Note that this page applies to applicants going through consular processing. The I-130s associated with applicants going through adjustment of status are processed by the National Benefit Center (NBC).
1) Which USCIS service centers are processing family I-130s?
USCIS uses acronyms in case or receipt numbers to designate which service center will process the I-130:
- California WSC (or WAC)
- Nebraska NSC (or LIN)
- Potomac YSC (or PSC)
- Texas SSC (or SRC)
- Vermont ESC (or EAC)
As we will see though, I-130s are often transferred from one service center to another.
2) Which USCIS service center will process your I-130?
2.1) Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens
Since mid-2021, all USCIS service centers are receiving the same number of consular I-130s for immediate relatives every quarter (about 20,000 each for California, Nebraska, Texas, Vermont, Potomac):
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The change made by USCIS is very clear. As early as 2019, Texas was getting 50% of all consular I-130s for immediate relatives. Now, each service center gets 1/5th or 20% of them:
2.2) Family preferences (F1, F2A, F2B, F3, F4)
As early as 2019, all consular I-130s for family preferences were going to the California Service Center. But that is no longer the case and now all USCIS service centers are receiving the same number of consular I-130s for family preferences every quarter (about 11,000 each for California, Nebraska, Texas, Vermont, Potomac).
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The change made by USCIS is very clear. As early as 2019, California was getting 100% of all consular I-130s for immediate relatives. Now, each service center gets 1/5th or 20% of them:
3) What is the present performance of USCIS service centers for I-130 for immediate relatives?
I-130 backlogs for immediate relatives have been going up at all Service Centers in calendar year 2022.
If you are the immediate relative of a U.S. Citizen going through consular processing filing today, you can expect a 16-18 months wait to see your I-130 approved. It is possible that approval for applicants whose I-130 is assigned to Nebraska might be faster.