Family Petition Priority Dates in Ontario: Understanding Wait Times for Arab Families

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Ontario, California, located in the heart of the Inland Empire, is home to a substantial and growing Arab community with families from Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Palestine. Many of these families have members who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and have filed family-based immigration petitions to bring their loved ones to the United States. The family petition process is one of the most widely used immigration pathways, but it comes with significant wait times that can stretch from several years to over two decades depending on the preference category and the beneficiary's country of birth. Understanding the priority date system, the monthly visa bulletin, and what you can do while waiting is essential for Arab families in Ontario who are navigating the family immigration process. SoCal Immigration Services provides comprehensive guidance on family-based immigration, from initial petition filing through visa availability and adjustment of status or consular processing. Our bilingual Arabic-English staff helps Inland Empire families understand their options and plan for reunification. Call SoCal Immigration Services at (714) 421-8872 to discuss your family petition case.

Reviewed for accuracy by

Maria Santos

DOJ Accredited Representative • 15+ years experience

How the Family-Based Immigration System Works

The U.S. family-based immigration system is divided into two main categories: immediate relatives and preference categories. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens include spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents. There is no annual cap on the number of immediate relative visas, which means there are no wait times for this category. Once USCIS approves the petition (Form I-130), the beneficiary can immediately proceed to apply for an immigrant visa or adjustment of status. The preference categories, however, are subject to annual numerical limitations set by Congress, which creates waiting lists and significant backlogs. The four family preference categories are: F1 (unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, aged 21 and over), F2A (spouses and children under 21 of permanent residents), F2B (unmarried sons and daughters aged 21 and over of permanent residents), F3 (married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens), and F4 (brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens). Each category has an annual allocation of visa numbers, and when demand exceeds supply, a backlog develops. The total number of family-based preference visas available each year is approximately 226,000, distributed across the four categories. For Arab families in Ontario who are petitioning for relatives in countries like Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and other nations that fall under the worldwide chargeability, wait times are determined by the overall worldwide demand rather than country-specific caps, though some countries like Mexico and the Philippines have separate, longer wait times.

Understanding Priority Dates and the Visa Bulletin

Your priority date is the date when USCIS receives your Form I-130 petition (or the date when a labor certification application is filed for employment-based cases). This date establishes your place in line for an immigrant visa. The Department of State publishes a monthly Visa Bulletin that shows which priority dates are currently being processed for each preference category. The Visa Bulletin contains two charts: the Application Final Action Dates chart (also called the cut-off dates chart) shows when a visa is actually available for final processing, and the Dates for Filing chart shows when you can begin the application process even though a visa may not yet be available for final adjudication. For example, if the February 2026 Visa Bulletin shows a Final Action Date of January 1, 2018 for the F4 category worldwide, this means that only petitions with priority dates before January 1, 2018 can receive final visa approval. If your priority date is March 15, 2019, you are not yet current and must continue waiting. The Visa Bulletin is updated on or around the 15th of each month for the following month, and you can access it on the Department of State website. Monitoring the Visa Bulletin monthly is essential because dates can advance, retrogress (move backward), or remain unchanged depending on demand patterns. Our office tracks the Visa Bulletin for all of our clients and provides immediate notification when a priority date becomes current or when significant movement occurs.

•Priority date: the date USCIS receives your Form I-130 petition
•Visa Bulletin published monthly by the Department of State
•Two charts: Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing
•Final Action Dates show when a visa is available for approval
•Dates for Filing show when you can begin the application process
•Check the Visa Bulletin monthly for updates on your category
•Dates can advance, retrogress, or remain unchanged each month

