Hello. In 2018 my sister, who is an American citizen filed a i 130 petition to sponsor me. It's 2025 and the petition is still processing, which from my understanding it means it hasn't even been approved yet. We are Italian, I'm unmarried and over 21. Is it normal that after 7 years it's still pending? Thank you everyone.
American citizen sponsoring Italian sister timeline
- Thread starter Kris7
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SusieQQQ
Well-Known Member
Yes, and unfortunately regardless when it is approved you still have years to wait until you can actually get a visa. You cannot get an interview /immigrant visa until your priority date (the date the petition was filed) is “current” in the visa bulletin released by the department of state every month - see link. Italy falls under rest of world here under chart A, The category for sibling visa is F4 and you will see at the moment it is only current for petitions filed before 8 January 2008. So you probably have another ten years to wait for a 2018 filing.
travel.state.gov
USCIS does not rush the processing of these petitions because there’s no action you can take until about a year before the date is current anyway (that’s when you’ll start gathering documents in preparation for an interview).
As an aside, for a sibling visa your age and marital status doesn’t matter.
Visa Bulletin For December 2025
travel.state.gov
USCIS does not rush the processing of these petitions because there’s no action you can take until about a year before the date is current anyway (that’s when you’ll start gathering documents in preparation for an interview).
As an aside, for a sibling visa your age and marital status doesn’t matter.