Processing times for Immediate Relatives of a U.S. Green Card Holder 

For spouses and minor children (under 21) of U.S. green card holders, who fall under the F2A family preference category, the total estimated processing time—from filing the I‑130 to final visa issuance—is approximately 35 months according to recent data.

Why It Takes Up to 35 Months

1. Form I‑130 with USCIS:

Average processing time: about 35 months total, covering petition review and approval.

1. Priority Date & Visa Availability:

The F2A category is current for most countries, which means visas are generally available soon after petition approval, unlike other visa-preference categories.

1. NVC and Consular or Status Adjustment:

After USCIS approves the I‑130, the case moves to the National Visa Centre, then through either consular processing or adjustment of status. This stage can include document collection, interview scheduling, and final approval.

Summary

• Category: F2A – spouses and unmarried children (under 21) of Green Card holders
• Processing Time (USCIS + NVC): ~35 months
• Visa Availability: Typically current, with minimal waiting post-I‑130 approval

Important Clarification

Despite sometimes being casually referred to as “immediate relatives,” these cases are not U.S. immediate relative categories—those are reserved for the relatives of U.S. citizens, who enjoy significantly faster processing and no numerical limits. F2A cases do follow annual caps and visa availability charts.