A question many people ask when applying for a green card is how long it will take to get it. The short answer is that it depends. Many factors affect how long it takes to process your case, including the path you are applying through to get that green card. Read on to learn more about these eligibility paths and the associated timeframes.
Paths to a Green Card
There are several avenues through which you might be able to obtain a green card:
Family-Based Green Cards
One common route to permanent residency is through family relationships with a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident relative. To get a family-based green card, your qualifying family member must sponsor you by filing Form I-130 on your behalf.
Once the I-130 gets approval, you can apply for a green card through adjustment of status (if you are already in the U.S.) or consular processing (if you are in another country). Average wait times vary significantly among the family preference categories.
Immediate family relatives of U.S. citizens, including spouses, unwed children under 21, and parents, have the shortest wait. They can often apply for permanent residency in 6 to 12 months since there are no annual limits on visas issued to immediate relatives.
Other family members face longer delays depending on their country of origin and priority date. For example, the married adult children of U.S. citizens currently wait around 13-14 years for a green card, but that extends to 22+ years for applicants from Mexico or the Philippines.
Employment-Based Green Cards
Immigrant workers may also qualify for permanent residency sponsored by a U.S. employer. Most employment-based green cards require a multi-step process of obtaining labor certification and then filing Form I-140 to establish eligibility in one of the five preference categories.
Workers of extraordinary ability (EB-1), outstanding researchers, professors (EB-2), and skilled professionals with bachelor’s degrees (EB-3) generally wait 1 to 2 years for a green card. Those in the “other worker” category without higher education credentials may face longer delays of up to 10 years.
After getting the I-140 approved and the priority date current, employment-based applicants can process green cards through adjustment of status as family-based applicants do.
Green Cards by Investment
Immigrant investors can also expedite green cards through the EB-5 visa program without employer sponsorship. By investing $900,000 to $1.8 million into a government-approved U.S. business that creates American jobs, you and your family may qualify for conditional permanent residency in as little as two years. Removing those conditions later leads to standard 10-year green cards.
Green Cards Through Asylum
Refugees fearing persecution in their home countries can pursue green cards through the U.S. asylum program. After applying for asylum and completing an interview with an asylum officer, approved applicants can apply for permanent residency one year after getting granted asylum.
Steps for Getting a Green Card
The general steps you have to follow when applying for a green card are as follows:
Immigrant Petition
Nearly all green card applicants must begin by establishing eligibility through an immigrant petition. As described above, options include:
- Form I-130: For all family-based applicants
- Form I-140: For all employment-based applicants
- Form I-526: For investor green card applicants
Only asylum seekers and refugees skip this step of the green card process.
For everyone else, the appropriate petition must be filed by your relative, employer, or another entity on your behalf. Approval of the I-130 or I-140 enables you to proceed to the green card application itself.
Green Card Application
The next part involves properly filing all required paperwork and documentation with the Department of State or the USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services). Which application you submit depends on your current location and intentions for entering the U.S.
If you already live in the United States, you will complete Form I-485 to adjust your status with USCIS. Supporting documents, including medical exam results, financial statements proving income sustainability, and more, must also be submitted. An interview at your local USCIS field office occurs as the final step.
For those abroad hoping to enter the U.S. as immigrants, Form DS-260 starts the consular processing path. After submitting civil documents and going through administrative processing with the National Visa Center, an interview takes place at the designated U.S. embassy/consulate in your home country.
Time Frames for Getting a Green Card
As outlined above, published processing estimates give rough timelines for getting a green card approved after submitting your applications. Unfortunately, real-world time frames tend to fall on the longer end or exceed those averages.
Numerous factors affect how quickly your permanent residency gets decided, mainly:
Visa Category and Preference Queue
Annual or multi-year quotas on some visa types significantly lengthen wait times depending on applicant volume within your category. Those seeking green cards through sponsorship of a relative other than an immediate family member or U.S. employer must navigate priority date backlogs. You can only apply once your place “in line” is reached.
Country of Birth
Per-country limits further restrict certain nationalities from monopolizing annual visa quotas. Applicants born in India, China, Mexico, and the Philippines deal with the longest backlogs across all visa categories.
USCIS Workload and Processing Capacity
Staffing shortages, a growing backlog of pending cases, or other strains on USCIS resources slow down processing speed across the board.
Requests for Evidence (RFEs)
Getting RFE notices for missing forms/documents pauses processing until you adequately respond, costing months in delays.
Maintaining Valid Status
Issues such as expiring visas or unlawful presence suspensions must be resolved before adjusting status and contribute to longer case resolution.
Seek Green Card Help from the Professionals at Pride Immigration
Do you feel overwhelmed by this complicated and confusing greed card process? Let Pride Immigration guide you each step of the way. Our experienced professionals offer personalized assistance for all visa categories and paths to permanent residency.
We’ll help maximize your chances of approval while minimizing frustration over changing timelines. Call us at 703.594.4040 or book an appointment online today to get your case moving forward.
Beeraj Patel, Esq.
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