Green Card Processing Times
Current USCIS green card processing times across all pathways — family-based, employment-based, and special immigrant categories. Green card wait times come from USCIS data, which USCIS publishes about monthly; this page is rebuilt daily.
9 green card forms tracked across 3 pathways. Overall range: 13.0 mo to 144.5 mo. Data from Sep 17, 2026.
Status labels are relative to each form's own historical processing-time distribution, based on the current average upper-bound estimate. They are not absolute rankings across forms. See our methodology.
Family-Based Green Card Processing Times
Family-sponsored green cards include petitions for immediate relatives (spouses, parents, children of U.S. citizens) and family preference categories. The process typically involves an I-130 petition followed by I-485 adjustment of status.
| Form | Avg. Processing Time | Status |
|---|---|---|
| I-130 (Family Green Card Petition) | 103.8 mo – 144.5 mo | Slow |
| I-485 — Green Card (AOS) | 17.6 mo – 32.7 mo | Slow |
| I-751 | 35.5 mo – 48.3 mo | Very Slow |
| I-129F — K visa petition (K-1/K-2/K-3/K-4) | 13.0 mo – 16.5 mo | Normal |
Employment-Based Green Card Processing Times
Employment-based green cards cover EB-1 (extraordinary ability), EB-2 (advanced degree), EB-3 (skilled workers), and EB-5 (investors). Most require an approved I-140 petition, and many need PERM labor certification first.
| Form | Avg. Processing Time | Status |
|---|---|---|
| I-140 (EB-1 / EB-2 / EB-3) | 18.3 mo – 21.6 mo | Slow |
| I-485 — Green Card (AOS) | 17.6 mo – 32.7 mo | Slow |
| I-526 | 36.5 mo – 40.5 mo | Fast |
| I-526E | 35.0 mo – 38.5 mo | Very Slow |
Other Green Card Pathways
Special immigrant categories (I-360) include religious workers, certain international organization employees, and VAWA self-petitioners. I-730 covers refugee/asylee relative petitions.
| Form | Avg. Processing Time | Status |
|---|---|---|
| I-360 (VAWA) | 24.9 mo – 31.1 mo | Normal |
Marriage Green Card Processing Times
For U.S.-citizen immediate-relative filings, USCIS publishes I-130 data under the category “U.S. citizen filing for a spouse, parent, or child under 21.” That I-130 category currently averages 54.0 mo – 68.3 mo across reporting offices. I-485 adjustment of status currently averages 17.6 mo – 32.7 mo. Added together as a two-step source-data reference, the current range is 71.6 mo – 101.0 mo. This is not a case-specific forecast.
Frequently Asked Questions
As of September 2026, green card processing times range from 13.0 mo to 144.5 mo depending on the pathway (family-based, employment-based, or special immigrant), form type, and service center.
Green card processing times depend on the visa category (e.g., EB-2 vs. EB-3), the applicant's country of birth (some countries have longer backlogs), the USCIS service center handling the case, and current application volume. Visa Bulletin priority dates also affect when employment-based and family-preference applicants can file.
For U.S.-citizen immediate-relative cases, use the I-130 category "U.S. citizen filing for a spouse, parent, or child under 21" rather than the broad family-preference I-130 aggregate. As of September 2026, that I-130 category averages 54.0 mo to 68.3 mo, and I-485 adjustment of status averages 17.6 mo to 32.7 mo. Added together as a two-step source-data reference, the current range is 71.6 mo to 101.0 mo. Actual cases vary by filing path, office, and case facts.
Current green card wait times as of September 2026 range from 13.0 mo to 144.5 mo across all pathways. Family-based green cards (I-130 + I-485) and employment-based green cards (I-140 + I-485) have different timelines. See each pathway section above for current ranges.
Cite This Data
Citation
ImmigrationTimes.org. (2026). Green Card Processing Times (data as of Sep 17, 2026). Retrieved Sep 29, 2026, from https://immigrationtimes.org/green-card/
Related Resources
Source: USCIS. Data from Sep 17, 2026. Permanent link.