Typical green card processing time by path
The table combines USCIS's monthly averages with how each path works. Averages are for completed cases nationwide; your case can be faster or slower.[1]
| Path | USCIS steps | USCIS averages | Visa Bulletin wait |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spouse / parent / child under 21 of a U.S. citizen, in the U.S. | I-130 + I-485 filed together | I-130 18.1 mo; I-485 12.4 mo | None (immediate relative) |
| Family preference (F1–F4), in the U.S. | I-130, then I-485 when the date is current | I-130 18.1 mo; I-485 12.4 mo | 0 to 20+ years |
| Employment (EB-1 to EB-3) | PERM (most EB-2/EB-3), I-140, I-485 | I-485 11.8 mo | None to 10+ years (India, China) |
| Refugee / asylee | I-485 after one year | 16.3 mo / 29.9 mo | None |
How the Visa Bulletin adds to green card processing time
Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens are outside the annual limits, so their timeline is USCIS processing only.[7] Everyone else needs a current priority date: USCIS can accept an I-485 under the chart it designates, but can only approve it once the Final Action Date passes the priority date.[6][5] The green card wait time table shows the queue for every category; use the priority date calculator for your own date.
Family and employment I-485 trend
- I-485 family-based
- I-485 employment-based
- I-130 (family petition)
Form-by-form detail: I-485 processing time, I-130 processing time, I-765 work permit processing time and, for the step after the green card, N-400 processing time.[4][3]
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get a green card through marriage?
For the spouse of a U.S. citizen living in the U.S., there is no Visa Bulletin wait. USCIS's August 2026 averages were 18.1 mo for I-130 and 12.4 mo for family-based I-485; the two are usually filed together and run in parallel.
What is the fastest way to get a green card?
Paths without a Visa Bulletin wait are fastest: immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, and employment categories that are current for your country. Processing then depends on USCIS and, abroad, the consulate.
Does premium processing make the green card faster?
Premium processing is available for the I-140 petition in many categories but not for the I-485, and it cannot make a priority date current.
Sources
- Number of Service-Wide Forms by Month, Form Status, and Processing Time: August 2026 (report to Congress, CSV)
- Number of Service-Wide Forms by Month, Form Status, and Processing Time: August 2025 (report to Congress, CSV)
- I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
- I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
- When to File Your Adjustment of Status Application for Family-Sponsored or Employment-Based Preference Visas: November 2026
- Adjustment of Status Filing Charts from the Visa Bulletin
- 8 U.S.C. 1151 (INA 201): worldwide level of immigration