When to file I 130? Best route?

[BrokenWings 8]

Hello folks- I am a LPR (10 YR GC) with N400 pending; so I am not USC yet. I really want to bring my parents and my spouse (got married before filing N400 and provided spouse info in N400 application) as soon as I can because life has been difficult for me maintaining everything alone and my spouse has some medical condition. Should I wait for my N400 to be adjudicated/approved and then file I130 petition for them? Or I should file now and change my citizenship status once it changes? I know as a LPR, I can file for spouse but not parents. I am just holding back in case filing as LPR unnecessarily increases the processing time. Someone said to file as soon as possible and just change my status once N400 gets approved. Any opinion on this situation? What can be my best route to take?

[Ryan H 3,849]

File for your spouse now, upgrade the petition after you naturalize.

[Boiler 46,546]

I see no point waiting

[Dashinka 25,180]

File for your spouse now, I agree with @Boiler, and @Ryan H, no point in waiting, and you can upgrade after naturalizing.  Each I130 will be treated as a separate petition, so don't worry about having multiple petitions except as it relates to the I864, but when you do file for your parents after becoming a USC, you can get the petitions together during the NVC and consulate phases.

 

Good Luck!

Edited March 10 by Dashinka

[BrokenWings 8]

11 hours ago, Dashinka said:

File for your spouse now, I agree with @Boiler, and @Ryan H, no point in waiting, and you can upgrade after naturalizing.  Each I130 will be treated as a separate petition, so don't worry about having multiple petitions except as it relates to the I864, but when you do file for your parents after becoming a USC, you can get the petitions together during the NVC and consulate phases.

 

Good Luck!

How can I upgrade after becoming USC? And based on your last note, did you mean I can file for my parents in one I130? You said together. 

[pushbrk 13,294]

25 minutes ago, BrokenWings said:

How can I upgrade after becoming USC? And based on your last note, did you mean I can file for my parents in one I130? You said together. 

You notify USCIS that you've naturalized.  When the petition for spouse gets to the National Visa Center, it will proceed right away.

 

As a US Citizen, you'll file a separate petition/I-130 for each parent.

[Dashinka 25,180]

7 hours ago, BrokenWings said:

How can I upgrade after becoming USC? And based on your last note, did you mean I can file for my parents in one I130? You said together. 

No, as @pushbrk stated, each parent requires their own I130 (no derivatives for immediate relatives).  As to notifying USCIS of the change in your spouse’s application (from F2A to IR1), that should happen automatically, but most people contact USCIS with proof of their naturalization along with the case number of the spouse’s I130.

 

Good Luck!

[BrokenWings 8]

On 3/10/2025 at 9:33 PM, pushbrk said:

You notify USCIS that you've naturalized.  When the petition for spouse gets to the National Visa Center, it will proceed right away.

 

As a US Citizen, you'll file a separate petition/I-130 for each parent.

Hello, Can you give me an idea how long it usually takes to get naturalized after filing N400? And with me filing for my spouse I 130 as LPR and then upgrading it; also applying for parents after naturalization. - Can you think of an estimated time frame for the entire process? I am just trying to plan for the next few years and also planning on some major financial decisions based on estimated timeline of these processes. 

Feel free to ask if you have any discovery question to assess my situation. Also when you said it will proceed right away... did you mean immediate approval? Does it work like that for USC?

[OldUser 8,439]

11 minutes ago, BrokenWings said:

 

Hello, Can you give me an idea how long it usually takes to get naturalized after filing N400?

Depends on your local field office.

But generally under 12 months for most applicants right now.

Edited March 18 by OldUser

[pushbrk 13,294]

2 hours ago, BrokenWings said:

 

Hello, Can you give me an idea how long it usually takes to get naturalized after filing N400? And with me filing for my spouse I 130 as LPR and then upgrading it; also applying for parents after naturalization. - Can you think of an estimated time frame for the entire process? I am just trying to plan for the next few years and also planning on some major financial decisions based on estimated timeline of these processes. 

Feel free to ask if you have any discovery question to assess my situation. Also when you said it will proceed right away... did you mean immediate approval? Does it work like that for USC?

Immigrant visas for immediate relatives of US Citizens usually takes about two years.  Naturalization should be faster than you get your wife's I-130 approved.  Being a citizen has no impact on the I-130 adjudication timeline.  The impact is at NVC.  You can file for your parents the same day you hold your Naturalization Certificate.