I-130 Petition for Alien Relative

What this form does

Establishes the family relationship behind most family green cards. A US citizen sponsoring a spouse typically sees about 14 months; a green card holder sponsoring runs much longer, often 24 to 35 months.

What affects the timing

Citizen vs green card holder sponsor is the biggest swing. Spouse, parent, and minor child of a citizen are immediate relatives with no visa cap; siblings and adult children sit in preference categories that add years.

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