Published: November 10, 2021
Processing a U.S. visa can take some time. Also, the waiting period may change depending on how early applicants comply with the requirements or the type of visa they are applying for. Organizing your immigration plans will be easier if you have reliable knowledge of the estimated period for visa processing.
Have a look at this short guide:
Family-Based Visa
A family-Based visa is broadly categorized into Immediate Relatives and Family Preferences. Under Immediate Relatives, the filing and processing of the petition may last between six (6) to twelve (12) months, depending on the service center. The waiting period is relatively short because immediate family members are prioritized. More so, there is no annual limit as to the number of visas issued under their category.
On the other hand, the processing period for Family Preferences is divided into four (4) more categories. It is important to distinguish each category because the number of visas issued per year differs per category.
- First Preference (F1): 23,400.
- Second Preference (F2): 114,200
- Third Preference (F3): 23,400
- Fourth Preference (F4): 65,000
Depending on the number of case logs that a service center is processing, the waiting period can be six (6) months to several years. Also, the applicants’ country of origin may affect the processing speed and the number of visa approvals. Those from China, India, Mexico, and the Philippines may need to wait for ten (10) to twenty (20) years.
Marriage-Based Visa
Marriage-based visas are divided into three categories: the spouse Green Cards, CR1, and IR1 visas, and the fiancé(e) visa. Applicants under the first two categories typically wait from eight (8) to ten (10) months. In comparison, applicants under the third category need to wait for approval for five (5) to eight (8) months. The third category may be faster because the applicants are anticipating a marriage soon. However, these periods may extend depending on the processing speed of the service centers or policy changes.
Employment-Based Visa
The USCIS takes three (2) to seven (7) months to process a work permit application. After that, the rest of the processing period may vary based on the applicants’ visa category. Again, just like the previously mentioned visas, this period may extend due to the circumstances of the application.
There are more types of visas and their processing periods differ as well. To know more about them, please have a discussion with an immigration lawyer.
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(Please note that this article does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between our law firm and the reader and is provided for informational purposes only. Information in this article does not apply to all readers. Readers should not rely on this information as legal advice and should seek specific counsel from a qualified attorney based on their individual circumstances. Thank you.)