United States visaFamily immigrant visaUS spouse and family immigrant visas from India
A US citizen petitions for a spouse (IR-1 or CR-1) or a parent (IR-5), and a green card holder for a spouse (F2A). The petitioner files Form I-130 (USD 675, USD 625 online), the National Visa Center collects the USD 325 visa fee and USD 120 affidavit of support fee, and the applicant interviews at the US Consulate General in Mumbai, the only immigrant visa post in India. Spouse cases take about 18 to 28 months end to end.
7 min read Verified 29 October 2026 against travel.state.gov · How we verify
United States family immigrant visa: quick answers
- Who qualifies for a family immigrant visa?
- Spouses and parents of US citizens aged 21 or over are immediate relatives with no annual limit. Spouses and unmarried children under 21 of green card holders fall under F2A, which is subject to the Visa Bulletin; in the November 2026 bulletin the F2A final action date for India was 22 October 2026, so the wait is short. The petitioner must show income of at least 125 percent of the federal poverty guidelines on Form I-864 or use a joint sponsor.
- What does it cost?
- USD 675 for Form I-130 (USD 625 filed online), then at the National Visa Center USD 325 per applicant for the immigrant visa and USD 120 per case for the affidavit of support review, and after approval USD 235 per person for the USCIS immigrant fee that produces the green card. A medical examination with a panel physician in India costs about USD 250 to 400. Government fees are not refunded on refusal.
- How long does it take from India?
- USCIS takes roughly 12 to 24 months to approve an immediate-relative I-130, the NVC stage takes two to four months once documents are complete, and Mumbai interview scheduling adds two to six months. Plan on 18 to 28 months for a spouse case; parent cases run similarly. F2A cases also wait for the Visa Bulletin.
At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Visa types | IR-1 / CR-1 spouse of a US citizen; IR-5 parent; F2A spouse or child of a green card holder |
| Petition fee | USD 675 (USD 625 online) for Form I-130, paid to USCIS |
| Visa and affidavit fees | USD 325 per applicant and USD 120 per case, paid at the NVC |
| USCIS immigrant fee | USD 235 per person after approval |
| Sponsor income | 125 percent of the poverty guidelines for the household size on Form I-864 |
| Interview post | US Consulate General, Mumbai |
| Timeline | About 18 to 28 months for spouse cases |
| F2A India (Nov 2026 bulletin) | Final action date 22 Oct 2026 |
Who can petition, and for whom
A US citizen can petition for a spouse and, if 21 or over, for parents; a lawful permanent resident can petition for a spouse and unmarried children. The marriage must be legally valid where it took place (a registered Hindu or Special Marriage Act certificate) and genuine; religious ceremonies alone are not enough and any earlier marriage must be ended by decree. A marriage under two years old at the time of entry gives a conditional CR-1 green card that must be converted on Form I-751 before the second anniversary.
Immediate relatives (IR-1, CR-1, IR-5) have no annual cap or Visa Bulletin wait. F2A is limited and country-capped, but has stayed close to current in 2026: the November 2026 bulletin set India's final action date at 22 October 2026. Fiancé(e)s of US citizens use the K-1 nonimmigrant visa instead (Form I-129F USD 675, K visa fee USD 265), marry within 90 days of arrival and then file for adjustment of status at USD 1,440.
Every petitioner signs Form I-864, a binding affidavit of support, showing household income of at least 125 percent of the federal poverty guidelines for the household size (100 percent for active-duty military). Income from the applicant does not count unless it continues from the same source in the US; assets can be used at five times the shortfall (three times for spouses of citizens), and a joint sponsor in the US can sign a second I-864.
Fees and what they cover
| Item | USD | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Form I-130 petition for alien relative | 675 (625 online) | Per beneficiary; parents need one petition each |
| Immigrant visa application processing fee (DS-260) | 325 | Per applicant, paid at the NVC |
| Affidavit of support review fee (I-864) | 120 | Per case, paid at the NVC |
| USCIS immigrant fee | 235 | Per person after visa issuance, before travel; produces the green card |
| Medical examination | About 250 to 400 | Panel physicians in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and other cities; vaccinations extra |
| K-1 fiancé(e) route: I-129F and K visa | 675 and 265 | Then I-485 adjustment of status USD 1,440 after marriage |
| I-751 removal of conditions (CR-1 cases) | 750 | Filed in the 90 days before the second anniversary of the green card |
Vistolane shows the USD 325 visa fee on the price card at the official rate; the I-130 and USCIS immigrant fees are paid by the petitioner in the US and are listed in the quote.
How the application runs, step by step
- 1
File Form I-130
The petitioner files online or by mail with proof of citizenship or residence, the marriage certificate, evidence of a genuine relationship and the fee. USCIS issues a receipt and later an approval (Form I-797).
