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You are here: Home / Immigrant Visa Wait Times

Immigrant Visa Wait Times

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  • Overview

Overview

Every immigrant visa case is different, so it is difficult to estimate how long the process will take for a specific individual. In general, there are three factors that contribute to the processing time required:

Time Required to Process a Petition

The time it takes for USCIS to approve a petition varies according to the type of petition and the specific USCIS office involved. Estimates for specific USCIS offices are available here.

Time Required to Process through the National Visa Center and the U.S. Embassy or Consulate

Once a petition is approved, if it is in an immediate relative category or has a current priority date, it is largely up to you how long it takes to get an interview appointment. The more quickly you follow the instructions provided by the National Visa Center (NVC) and submit all requested documents, the sooner an appointment can be scheduled. Appointments are usually scheduled for the month after all documents are submitted.

Time for Case to Become Current

For certain categories of immigrants, the law allows only a limited number of visas to be issued each year. These cases are processed strictly in order of the date the petition was filed (this is the priority date). Visas cannot be issued until an applicant’s priority date is reached (the application becomes current). This could take several years. While it is impossible to say exactly how long it will take, the Visa Bulletin, published monthly, lists the priority dates currently being processed, which may provide an indication of how much time remains.

Note: When the petitioner naturalizes, all F2A petitions (spouse or minor child of a permanent resident) are automatically converted to IR1 (spouse of U.S. citizen) or IR2 (child of U.S. citizen) petitions. These visa categories are not subject to the visa quota system and will, therefore, always have visas available for the beneficiaries’ use if they qualify for visa issuance. Contact USCIS for more information.

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  • NIV Information
  • Visa Types
  • Visa Fees
  • Bank and Payment Options
  • Form DS-160 Information
  • Appointment Wait Times
  • Photos and Fingerprints
  • Visa Waiver Program
  • Security Regulations
  • NIV Application
  • Apply for a Visa
  • Pay My Visa Fee
  • Complete My DS-160
  • Schedule My Appointment
  • Track & Retrieve My Passport
  • Apply for an Expedited Appointment
  • Renew My Visa
  • Application Refused Under INA 221(g)
  • Immigrant Visas
  • Immigrant Visa Information
  • K Visa Applicants
  • Expedited & Medical Hold Cases
  • Reschedule My Immigrant / Diversity Visa Appointment
  • Check My Immigrant Visa Petition Status
  • Immigrant Visa Wait Times
  • Track & Retrieve My Passport
  • Application Refused Under INA 221(g)
  • Local Visa Programs
  • Travel Coordinator
  • Group Appointments
  • Diplomatic and Government Officials
  • Visas for Children
  • Locations
  • U.S. Embassy
  • Passport/Visa Collection Locations
  • Bank Locations
  • General Information
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Holidays and Closures
  • Rights and Protections
  • Helpful Links
The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs website and Consular Post websites are the definitive sources of visa information. Should there be discrepancies in content, the Consular Affairs website and Consular Post websites take precedence.
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