existUnited States ImmigrationIn the system, relativesimmigrantsIt has always been a stable and most numerous legal immigration route. However, in the past few years, due to epidemics, staff shortages, and other reasonsrelative immigrationThe efficiency of the vetting and approval process had once dropped drastically, leaving many applicants to wait for years.
However.2025.United States ImmigrationUSCIS has announced a series of reforms and accelerated measures that partiallyrelative immigrationSignificant improvement in the scheduling of categories.. This article will give you a detailed breakdown of the 2025relative immigrationThe processing time and scheduling trend of each category, and how to seize the dividends of this "accelerated process" to realize the dream of family reunion.
I. What is relative immigration? Who can apply?
A relative immigrant is a U.S. citizen or green card holder for whom theImmediate family or household membersApplication for permanent resident status (i.e., green card). There are two main categories:
✅ "Immediate Family Category" with no waiting period:
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Spouses of U.S. Citizens
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Unmarried children of U.S. citizens (under 21)
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Parent of a U.S. citizen (applicant must be at least 21 years old)
There is no waiting period for this category, and you can get your green card as soon as the I-130 and I-485/I-601 processes are completed.
✅ "Other kinship categories" with scheduling:
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F1: Unmarried adult child of a U.S. citizen (21 years of age or older)
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F2A: Spouse and minor children of the green card holder
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F2B: Unmarried adult children of green card holders
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F3: Married children of U.S. citizens
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F4: Siblings of U.S. Citizens
These categories are subject to a "priority date" queue, and can only continue to apply for a green card when the "schedule" is current.
II. 2025 Latest Trends in USCIS Processing Times
Based on USCIS and Department of State (NVC) data for the first quarter of 2025, overall relative immigration processing times are as follows:
| Type of application | I-130 average processing time | Scheduling trends | note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spouses of U.S. Citizens | 10-14 months | no fixed time | accelerate significantly |
| Green Card Spouse (F2A) | 14-18 months | Forward scheduling | F2A reverts to "current" state |
| F1 (unmarried adult children of citizens) | I-130 approximately 24 months | Scheduling advances to mid-2017 | slight improvement |
| F3 (married children of citizens) | I-130 approximately 30 months | Scheduling stalled around 2009 | Basically no progress |
| F4 (siblings) | I-130 over 10 years | Slow advancement of scheduling | Still need to be patient |
✅ Highlight: The F2A (Green Card Spouse) category will return to "No Exit" in early 2025, increasing the speed of applications significantly.
Third, what are the reasons for the accelerated scheduling and what improvements did USCIS make in 2025?
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Electronic speeding up: USCIS continues to expand the I-130 online filing system to improve processing efficiency and reduce paper backlogs.
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Staff Augmentation: The 2025 federal budget adds about 1,000 new immigration officers to specialize in processing the backlog of kinship immigration cases.
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"Launch of Operation Paper Cleanup: Clear the backlog of documents from the epidemic and prioritize cases for submission in 2021-2023.
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Prioritization of immediate family members with F2A category: The principle of humanity and the priority of family reunification.Fast Track for Green Card Spouses and ChildrenThe
Successful Case Sharing: Apply in 2023 and get your card in 2025?
Ms. Wang (a Chinese national) applied for F2A through her green card holder husband in June 2023, her I-130 was approved in January 2024, and she successfully filed her I-485 Adjustment of Status form in early 2025 after the scheduling process was advanced to "Current".
Interviews completed in April 2025.The whole process took less than two years to get a green cardIt has become one of the few "quick success" cases in recent years.
Fifth, the acceleration of kinship immigration is still variable, do the following to deal with the uncertainty of the future
1. Early submission is always king
The earlier the I-130 priority date, the better it is to get a head start when scheduling advances.
2. Frequently check the Visa Bulletin.
The U.S. Department of State updates the scheduling table monthly, and the F2A category may resume scheduling at any time.
3. Avoiding incomplete applications or inaccurate information
Many delays are not systemic problems, but rather the applicants' own poorly prepared and incorrectly filled out documents.
4. Consideration of a "twin-track" strategy
If in the U.S., it is recommended thatI-130 and I-485 Parallel Submission, saving a lot of time.
VI. Future Outlook: Relative Immigration May Become More Friendly
even thoughImmigration to the United StatesThe system is still affected by the political and international situation, but with the relaxation of immigration policies in 2025, in particular the strengthening of the priority principle of family reunification.Ease of immigration for relatives will continue to improveThe
It is expected that in the next 1-2 years, F2A may remain in the state of "no scheduling" for a long time, while F1 and F3 scheduling is also expected to advance steadily every month.
concluding remarks
U.S. relative immigration has always been a bridge that connects families. In 2025, with the reform of the USCIS adjudication process, digitalization enhancement and scheduling dynamics, more families will have the opportunity to shorten the waiting time and realize the dream of reunification.
Whether you're a U.S. citizen or a green card holder.Submit early, choose the right category, pay attention to policy changes, in order to capitalize on the critical window of accelerated migration.
