Families sometimes choose to try to come to the United States to build a better life, but that doesn’t necessarily happen all at once. Family-based immigration can take months or years, depending on the type of petition that’s being filed. Other factors, such as visa availability and agency processing time, can also affect how long it takes.
One thing to remember if you’re going through a family-based immigration application is that having to wait doesn’t mean that something is wrong. Some delays are simply because of the working nature of the immigration system.
Why some cases take longer than others
Some processing delays are because the immigration agency needs more information. They may be waiting for background check results, or there may be a waiting list for the specific visa category. Even if a family-based immigration petition looks good on paper, the additional steps like reviewing interviews, financial sponsorship forms and medical requirements may hold up the process.
Another issue that sometimes comes up has to do with the relationship between the sponsor and applicant. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens will typically follow a different timeline than individuals in other preference categories. Country of birth, category limits and filing dates are also factors that can affect how long it takes for an application to be processed.
Family-based immigration can often be complex, and it’s usually stressful for the entire family. Careful preparation of applications can help to prevent avoidable setbacks, but that won’t help the standard delays. It may be beneficial to work with someone familiar with the specific immigration situation you’re dealing with so they can assist throughout the process.