HWe understand how eager you may be to get your green card for permanent residency in the United States, but patience is required. The process is not fast and has become even longer since 2016. One of the top questions we receive at JCL Immigration Attorneys is, “How long does it take to get a green card?”
Let’s look at some timelines for different green card types so you can get an idea of what to expect.
5 Top FAQs About How Long It Takes To Get a Green Card
The timeline for getting a green card, also known as a permanent residence in the United States, can vary widely based on different factors, such as the type of green card you are applying for, your immigrant category, your country of birth, and the current backlog of applications. Understanding the general processing times for various green card categories is essential.
1. How Long Does It Take to Get a Family-Based Green Card?
If you are applying for a green card through a family member who is a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident (LPR), the processing time can range from several months to several years. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, such as spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of adult U.S. citizens, generally have priority and may experience shorter wait times.
However, wait times for other family-based categories can be significantly longer due to annual numerical limits on the number of green cards issued. Five main factors influence family-based green card processing times:
- Your relationship to your sponsoring family member — if they are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Your home country
- Where you are applying for a green card from
- Whether U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) needs additional information
- USCIS backlogs
2. How Long Does It Take to Get an Employment-Based Green Card?
For individuals seeking a green card through employment, the processing time can vary based on the specific employment category and the prevailing priority dates. Certain employment-based immigrant categories, such as EB-1 for priority workers with extraordinary abilities, outstanding professors and researchers, and multinational executives or managers, may have shorter wait times than other employment-based categories.
The Cato Institute reported that the average processing time of employer-sponsored green cards in the first quarter of 2024 was 3.1 years.
3. How Long Is the Process for the Green Card Lottery?
Winners of the Diversity Visa Lottery, also known as the Green Card Lottery, may experience varying processing times based on their individual cases. After winning the lottery, applicants must go through a selection process, and if chosen, they will still need to comply with processing timelines and eligibility requirements.
Up to 55,000 immigrants from countries with low immigration rates to the United States can enter the Country each year. Applicants must complete and submit their applications electronically by September 30 of each year, and qualifying selectees are chosen by May 4 of the following year.
The entire process can take well over a year.
4. How Long Does Getting Refugee or Asylee-Based Green Cards Take?
Refugees and asylees who are granted asylum in the U.S. may be eligible to apply for a green card after meeting specific criteria and fulfilling residency requirements. The time to obtain a green card in this category can vary and may be influenced by factors such as visa numbers’ availability and related security checks.
5. How Can I Check the Status of My Green Card Application?
Because processing times are subject to change, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) regularly updates its website’s processing time estimates for various green card applications. Go here and enter your form, category, and office from your receipt notice to get specific processing times for your case.
General Notes About How Long It Takes to Get a Green Card
In general, USCIS processes visa-available cases based on the order they are received, regardless of where the petition is reviewed. Additionally, USCIS may prioritize cases filed for multiple family members simultaneously to ensure that families are processed together. Furthermore, USCIS may also prioritize cases based on country-specific conditions in cases of urgent humanitarian situations or when there is an identified U.S. national interest.
To better understand the specific timelines for your green card application, seek guidance from one of our Arizona immigration attorneys. Contact us in Scottsdale at (602) 831-2329 or complete the contact form to request other assistance.