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US Immigration Visa Processing Times

By Casey July 10, 2020 (Updated July 11, 2023) 3 min. read
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If you are planning on applying for a United States visa to immigrate, it is common to question how long it will take for the US Consulate to process this visa.

What Factors Play a Role in USCIS Processing Times?

The processing time for a US visa depends mainly on which visa you are trying to get. There are also a handful of other components that tend to have an effect on how long it will take your visa to process:

Keep in mind that some visa applications may require additional, administrative processing, which could add even more time to the estimate (you should be informed when you apply if additional processing is required for your situation).

Visit our page on how to speed up your US immigration processing time to learn more.

Permanent Resident I-485 Processing Time 2023

6-33 months

Being the most long-term US visa, you can expect the processing time for permanent residence to be more lengthy than most other visas. According to USCIS, an application for permanent residence (Form I-485) will take anywhere from 6 months to 33 months to process depending on the factors listed above.

Learn more about US Green Card.

Family Sponsorship Processing Time 2023

Immediate Family

6-19 months

On average, the I-130 (family sponsorship visa) filed by your immediate family member takes between 6 to 19 months to be processed. The USCIS processes the petition on a first-come, first-served basis. Your sponsor can expedite the process by submitting the form as early as possible.

Learn more about US Family Immediate Sponsorship.

Family Preference

14 months to 20+ years

For family preference visas (for example, siblings), processing times can range anywhere from 13.5 months to 20 or more years.

Learn more about US Family Preference Sponsorship.

Spousal Sponsorship I-130 Processing Time 2023

7-32 months

It will usually take anywhere from 7 to 24 months for USCIS to process and approve a spousal sponsorship visa. It can take an additional 6 to 10 months to get an immigrant visa to the US.

Learn more about US Spousal Sponsorship.

Visitor Visa Processing Time 2023

2 weeks – 4 months

The average visa processing time for a United States visitor visa at the Embassy is three days. Due to mailing time, applicants can expect to receive their visas in 2 weeks to 4 months on average.

Learn more about US Visitor Visas.

Student Visa Processing Time 2023

Immediately – several days

The US student visa (F-1 visa) is one of the fastest visas to process. In fact, the study permit is often processed directly before your embassy interview. The interview is the last step of the application process. By the end of the interview, the consular officer should tell you whether or not your application was approved. Some F-1 visa applications will take several days to process, in which case your approval will come several days after the interview.

Learn more about US Student Visas.

Work Visa Processing Time 2023

5-7 months

Depending on which type of work visa you apply for, it takes about 5–7 months for USCIS to process work permit applications.

Learn more about US Work Visas.

Find Out USCIS Visa Processing Times From an Immigration Professional

Book a consultation today with an immigration professional! One of our United States immigration professionals will determine exactly how long it will take for you to receive your US visa.

Use the USCIS Processing Time tool to determine how long your US visa processing time may take.

If you are interested in Canadian immigration, please feel free to visit our page on Canadian Immigration Processing Times.

Sarah Quernasian Avatar

Sarah Quernasian

Lawyers here are so kind and sweet and provide so much information in an easy to understand way, especially about visa and obtaining work once in the country. My lawyer was very good and I’m looking forward to having her knowledge in the future for any other immigration needs.

Charles Scalise Avatar

Charles Scalise

The thought of immigrating was very stressful for me and my family, I felt lost. However, working with VisaPlace was very positive and I recommend them to those who need help with immigration. Their team worked with me very closely and presented to me multiple potential options and explained what the process would look like as well as the timeline. I’m so grateful to their guidance.

Pherry AshMalt Avatar

Pherry AshMalt

I won’t go into detail for privacy, but I was in a very bad situation where almost no lawyer would work with me or even provide me with legal counsel on my case. I was terrified of being removed from the country, but with the help of the professionals at VisaPlace, they were able to help me and I was allowed to stay. The relief I feel is immense. Thank you to the amazing team.

Walter J. Avatar

Walter J.

I was frustrated after talking to several different immigration firms. Many just didn’t seem honest or upfront. However, a friend recommended VisaPlace to me, and I am glad they did. I worked with a lady and she was very knowledgeable and explained the process to me. She was so essential for the immigration process. I would definitely go back to her if i needed any further support.

Marco Tame Avatar

Marco Tame

I’d like to be clear that I’m somewhat of a skeptic, especially when it comes to investing time and money into a new venture. I’m originally from the UK but I made the decision to migrate to Canada after meeting my girlfriend online six months ago. I know the process is going to take time, but I wanted legal counsel to make sure I approach the process in the most efficient way possible – I HATE wasting time. My consultation over the phone was informative and eased some of my initial concerns about potential hiccups. The lawyer I worked with was good about getting back to me, although occasionally she couldn’t be reached due to being in court – that was fine, she typically followed up relatively quickly. I’m now well within the process of immigrating and I have appreciated having the legal support.

Michael Her Avatar

Michael Her

It was pretty easy to make an appointment with visaplace. I have seen some people complain about the pricing, which is odd because in comparison to other firms, their rates are relatively fair. They were also honest and upfront with the complexities of my case and gave me the option to decide whether or not I wanted to move forward. I did end up moving forward and things have been going according to what we discussed. I am relieved to know there are honest professionals out there who won’t over-promise you things they can’t deliver.

Michael Her Avatar

Michael Her

It was pretty easy to make an appointment with visaplace. I have seen some people complain about the pricing, which is odd because in comparison to other firms, their rates are relatively fair. They were also honest and upfront with the complexities of my case and gave me the option to decide whether or not I wanted to move forward. I did end up moving forward and things have been going according to what we discussed. I am relieved to know there are honest professionals out there who won’t over-promise you things they can’t deliver.