How can I get I-130 approved fast?
Asked by: Astrid Larson | Last update: April 22, 2025Score: 4.8/5 (50 votes)
How to Get Your Case Expedited. Submit Form I-907 with your initial application or after filing. Make sure to provide a good reason why USCIS should prioritize your case and get your i-130 expedite approved. Examples include severe financial loss, urgent humanitarian reasons, or other urgent circumstances.
Is there a way to expedite 130 approval?
If you have a USCIS online account and have access to secure messaging, you may select “expedite” as the reason for your inquiry and submit your request there. You generally need to justify your expedite request with evidence. When communicating with the Contact Center, you will be asked about supporting documentation.
How fast can I-130 be approved?
After filing Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, the approval process can take anywhere from 10 to 13 months for immediate relatives and could take several years for family preference categories. This is an approximation. It may be shorter for some and longer for others.
Can a lawyer speed up my immigration case?
While an immigration attorney cannot per say “speed up” your case, the immigration attorney is knowledgeable in immigration law and will know the best strategy and options for your case. Undeniably, this avoids any unreasonable delay by anyone lacking specialized knowledge in this area of law.
How long does it take USCIS to make a decision on I-130?
In a Nutshell
Five U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) service centers currently process Form I-130. - The processing time for U.S. citizens filing Form I-130 for a spouse beneficiary ranges from 13-54.5 months.
Why Is The I-130 Family Petition Taking Forever? Tips For Speeding Up The Process
How do I find the priority date for I-130?
Determine your Priority Date.
This is the date that your approved Form I-130 was filed. This date appears on the Form I-797 that USCIS issued to your petitioner when the Form I-130 was approved (refer to the “Receipt Date”).
How do I make USCIS hurry up?
B. How to Request Expedited Processing
USCIS provides specific information on submitting expedite requests on the Expedite Requests webpage. Benefit requestors must demonstrate their need for expedited processing. Generally, USCIS requires documentation to support expedite requests.
Do immigration lawyers really help?
Having an immigration attorney who is an expert in the specific sub-field, whether employment-based, family-based, or humanitarian, also helps ensure each immigrant applies for and obtains the appropriate form of relief specific to their unique situation.
What is an example of urgent humanitarian reasons?
An applicant may demonstrate urgency by establishing a reason to be in the United States that calls for immediate or other time-sensitive action, including (but not limited to) critical medical treatment, or the need to visit, assist or support a family member who is at an end-of-life stage of an illness or disease.
How long for I-130 approval in 2024?
I-130 Processing Times: What to Expect in 2024
Processing times vary depending on your specific circumstances. As of now (2024), the average wait time for a U.S. citizen spouse is around 12 months, but it could range anywhere from 3 to 15 months.
How much do lawyers charge to file I-130?
Most attorneys charge a flat fee for preparing an I-130 petition. An average flat fee for the I-130 approval process is around $800; but again, this is only step one in a lengthy process, and the total fee to see it through will likely be a few thousand dollars.
How do I know if my I-130 is approved?
Online: Use the case status online tool to check for updates about your immigration case. You will need your 13-character receipt number from your application or petition. By phone: If you are calling from the U.S., contact the USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283 or TTY 1-800-767-1833.
What is the approval rate for I-130?
How Many I-130s Are Approved Every Year? Many visa categories, including family preference, have numerical limits on the number of approvals available each year. In recent years, the approval rate for Form I-130 petitions has been as high as 99%.
What happens if an expedite request is denied?
A denial of a request for expedited processing may be appealed to the Director of IPS within 30 calendar days of the date of the Department's letter denying the request. A decision in writing on the appeal will be issued within 10 calendar days of the receipt of the appeal.
How long does it take USCIS to send approved I-130 to NVC?
First, USCIS has to send your file to the NVC. That can often take six to eight weeks after approval of the I-130, and possibly even longer. When NVC receives your case, it will send you a notification, typically via email.
Who can help me with my immigration case?
Call the USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283. See our USCIS Contact Center Tip Sheet on how to best reach out to the USCIS Contact Center.
Why are immigration lawyers so expensive?
Some have become so well-established that they can charge higher rates. Immigration law is a field where experience counts—this field is so complicated that it takes years to understand the ins and outs. Then again, the lawyers who charge the highest rates aren't always the best ones.
Should I hire a lawyer to apply for US citizenship?
In short, you do not need a lawyer for naturalization, but there are many reasons you may want one anyway. This is especially true if you have a complicated immigration history or do not have the time to work through complex laws.
How to speed up i130 processing time?
Before you can expedite your Form I-130, it's essential to understand the eligibility criteria and prepare the necessary documentation. To be eligible for expedited processing, you must meet one or more specific criteria, such as emergencies, urgent humanitarian reasons, or severe financial loss.
How can I force USCIS to make a decision?
If an immigration agency, such as U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), has failed to process or make a decision on an application or petition within a reasonable time frame, an individual may file a petition for a writ of mandamus to compel the agency ...
What are humanitarian reasons?
If a person or society has humanitarian ideas or behaviour, they try to avoid making people suffer or they help people who are suffering.
Why is I-130 taking so long?
Many factors may affect how long it takes USCIS to complete an application, petition or request, such as the number of applications, petitions, or requests we receive, workload and staffing allocations, the time a benefit requestor takes responding to a request for more information, as well as policy and operational ...
What is the first step of I-130?
The first step is to create an account. To learn more, visit our How to Create a USCIS Online Account page. You can file Form I-130 online even if your relative is in the United States and will file Form I-485 by mail. Once you submit your Form I-130 online, we will send a receipt notice to your USCIS online account.
What is the prediction for green card in 2024?
Availability of Green Cards: The U.S. government anticipates a total of 165,000 green cards for employment categories in Fiscal Year 2024, which is a decrease from 197,000 in FY 2023 but still exceeds the mandated limit of 140,000 due to unused family-based green cards from the previous year.