I see that on the "processing times" section for the I-130 for California and Vermont (as Texas and Nebraska do not show their I-130 processing times) it shows forms sent in 12/06 are now being processed. WOW! It is taking 8 months and it only took 2 months for our I-129F when we filed our K1 back in 2005. Anyhow, we were wondering if it truly takes that long for children of a US citizen (my step-daugther) or if maybe they process US citizen's children first before other US citizen's relatives?

Can anyone that has sent off an I-130 for their child (or step-child) tell me WHEN you filed it and WHEN it was approved at the Service Center? We will not be filing until November as my step-daugther is visiting then and we will fill all the paperwork out when she is here. Thanks!

The timelines are for how long people now being processed have waited.

Your timeline may vary.

If you want to speed things up, file now.

Takes a long time like 5+years for a US Citizen applying for children to complete the process at this time.
USC can't apply for stepchildren.
LPR can apply for children tho!
Check the Visa Bulletin.
http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin...letin_3258.html

www.USCIS.Gov site states:
"Definition of a Child
The immigration law defines a “child” as an unmarried person under the age of 21 (a minor) who is
A stepchild if the marriage creating the steprelationship took place before the child reached the age of 18"

This would allow me, the US citizen, to petition for my step-daughter (my "child") for the I-130. Also, as I stated before, two service center sites show processing beginning now on I-130s filed in 12/06 so it will not take 5 years; more likely 12 months to complete.

Sorry I stand corrected on petitioning a stepchild. Missed the 18 year old trip.

However you should check farther on the I-130 approval as that's just for the service center.
Petition has to go to NVC after that to wait for availibility of a visa.
Hope I'm wrong on the 5+ year trip also.
Don't think so tho as one of my friends applied for her son in 2002 and is still waiting. Son is in the Philippines tho and time frames are a bit different than England.