The journey to obtaining a green card and becoming a permanent resident of the United States is often a long, stressful process. Many hopeful immigrants eagerly await the day they can finally hold their green cards in their hands, but the reality is that this momentous event may be years down the road.
So, exactly how long does it take to get a green card? The answer is not simple, as the timeline can vary significantly based on:
- The specific category you’re applying under
- Your country of origin
- Where you’re applying from
- A host of other factors.
In general, most applicants can expect to wait anywhere from several months to several years from start to finish.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at why green card processing is so lengthy, the factors that impact your timeline, and how an immigration attorney can streamline the process and improve your chances of success. If you’re ready to take the next step on your path to permanent residence, read on to learn how you can set yourself up for the best possible outcome.
Factors That Make Green Card Processing So Slow
One of the primary reasons green card processing takes so long is the sheer volume of applications that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) receives each year. The agency has field offices throughout the United States that are responsible for handling these cases.
However, the number of applications is not distributed evenly. Field offices located in more densely populated areas, such as New York City, Los Angeles, and other major metropolitan areas, typically have a much higher caseload and, consequently, substantially longer processing times. If you happen to fall under the jurisdiction of one of these high-volume field offices, you can expect your application to take longer than it would in a less populous region.
In addition to the field offices, certain key application forms are processed by USCIS service centers, which also tend to have lengthy wait times due to the large number of petitions they receive.
The two forms that usually initiate the green card process are:
- Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) for family-based green cards
- Form I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker) for employment-based green cards
Even if you are eligible for a particular green card category, there is another factor that significantly impacts your wait time: your priority date. Your priority date is the date that USCIS received your initial petition (either the I-130 or I-140). For most green card categories, there is an annual limit on the number of visas that can be issued.
Therefore, even if your petition is approved, you must wait for your priority date to become “current” before you can move on to the next step of applying for the actual green card. You can track the progress of your priority date each month in the State Department’s Visa Bulletin.
Unfortunately, some categories are so backlogged that it may be years or even decades before your priority date becomes current. This is especially true for family preference categories (such as siblings of U.S. citizens) and for applicants from countries with high levels of immigration to the U.S., such as Mexico, India, China, and the Philippines.
Family-Based Green Card Timelines
If you are applying for a green card through a family member, the processing time will depend on several key factors, such as:
- The nature of your relationship to the U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident petitioning for you (e.g., spouse, child, parent, or sibling)
- The immigration status of your petitioner (U.S. citizen or green card holder)
- Your country of origin
- Where you are applying from (within the U.S. or abroad)
For immediate relatives of U.S. citizens (spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents), the process is relatively quicker because there are no annual visa limits for this category. However, you will still need to wait for your petition to be approved and, if applying from abroad, go through consular processing. On average, this process can take anywhere from 1-2 years.
The timeline is longer for family preference categories, which include:
- F1: Unmarried adult sons and daughters of U.S. citizens
- F2A: Spouses and minor children of green card holders
- F2B: Unmarried adult sons and daughters of green card holders
- F3: Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens
- F4: Siblings of U.S. citizens
For these categories, you must wait for your priority date to become current before you can apply for your green card. Depending on your category and country of origin, this could take anywhere from a few years to over two decades.
Marriage-Based Green Card Process
One of the most common ways to obtain a green card is through marriage to a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. The processing time for a marriage-based green card depends on whether you are married to a U.S. citizen or green card holder and whether you are applying from within the United States or from abroad.
If you are married to a U.S. citizen and applying from within the U.S., the process is generally the fastest. You can expect to receive your green card in about 10-13 months from the time you submit your initial petition.
The process involves the following key steps:
- Filing Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) and Form I-485 (Application to Adjust Status) concurrently
- Attending a biometrics appointment for fingerprinting and background check
- Attending an interview with a USCIS officer to demonstrate the authenticity of your marriage
If you are married to a green card holder or are applying from outside the U.S., the process will take longer. You can expect to wait about 11-15 months for USCIS to approve your initial I-130 petition. After that, you must wait for your priority date to become current before you can apply for your immigrant visa through consular processing. The total processing time is approximately 23-32 months.
Checking Your Green Card Application Status
Once you have submitted your green card application, it’s natural to feel anxious about its progress. USCIS provides an online tool that allows you to check the status of your case by entering your receipt number.
The processing times provided by USCIS are based on the field office or service center handling your case and are updated monthly. The times are presented as a range, with the first number representing the time it takes to complete 50% of cases (the median) and the second number representing the time it takes to complete 93% of cases.
If you believe that your application is outside the normal processing time range, you can contact USCIS for assistance. However, getting in touch with someone who can provide meaningful information about your case can be challenging. You may have to go through a frustrating phone tree and wait on hold for an extended period, only to speak with a representative who does not have direct access to your file.
In some cases, you may be able to request an in-person appointment at your local USCIS office to discuss your case. However, these appointments are limited and may not be available in all situations.
If you are facing an urgent situation, such as a medical emergency or humanitarian crisis, you may be able to request expedited processing of your green card application. However, you will need to provide compelling evidence of your circumstances and meet specific criteria set by USCIS.
Seek Guidance from a Qualified Lawyer
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of applying for a green card on your own, don’t hesitate to seek the guidance of a qualified green card lawyer. With their support, you can improve your chances of success and take a significant step closer to achieving your American dream.
At LegalMatch, we make it easy to connect with experienced immigration lawyers who can help you go through the green card process with confidence. Simply use LegalMatch to answer a few questions about your case to be matched with a qualified attorney who meets your needs and preferences.
Don’t let the green card timeline discourage you from pursuing your goals. Take the first step today and get the legal support you need to succeed.
