After I-130 is Approved, What’s Next?

First, to understand what happens after I-130 is approved, it’s important to know the type of qualifying relationship you have with the U.S. petitioner because it affects your wait. This should be simple because it’s the basis of your I-130 petition.

You are in an Immediate Relative category if you have one of the following relationships:

• IR-1: Spouse of a U.S. citizen
• IR-2: Unmarried child under 21 years of age of a U.S. citizen
• IR-3: Orphan adopted abroad by a U.S. citizen
• IR-4: Orphan to be adopted in the U.S. by a U.S. citizen
• IR-5: Parent of a U.S. citizen who is at least 21 years old

 
You are in a Family Preference category if you have one of the following relationships:

• F1 (Family First Preference): Unmarried adult children (age 21 and over) of U.S. citizens, and their minor children, if any.
• F2 (Family Second Preference): Spouses, minor children, and unmarried adult children (age 21 and over) of lawful permanent residents.
• F3 (Family Third Preference): Married adult children of U.S. citizens, and their spouses and minor children.
• F4 (Family Fourth Preference): Brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens, and their spouses and minor children, provided the U.S. citizens are at least 21 years of age.

Upon approving the I-130 petition, USCIS will mail the petitioner an approval notice. The next step depends on two important criteria: (1) if the immigrant is in an Immediate Relative or Family Preference Category and (2) if the immigrant is inside or outside the United States.

Generally, as an Immediate Relative who is inside the United States, you have the option of “adjusting status” to a permanent resident. (Although it is possible for Family Preference immigrants to adjust status, it is less common due to the wait times associated with the categories.)

If you are in the United States, you’ll probably want to will file an adjustment of status packet after I-130 is approved. The AOS packet includes several mandatory USCIS forms and some optional forms. It may seem a bit overwhelming, but most people with straightforward cases can prepare the AOS packet without the assistance of an attorney.

By accurately preparing these forms, you will greatly increase your chances of having your case processed quickly. As mentioned, Form I-485 is the primary application in the packet, but several other USCIS forms may need to be included:

• Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
  This is a required form used to claim the immigrant visa and adjust status .
• Form I-864, Affidavit of Support
  This is a required form used to show that the applicant has adequate means of financial support.
• Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record
  This is a required form used to establish that the applicant is not inadmissible on public health grounds.
• Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization
  This is an optional form used to request permission to work in the United States.
• Form I-131, Application for Travel Document
  This is an optional form used to request an Advance Parole travel document a necessary document to re-enter the U.S.

In addition to the forms listed above, USCIS fees and supporting documentation must be submitted. This list of items that must be submitted varies based on your specific situation and answers on the forms. Please refer to the USCIS directions for each USCIS form or the simplified set of instructions when you prepare the packet on CitizenPath.

In most cases, Family Preference applicants must also use consular processing. Due to the limited number of visas available to immigrants in these categories, the wait for an interview can add up to several years. During this time, the file will remain with the NVC until the Priority Date becomes current.

Your Priority Date is the date your I-130 petition was filed. So regardless of how long it takes to approve your I-130 petition, your Priority Date is set on the day that USCIS receives and accepts the petition. Your Priority Date serves as your “place in line” when a limited number of visas are available. Use the Visa Bulletin to keep an eye on dates as they become current.

Each category has a cap on the total number of immigrant visas that can be issued each year. The simplified table below details the numbers of visas available each year.

For categories such as F1, the wait can be relatively quick. An F1 immigrant (spouse or minor child of a lawful permanent resident) has the highest priority of all the Family Preference categories.

Complicating matters further, the wait can be extended by country limits. The law puts a cap on the number of immigrants that can come to the United States from any one country. Currently, no more than seven percent of the total amount of people immigrating to the United States in a single fiscal year can come from a single country. Most countries are not affected by this cap. But people from countries with high levels of immigration to the United States, such as Mexico and the Philippines, will experience this cap that can make the wait for a green card much longer.

For a more comprehensive overview of the limits set within Family Preference categories, visit How the United States Immigration System Works.

What happens after I-130 is approved depends on numerous factors. Immediate Relatives will be given priority because there is no limit on the number of immigrant visas that can issued each year to this category. On the other hand, individuals in the Family Preference category will generally wait many months, and often several years, before an immigrant visa number is available. A determination must be made if the immigrant is Adjusting Status inside the United States or will submit a green card application through Consular Processing at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. All of these factors determine the steps that happen after I-130 is approved.