Current Wait Times by Family Preference Category

Understanding current wait times helps Arab families in Ontario plan realistically for family reunification. Wait times vary significantly by preference category and are measured from the priority date to the current Final Action Date in the Visa Bulletin. As of early 2026, the approximate wait times for the worldwide chargeability (which applies to most Arab countries) are as follows. The F1 category (unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens over 21) has current wait times of approximately 7 to 9 years. The F2A category (spouses and unmarried children under 21 of permanent residents) is currently showing much shorter wait times, often current or with waits of only 1 to 2 years, because this category received additional visa numbers in recent years. The F2B category (unmarried sons and daughters over 21 of permanent residents) has wait times of approximately 6 to 8 years. The F3 category (married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens) has wait times of approximately 12 to 15 years, making it one of the longest waits in the family system. The F4 category (brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens) has the longest wait times at approximately 15 to 22 years. These estimates are approximate and fluctuate based on visa availability, demand patterns, and annual allocations. For families from countries with high immigration demand, the wait can be even longer. The long wait times in the F3 and F4 categories have prompted many Arab families to explore alternative immigration strategies, including employment-based immigration, diversity visa lottery participation, and naturalization of the petitioning permanent resident to upgrade the petition to a higher preference category.

•F1 (unmarried adult children of citizens): approximately 7-9 years wait
•F2A (spouses/children of permanent residents): 1-2 years or currently available
•F2B (unmarried adult children of permanent residents): approximately 6-8 years
•F3 (married adult children of citizens): approximately 12-15 years wait
•F4 (siblings of adult citizens): approximately 15-22 years wait
•Wait times are approximate and fluctuate based on visa availability
•Worldwide chargeability applies to most Arab countries

Immediate Relatives: No Wait Time for Spouses, Parents, and Minor Children

If you are a U.S. citizen, certain family members qualify as immediate relatives and face no wait times for immigrant visas. This category includes your spouse, your unmarried children under 21 years old, and your parents (if you are 21 or older). The immediate relative category has no annual numerical limit, which means that as soon as USCIS approves the I-130 petition, the beneficiary can proceed to the immigrant visa stage without waiting for a priority date to become current. For Arab families in Ontario, this is particularly significant for citizens who want to bring their parents from the Middle East. Once you become a naturalized U.S. citizen, you can petition for your parents as immediate relatives, and they can receive their immigrant visas within 12 to 18 months of filing depending on consular processing times at the U.S. Embassy in their home country. This is dramatically faster than the F4 sibling category, which can take 15 to 22 years. The immediate relative petition process involves filing Form I-130 with USCIS (filing fee $535), waiting for approval (currently 5 to 12 months), and then the beneficiary either adjusts status in the U.S. through Form I-485 or goes through consular processing at the U.S. Embassy abroad. For spouses of U.S. citizens who are already in the United States, many can file the I-130 and I-485 concurrently, significantly reducing the overall processing time. Understanding which family members fall into the immediate relative category versus the preference categories is the first step in developing a realistic family immigration strategy.

Aging Out: The Child Status Protection Act (CSPA)

One of the biggest concerns for Arab families with pending family petitions is aging out, which occurs when a child beneficiary turns 21 and loses eligibility for the category under which they were originally filed. For example, if a permanent resident files an F2A petition for a child who is 15 years old, and the wait time is 5 years, the child will be 20 when the visa becomes available. But if the wait takes longer than expected and the child turns 21 before the visa is available, they age out of the F2A category and drop into the F2B category with its much longer wait time. The Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) provides some protection against aging out by allowing a child's age to be calculated using a special formula rather than their actual biological age. Under CSPA, you subtract the number of days the I-130 petition was pending from the child's biological age at the time the visa becomes available. If the resulting CSPA age is under 21, the child has not aged out and can proceed with their immigrant visa application. The child must also demonstrate that they sought to acquire permanent residence within one year of a visa becoming available. For example, if a child is biologically 22 years old when the visa becomes available, but the I-130 petition was pending for 2 years (730 days), the CSPA age is 22 minus 2 years, which equals 20, and the child has not aged out. CSPA calculations can be complex, especially when there are retrogressions in the Visa Bulletin or when the petition was filed many years ago. Our attorneys perform CSPA calculations for all family petition clients to ensure that children are protected and that applications are filed at the optimal time to prevent aging out.

