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You file everything, right? The forms, the photos, the fee. Then you wait. Weeks go by. You refresh that USCIS page, and it still says the same thing—“Case is being actively reviewed.”
And that’s when the real questions start. Did they lose it? Did we miss something? Why does everyone online say something different?
Here’s the truth: nobody can give you an exact number. It depends on you, your spouse, and a little bit of luck.
It Starts With You
First question I always ask: Are you a U.S. citizen or a green-card holder?
Citizens have it easier. Your husband or wife counts as an immediate relative. There’s no line, no yearly quota. Once your paperwork lands, it just moves whenever the office gets to it.
If you only have a green card, it’s slower. Your spouse is in the F2A category, which has annual limits. Even after USCIS approves, your file might remain at the National Visa Center until a visa number becomes available.
And then—where’s your spouse? If they’re already here, you go through an adjustment of status. If they’re abroad, it’s consular processing. That usually tacks on extra months, sometimes more than a few.
What People Actually See
Every case is its own animal, but roughly:
- Citizen + spouse in the U.S. may be 12–18 months.
- Citizen + spouse abroad à15–20 months, longer if the embassy’s swamped.
- Green-card holder + spouse (F2A) à2–3 years, may be subject to visa bulletin backlogs depending on the month.
I’ve seen four-year waits. Nobody did anything wrong; the system just moves when it moves.
Why It Crawls
USCIS rarely loses a case. It just runs slow—painfully slow. Background checks, under-staffed offices, mailroom bottlenecks, all that. Some field offices are still clearing pandemic leftovers.
Sometimes it’s tiny: a missing signature, a birth certificate that needs translation, or a Request for Evidence that resets the clock. On the consulate side, some embassies still have interview queues a year long.
It’s not personal. It just feels that way when it’s your marriage on hold.
How to Keep Things From Stalling
You can’t make the system faster, but you can stop it from tripping on your file.
- Go over your packet again. Add photos, joint bills, proof you live together—small things matter.
- Answer quickly when USCIS asks for anything.
- Update your address; lost mail is the silent killer of timelines.
- Check online every few weeks.
- If you’re months past normal, file a service request or ask your representative’s office to check in.
I’ve watched those congressional inquiries shake cases loose that had sat untouched for ages. It’s not magic—but it helps.
Real Life Examples
A U.S. citizen client filed for her husband right after their wedding. Everything looked perfect. Fourteen months later, they finally got the interview notice. She told me she’d stopped checking updates because seeing “no change” hurt too much.
Another couple, same paperwork, went through Manila. Their case? Twenty-one months. No mistakes, just backlog. Same forms, same love story, totally different outcome.
That’s how random it can feel.
Can You Speed It Up?
No paid premium processing yet. You can request an expedited—but only if there’s something serious: a medical emergency, urgent travel, or extreme hardship. And yes, they’ll want proof.
If you’ve waited years in silence, an attorney might file a writ of mandamus. That’s basically asking a federal judge to tell USCIS, “Hey, move.” It doesn’t guarantee approval, but it gets the file moving again.
What You Should Expect
Most couples end up waiting somewhere between a year and three. Citizens usually land closer to one; green-card holders wait longer.
It’s frustrating. It’s unfair. But it’s not forever.
Keep your documents organized. Respond fast. Don’t lose hope because the case tracker doesn’t move for months. “Slow” doesn’t mean “denied.” It just means your turn hasn’t come yet.
And when it does? That plain white envelope in the mail—that’s the moment all of this waiting finally feels worth it.
Contact O'Flaherty Law today!
Sources
- USCIS Policy Manual Vol. 1 Pt. A Ch. 5
- U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin (Family Preferences)
- USCIS I-130 / I-485 Data (2025)
- 5 U.S.C. § 555(b)
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