U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is implementing significant operational changes in the processing of Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, resulting in longer processing times and increased interview requirements for family-based immigration cases. Historically, USCIS Service Centers handled most standalone I-130 petitions, including petitions for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens and family preference relatives. However, recent reports indicate that USCIS is increasingly transferring these petitions directly to local Field Offices for adjudication and interview-related processing. Some cases have also reportedly been referred to the agency's Benefits Integrity Office (BIO).

Increased Likelihood of In-Person Interviews

One significant consequence of this change is that in-person interviews could become standard rather than exceptional. The U.S. citizen or permanent resident petitioner must attend an interview, and a beneficiary may be required to attend if in the U.S. The circumstances under which USCIS may waive interviews remain unclear.

Significant Increases in Processing Times

In the third quarter of 2026 report, there were 2,404,546 pending I-130 petitions, with only 140,610 petitions at USCIS Service Centers and an additional 12,795 petitions at the NBC. The report shows that significantly more petitions are now pending with field offices than with service centers. Furthermore, the report indicated that in the quarter, USCIS assigned only a bit over 1,200 petitions received to each of the service centers.

As of October 21, 2026, USCIS has listed unacceptably long processing times for family-based immigration petitions. Based on the reports and information received, it remains unclear what types of cases, if any, are processed at the NBC. Please refer to the following processing times for 80% of cases at these locations, based on retrieved October 21, 2026, processing time information:

In light of these developments, individuals with pending or prospective I-130 petitions should consider the following:

• Prepare for potential interviews and maintain up to date documentation, such as joint financial records, leases, photographs, etc., supporting the qualifying family relationship.
• Carefully evaluate any immigration status violations, prior removal orders, or other potential enforcement concerns before a beneficiary residing in the United States attends an interview.
• U.S. citizens residing abroad may wish to explore whether direct consular filing is available under exceptional circumstances or an applicable blanket authorization.

Individuals with pending I-130 petitions should monitor their case status and remain prepared for potential interview notices. We encourage you to contact our experienced immigration attorneys to discuss case-specific risks and available options.