•Aging out: turning 21 and losing eligibility for the child category
•CSPA formula: biological age minus days I-130 was pending = CSPA age
•If CSPA age is under 21, the child has not aged out
•Must seek to acquire permanent residence within 1 year of visa availability
•CSPA applies to all family preference categories and diversity visas
•Visa Bulletin retrogressions can complicate CSPA calculations

National Visa Center (NVC) Processing: What Happens After I-130 Approval

After USCIS approves the Form I-130 petition, the case is transferred to the National Visa Center (NVC) for further processing if the beneficiary will complete their immigrant visa application at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad. The NVC serves as an intermediary between USCIS and the consulate, managing the documentary requirements and scheduling interviews. When the NVC receives the case, they assign a case number and send instructions to both the petitioner and beneficiary. If the priority date is not yet current, the NVC holds the case until the Visa Bulletin shows that the priority date is approaching. Once the priority date is current or nearly current, the NVC will request that the petitioner and beneficiary complete their portions of the immigrant visa application. The petitioner must submit Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, demonstrating that they have sufficient income or assets to support the intending immigrant at 125% of the federal poverty guidelines. For a family of 4 in 2026, the minimum income requirement is approximately $38,000 per year. If the petitioner's income alone is insufficient, a joint sponsor who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident can co-sign the Affidavit of Support. The beneficiary must complete Form DS-260, Immigrant Visa Application, and submit civil documents including birth certificates, marriage certificates, police clearances, and medical examination results. For Arab families whose documents are in Arabic, all documents must be accompanied by certified English translations. The NVC will review the submitted documents and, once everything is complete, schedule the consular interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the beneficiary's country. Common U.S. Embassies for Arab beneficiaries include Cairo (Egypt), Amman (Jordan), Beirut (Lebanon), Baghdad (Iraq), and Casablanca (Morocco).

•NVC assigns a case number after receiving the approved I-130
•NVC holds the case until the priority date is current or approaching
•Petitioner submits Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support)
•Minimum income requirement: approximately $38,000/year for family of 4 in 2026
•Joint sponsor available if petitioner's income is insufficient
•Beneficiary completes DS-260 and submits civil documents
•All Arabic documents must include certified English translations
•NVC schedules consular interview once documents are complete

What to Do While Waiting for Your Priority Date

The years-long wait for family preference categories can be frustrating, but there are several productive steps you can take while waiting for your priority date to become current. First, keep your petition active by reporting any address changes to USCIS using Form AR-11 (for beneficiaries in the U.S.) and notifying the NVC of any address changes for beneficiaries abroad. Failure to maintain current contact information can result in missed notices and potentially abandoned petitions. Second, consider whether the petitioner can naturalize to upgrade the petition. If a permanent resident petitioner becomes a U.S. citizen, certain petition categories upgrade automatically. An F2A petition (spouse of permanent resident) converts to immediate relative status with no wait time, which is the single most impactful upgrade available. An F2B petition (unmarried adult child of permanent resident) converts to F1 (unmarried adult child of citizen), which may have a shorter wait depending on the dates. However, for F2A and F2B conversions, the priority date is retained, so you do not lose your place in line. Third, explore whether the beneficiary qualifies for any independent immigration pathway such as employment-based immigration, the diversity visa lottery (available to nationals of eligible countries including Egypt and some other Arab nations), or educational visas that could eventually lead to permanent residence. Fourth, prepare all civil documents well in advance of when the priority date becomes current. Obtain birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, police clearances, and other required documents from the home country and have them translated and certified. Having documents ready prevents delays when the visa finally becomes available. Our office maintains long-term case management for family petition clients, providing annual check-ins and priority date monitoring throughout the entire waiting period. Call SoCal Immigration Services at (714) 421-8872 for family petition guidance.

