How long does IR5 take?
Quick Answer
IR5 (parents of U.S. citizens) takes 12-18 months total because it's an immediate relative category with no quota wait.
Detailed Explanation
IR5 is much faster than preference categories because there's no annual limit. Timeline breakdown: I-130 processing: 6-12 months, NVC processing: 3-4 months, Interview scheduling: 1-2 months. Total: 10-18 months from filing to green card in hand. Some cases faster if USCIS is efficient. No priority date wait. Parents must be sponsored by U.S. citizen child who is 21+ years old. Can't be sponsored by permanent resident. CaseTracker Auto helps track each phase and notifies when status changes.
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