- 2
National Visa Center stage
The case moves to the NVC with a case number. The applicant completes the DS-260 online, the petitioner pays USD 325 and USD 120, uploads the I-864 with tax transcripts, and the applicant uploads civil documents: passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate, Indian police clearance certificate (and any other country's for stays over a year since 16).
- 3
Documentarily qualified
The NVC reviews the uploads, asks for corrections, then marks the case complete and queues it for Mumbai.
- 4
Medical and interview in Mumbai
Complete the medical with a panel physician before the interview date. At the consulate the officer reviews the relationship, the I-864 and admissibility and usually approves at the window; the passport with the immigrant visa is returned in about a week.
- 5
USCIS immigrant fee and travel
Pay USD 235 online, enter the US within the visa validity (usually six months, tied to the medical), and the green card is mailed to the US address. CR-1 holders file I-751 before the second anniversary.
Timeline for an Indian applicant
| Stage | Typical time | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| I-130 at USCIS | About 12 to 24 months | Immediate relatives; F2A similar, then wait for the bulletin |
| NVC fees, DS-260 and documents | 2 to 4 months | The Indian PCC from Passport Seva is the usual long pole |
| Mumbai interview scheduling | 2 to 6 months | Appointment letters arrive about a month ahead |
| Interview to visa | About 1 week | 221(g) requests add weeks |
| Visa to US entry | Within 6 months | Pay the USD 235 USCIS immigrant fee before travel |
The applicant may visit the US on a B-2 visa while the petition is pending, declaring the pending case, but admission is at the officer's discretion and the trip must be a genuine visit. Entering on a visitor visa with the intention of staying and adjusting status is treated as misrepresentation.
After arrival
The immigrant visa holder becomes a lawful permanent resident on entry and can work immediately; the stamped visa serves as proof for a year while the card is produced. IR-1 and IR-5 holders receive ten-year cards. CR-1 holders receive two-year conditional cards and must file Form I-751 jointly with the spouse in the 90 days before expiry, with evidence that the marriage continues.
Citizenship by naturalisation is available after three years of residence for spouses of US citizens who remain married and living together, and after five years for others, with continuous residence, physical presence of half the period, English and civics tests and the USD 760 N-400 fee. India does not permit dual citizenship, so naturalising means surrendering the Indian passport and applying for an OCI card.
Document checklist: petitioner (in the us)
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Proof of status | US passport, naturalisation certificate or green card |
| Form I-130 and I-130A | With the marriage certificate, divorce decrees and two passport photos each |
| Relationship evidence | Wedding photos, joint accounts or leases, travel together, chat and call logs over time, remittances, affidavits from family |
| Form I-864 with income evidence | Most recent federal tax return or IRS transcript, W-2s or 1099s, pay stubs and an employer letter; a joint sponsor's I-864 if income is short |
Applicant (in India)
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Passport valid six months beyond the intended entry | All previous passports |
| Birth certificate | Municipal certificate; a non-availability certificate plus affidavits where none exists |
| Marriage certificate | Registered under the Hindu Marriage Act, Special Marriage Act or applicable personal law |
| Police clearance certificates | India (Passport Seva) and every country lived in for 12 months or more since age 16 |
| DS-260 confirmation and NVC fee receipts | Printed for the interview |
| Medical examination results | Panel physician report with vaccination record, sealed or transmitted electronically |
Parents (IR-5)
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Petitioner's birth certificate showing the parent's name | Plus parents' marriage certificate for a father's petition |
| Separate I-130 and DS-260 for each parent | Each parent is a separate case with its own fees |
Why applications on this route get refused, and the fix
Relationship not established as genuine
Thin evidence, inconsistent answers at the interview, long periods apart with no contact evidence, or a marriage shortly after another immigration refusal.
The fix. Build a chronological relationship bundle, prepare both spouses on the same facts, and explain arranged-marriage customs and time apart with evidence of continuing contact.
Affidavit of support insufficient (212(a)(4) public charge)
Household income below 125 percent of the poverty guidelines or tax documents missing.
The fix. Add a joint sponsor, document assets, and upload complete IRS transcripts for the latest year.
221(g) for documents
A missing PCC, an unverified civil document or a medical not completed.
The fix. Submit the exact item requested through the consulate's instructions; cases are usually resolved within weeks.
Prior unlawful presence or misrepresentation
An earlier overstay in the US, or a misstatement on a past visa application, triggering a bar.
The fix. Take legal advice on the I-601 waiver, which requires extreme hardship to the US citizen or resident spouse or parent.
Petition problems
An earlier marriage not legally ended, or a petitioner who became a citizen after filing without updating the category.
The fix. Obtain the decree and refile or request reclassification; immediate-relative upgrades remove the F2A wait.
