How long does it take to get a green card?

The processing time of I-130 applications can vary widely depending on if the application was filed for an Immediate Relative or another relative in the Preference Category. Processing times also vary depending on if the application is for someone already in the United States or abroad. You can check the general processing times for I-130 applications on USCIS’s website. 

Immediate Relatives do not have to wait in the visa priority date line and can request their green cards right after approval of their I-130 forms. If the relative is already in the United States, then they must file an Application to Register as a Permanent Resident or an I-485 form. If the relative is outside the United States at the time the I-130 is approved, they must file for an immigrant visa with the U.S. Department of State at the U.S. embassy or consulate in their country (subject to admissibility guidelines). This process can take up to a couple of years depending on accuracy and completeness of the information, place where filed in the United States, and the relative’s country of origin. 

Relatives in the Preference Categories must wait for the visa priority date to become current on the visa bulletin before they can receive a green card. Each preference category has a different waiting period and can also depend on the country of origin for the person seeking the green card. 

This article was written by Matias Gabriel Bebeni, Esq. Matias is an experienced immigration attorney in New York City. For assistance with your immigration questions, call our offices at (917) 861-3667.