Form I-130 FY 2025 Update: Approvals Up 10.5% But Experience Varies Widely

Form I-130 FY 2025 Update: Approvals Up 10.5% But Experience Varies Widely

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) processed over a million Form I-130 family petitions in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, bringing the total number of petitions received to 1,002,586. At first glance, the data presents an encouraging picture: overall approvals rose by 10.5% compared to FY 2024, jumping from 711,767 to 786,347. Consequently, the overall approval rate increased slightly from 87.2% to 88.6%.

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However, beneath these top-level statistics lies a starkly divided immigration landscape. For the first time, USCIS has separated its data reporting into two tracks: immediate relatives of U.S. citizens and preference-category relatives. The data reveals that while immediate relatives are navigating a faster, more successful system, preference categories are facing tougher odds, higher denial rates, and staggering backlogs.

Coupled with a recent 2025 fee increase from $535 to $675 (a 26% hike) and shifting processing times in early 2026, families must carefully prepare before filing.

The Good News: Immediate Relatives See Strong Gains

For U.S. citizens petitioning for immediate relatives—defined as spouses, parents, and unmarried children under 21—the FY 2025 data is highly positive.

• High Approval Rates: The approval rate for immediate relatives held steady at a robust 93.3% across both Q3 and Q4, as well as the full fiscal year.
• Backlog Reductions: In Q4 of FY 2025 (July through September), USCIS approved roughly 59,000 more immediate relative petitions than it received in new filings. This active dent in the queue dropped the pending backlog by 8% in just one quarter, bringing it down from 871,740 to 801,745 cases.
• Faster Processing: The median processing time for this group ticked down slightly from 14 months in Q3 to 13 months in Q4 of FY 2025.

Because immediate relatives are not subject to annual visa caps, USCIS often prioritizes these applications, knowing that approved applicants will not have to sit on long visa waitlists.

The Tough Reality: Preference Categories Face Higher Denials

The experience is vastly different for preference-category relatives, which include the siblings, married children, and unmarried adult children of U.S. citizens, as well as family members of lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders).

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• Soaring Denial Rates: The overall FY 2025 approval rate for these "other relatives" was just 59.0%. This means that roughly 4 in 10 adjudicated cases were denied, a massive drop compared to the 93.3% success rate of immediate relatives. In Q3 alone, the approval rate plummeted to a mere 46.9% before rebounding to 58.4% in Q4.
• Expanding Backlogs: More than 1 million cases remain pending in this category, and the backlog continues to grow. Even after an I-130 is approved, more than 1,087,000 approved petitions are simply waiting for a statutory visa number to become available.
• Years-Long Wait Times: In FY 2025, the median processing time for preference categories stretched to 38 months (over three years).

Real-World Processing Timelines in 2026

As we move into 2026, the timelines for Form I-130 span anywhere from 17 to 170+ months, heavily dependent on the petitioner's status and the relationship category.

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For example, as of March 2026:

• A U.S. citizen filing for a spouse or young child generally waits between 17 and 59 months for the I-130 to be processed.
• A U.S. citizen sponsoring a sibling faces a projected processing window of 95 to 183 months (roughly 8 to 15 years).
• A lawful permanent resident filing for an unmarried child over 21 faces a wait of 48 to 170+ months.

To make matters more complex, data trackers recently flagged a sudden 40% drop in daily Form I-130 approvals starting March 1, 2026. Daily family-based approvals dropped from a February average of 850 down to fewer than 500 by mid-March, with service centers in Nebraska and Texas showing the steepest declines. Industry experts speculate this slowdown may be due to USCIS temporarily diverting adjudicators to handle the H-1B cap surge.

Actionable Tips to Prevent Delays

With a 41% denial rate in preference categories and extending processing times across the board, submitting a flawless application is more critical than ever. Here is how you can protect your petition:

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File as Early as Possible

Because wait times can easily span half a decade or more for preference categories, delaying your filing only pushes your relative further down the visa waitlist.

Submit Complete Documentation

A Request for Evidence (RFE) can drastically extend processing times. Ensure your application includes robust proof of your family relationship, such as:

• Birth certificates
• Marriage certificates
• Evidence of joint financial holdings

When in doubt, provide more evidence than you think is necessary to avoid giving USCIS a reason to pause your case.

Consider Paper Filing over Online Filing

While USCIS offers an online filing option, immigration professionals note that the digital system is still prone to glitches, slow response times, and instances of disappearing data. Filing a traditional paper application via express mail—paired with Form G-1145 for electronic notifications—is currently recommended as the more reliable method.

Monitor Your Case

Keep close tabs on your application using the 13-character receipt number from your I-797C Notice of Action on the USCIS online portal. If your case falls outside of normal processing times, you may be eligible to submit an inquiry.

Final Thought: Navigating the Form I-130 process in FY 2025 and beyond requires patience and precision. Whether you are experiencing the relatively fast track of an immediate relative or facing the multi-year backlog of a preference category, submitting a thoroughly documented petition is your best defense against unexpected delays and denials.