How Long Is an I-130 Valid for After Approval?
An approved Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, does not expire as long as the underlying family relationship remains valid and the petitioner maintains their U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent resident status. This means the petition can remain valid for years—even indefinitely—while the beneficiary waits for a visa number to become available.
However, certain circumstances can cause an approved I-130 to become invalid, including:
- Withdrawal of the petition by the petitioner
- Death of the petitioner (though humanitarian reinstatement may be possible)
- Termination of the qualifying relationship, such as divorce in marriage-based cases
- Loss of status by the petitioner (e.g., if a green card holder loses lawful permanent resident status)
Additionally, once the petition is approved and forwarded to the National Visa Center (NVC) for immigrant visa processing, you must maintain regular communication with the NVC. If there is no activity on the case for one year, the NVC may terminate the case under the assumption that the applicant is no longer pursuing immigration.
To keep the case active, responding to NVC correspondence and submitting any required documentation or updates on time is important.
Also, read >> What Happens after Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative Is Approved?
