A (Spouses and children of permanent residents): These cases generally take around 2 years.
• F2B (Unmarried children of permanent residents): The wait can be 5-7 years.
• F3 (Married children of U.S. citizens): Plan for 10-12 years.
• F4 (Siblings of U.S. citizens): This is the longest wait, often taking between 12-22 years.

A quick glance at some of the average wait times per category:

4. How Can You Speed Up the Process?

Unfortunately, there is no guaranteed way to speed up the processing time for family sponsorship. However, there are a few steps you can take to ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible:

• Submit a complete application: Missing documents can result in delays.
• Respond promptly to any requests for additional information: This is crucial to avoid your application being placed on hold.
• File at a less congested office: Some offices experience more delays than others.

While you can’t control U.S. immigration policy, you can avoid self-inflicted delays.

5. How Immigration Backlogs Affect Processing Time

One of the biggest contributors to long wait times is the growing backlog in the U.S. immigration system. Due to political gridlock and an underfunded immigration system, processing offices are overloaded. The COVID-19 pandemic also had a significant impact, further slowing down operations.

As of 2024, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has been working through a backlog of nearly 7 million applications, which means even simple applications can experience extended delays.

6. The Importance of Priority Dates

If you’re in a family preference category, your wait will depend on your priority date—the date USCIS received your petition. Every month, the Department of State publishes a Visa Bulletin that shows which priority dates are currently being processed for each family preference category.

Understanding this bulletin is crucial. For example, if your priority date is for March 2020 and the bulletin is currently processing cases from February 2020, you can expect to wait a bit longer until your case is processed.

How to read the Visa Bulletin:

• Go to the State Department’s website.
• Look up your preference category and country.
• Compare your priority date to the dates listed.

7. Family Sponsorship vs. Employment-Based Immigration

It’s worth noting that family-sponsored immigration is just one avenue for gaining U.S. residency. The employment-based system operates differently, with its own set of quotas and processing times.

For some, an employment-based visa may be a faster alternative, particularly if they possess specialized skills or qualifications that are in demand in the U.S.

Conclusion

Family sponsorship to the U.S. is a long and complex process, with processing times that vary greatly based on relationship, country of origin, and other factors. By staying informed, submitting a complete application, and monitoring your case, you can ensure the process moves as quickly as possible. However, patience will be key, as the wait times are inevitably lengthy, especially for those in family preference categories.

2222:Family Sponsorship Process in the U.S.