•Report all address changes to USCIS and the NVC promptly
•Consider petitioner naturalization to upgrade the petition category
•F2A converts to immediate relative (no wait) if petitioner naturalizes
•Explore alternative pathways: employment-based, diversity lottery, education visas
•Prepare all civil documents in advance: birth certificates, police clearances
•Have Arabic documents translated and certified well before the interview
•Monitor the Visa Bulletin monthly for priority date movement
•Maintain long-term case file with updated contact information

Upgrading and Converting Petitions: Strategic Options for Arab Families

Strategic petition management can significantly reduce wait times for Arab families in Ontario. The most powerful tool is petitioner naturalization, which can upgrade certain petition categories and eliminate or reduce wait times. When a permanent resident petitioner becomes a U.S. citizen, the following conversions occur automatically: F2A petitions for spouses convert to immediate relative status with no wait time, F2A petitions for children under 21 convert to immediate relative status with no wait time, and F2B petitions for unmarried children over 21 convert to F1 with the original priority date retained. However, some conversions can actually harm the beneficiary. If a permanent resident files an F2B petition and then naturalizes, the petition converts to F1, but depending on current Visa Bulletin dates, the F1 category may actually have a longer wait than F2B, meaning the conversion pushes the beneficiary further back in line. In these situations, the beneficiary can request that USCIS retain the petition in the original F2B category by filing a written request. Another strategic consideration is whether a married beneficiary in the F3 category might benefit from the petitioner filing a new F1 petition if the beneficiary divorces and becomes unmarried. The F1 category has significantly shorter wait times than F3, but this strategy only makes sense if the divorce is genuine and not entered into for immigration purposes. Additionally, if a beneficiary in the F4 sibling category has a spouse who is a U.S. citizen, that spouse can file a separate immediate relative petition, potentially providing a faster path to permanent residence. Our attorneys evaluate each family's unique situation and develop customized strategies that maximize the chances of timely reunification.

FAQFrequently Asked Questions

Q:How long is the wait for the F4 sibling petition category?

A: The F4 category for brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens currently has wait times of approximately 15 to 22 years for the worldwide chargeability, which applies to most Arab countries. This is the longest wait in the family immigration system. We recommend monitoring the Visa Bulletin monthly and exploring alternative pathways while waiting.

Q:What happens if my child turns 21 while our family petition is pending?

A: When a child turns 21, they may age out of the child category and move to a preference category with longer wait times. The Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) provides some protection by using a formula: biological age minus the number of days the I-130 was pending. If the CSPA age is under 21, the child has not aged out. Contact an attorney for a CSPA calculation specific to your case.

Q:Can I speed up my family petition by becoming a U.S. citizen?

A: Yes, petitioner naturalization is the most effective way to speed up certain family petitions. If you are a permanent resident who naturalizes, your F2A petition for a spouse converts to immediate relative status with no wait time. F2B petitions convert to F1. However, some conversions may not help or could hurt, so consult an attorney before naturalizing if you have pending petitions.

Q:What is the income requirement for the Affidavit of Support?

A: The petitioner must demonstrate income at or above 125% of the federal poverty guidelines. For a household of 4 in 2026, the minimum is approximately $38,000 per year. If the petitioner's income is insufficient, a joint sponsor who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident can co-sign Form I-864. Assets can also be used to meet the requirement at a 3:1 ratio (or 5:1 for sponsored siblings).

Q:Do I need to translate my Arabic documents for the family petition?

A: Yes, all documents in Arabic must be accompanied by certified English translations for USCIS and consular processing. This includes birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, police clearances, and any other civil documents. The translation must include a certification statement that the translator is competent and the translation is accurate.

Q:What is the difference between the Final Action Date and the Filing Date on the Visa Bulletin?

A: The Final Action Date shows when a visa is available for final approval and issuance. The Filing Date shows when you can begin the application process, such as filing Form I-485 for adjustment of status, even though the visa may not yet be available for final action. USCIS announces each month which chart to use for adjustment of status applications. The Filing Date allows earlier filing, which provides benefits like work authorization and travel documents while waiting.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about immigration services in Ontario and does not constitute legal advice. SoCal Immigration Services is a document preparation company, not a law firm. For legal advice specific to your situation, please consult with a licensed immigration attorney.

Published: February 20, 2026Last Updated: February 20, 2026

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