How long does it take to get a family-based immigrant visa?

In Washington, the process for obtaining a family-based immigrant visa can take anywhere from several months to several years. The length of the process depends on multiple factors, such as the particular category of visa for which you are applying, the amount of time needed to complete the paperwork and other administrative requirements, and the current backlog of applications. The first step in the process is filing an I-130 petition with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This petition begins the “preference” process for the visa, meaning it establishes the order in which you will be considered for the visa (family members of U.S. citizens have higher priority than other categories). Once the I-130 petition is approved, you will receive notification and can file the next steps of the visa application. Depending on the category and the country where the applicant is from, the wait time may be more or less than a year. After the wait period, if the application is approved, the applicant will be notified and will be able to attend an interview at the local U.S. consulate or embassy in the country of origin. The purpose of this interview is to verify the relationship of the applicant to the petitioner and to ensure that the applicant does not pose a security risk. The applicant will be asked for additional documentation and may be subject to further review and processing. After these steps, the visa will either be issued and the applicant can enter the United States, or denied. Overall, the process for obtaining a family-based immigrant visa can take anywhere from a few months to several years, and individual experiences may vary.

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El tiempo que toma obtener una visa de inmigración basada en la familia varía según la situación de la persona. Una vez que el patrocinador de inmigración presenta una solicitud de visa de inmigrante, el proceso puede demorar desde varios meses hasta varios años. El tiempo también depende de si el patrocinador es un ciudadano estadounidense o un residente permanente y si la persona que solicita la visa vive dentro o fuera de los Estados Unidos. Para aquellos que patrocinan a familiares fuera de los Estados Unidos, el proceso de visa de inmigrante generalmente tarda entre 6 a 8 meses si el patrocinador es un ciudadano estadounidense y entre 12 y 15 meses si el patrocinador es un residente permanente. Para aquellos que patrocinan a familiares dentro de los Estados Unidos, el proceso de visa de inmigrante generalmente toma entre 12 a 22 meses, dependiendo de si el patrocinador es un ciudadano estadounidense o un residente permanente. Además, el proceso de visa de inmigrante se ve afectado si el gobierno está elaborando una gran cantidad de solicitudes o limitaciones en las visas debido a la pandemia actual o a otras situaciones. Si bien no se puede predecir con precisión el tiempo de procesamiento, los interesados deben tener algo de flexibilidad y paciencia para que el proceso sea exitoso.

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