Last Updated on August 22, 2021
There are several answers as to how long does it take to get a green card by immigrants and various persons who need the green cards. Well, it depends on the type of visa you currently have. If you are currently applying for a Green Card and perhaps wondering how long it takes to get a Green Card? What you need to keep in mind? And are you guaranteed one?
You’ve come to the right place. Here we will help you get the answer to how long does it take to get a Green Card and help you understand what is taking so long.
Table of Contents
The 4 Types of Green Card
There are many types of Green Cards. They basically work in the same way. It grants you a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status. But the way you become eligible for each requires a different process.
Here are the four different types of Green Cards which will probably be most relevant to you.
1. Family-Based Green Card
This Green Card requires you to be an immediate family member of a U.S. citizen. The U.S. citizen may petition on your behalf for an immigrant visa. Unmarried children under the age of 21 and the parents of a U.S. citizen are also able to get a family-based Green Card.
2. Marriage-Based Green Card
Spouses of U.S. citizens are eligible for a Green Card under this category. The U.S. spouse can petition on behalf of the foreign spouse for an immigrant visa and eventually a Green Card.
The fiancé of a U.S. citizen can also get a special K-1 visa that allows them to get married on American soil. They may petition for a marriage-based Green Card as soon as they get married.
3. Employment-Based Green Card
Millions of people live and work in the U.S. on an employment-based visa. Many of them then work their way towards an employment-based Green Card. This category is full of applicants and the competition is quite strong.
This category also has some controversy surrounding it. The current Trump administration is constantly implementing new regulations regarding Green Cards. You’ll need to have your wits about you. Keep your eyes on the news to understand the implications of the decisions the USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) makes regarding visas and Green Cards. You may need to adapt your visa strategy to comply with the rules set out by the U.S. government.
4. Returning Resident Immigrant Visa
Some people have received their LPR status in previous years. They sometimes travel the world to live and work abroad. Because of this, many of them lose their permanent residence status when they spend too much time outside of America. They don’t renew their Green Cards and end up losing their LPR status.
There is a special category for this type of situation. These people can apply for a returning resident immigrant visa that allows them to work their way towards a Green Card again. We’ll discuss the details of this process in more detail below.
Family-Based Immigrant Visas Processing Time
With a family-based Green Card, you get your Green Card based on someone else’s valid Green Card. For example a spouse or parent.
This is one type of Green Card but there are a few qualifying visas that fall in this category. Some of these visas have yearly caps which may prolong the waiting time for the Green Card. People who don’t get their LPR status form a type of queue and have to wait in line until the next application period opens.
So how long does it take to get a Green Card which is family-based? Depending on the office where you apply for your Green Card, it can take anything from 7 months to 33 months if you are fortunate. Some USCIS offices are busier than others and some consulates or embassies abroad may take longer to help you. Then you also need to keep the cap and the demand for the type of visa you are filing with in mind. It can take up to 10 years before you get your family-based Green Card.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Green Card Through Marriage?
There is no cap on the amount of marriage-based Green Cards allowed per year. You can almost be certain of a marriage-based visa number available to you. The only thing that may stand in your way is your application and eligibility.
You still need to convince the USCIS to grant you the status. A marriage-based Green Card is also called an IR-1 visa. It’s a conditional Green Card that expires after 2 years. Thereafter you can apply for permanent residency. Once again depending on the variables involved in the process, it may take between 10 and 13 months to get your marriage-based Green Card.
Employment-Based Green Card Processing Time
There are many different types of employment-based visas. Each has a different yearly cap for Green Cards (some even don’t qualify for LPR status). As mentioned before, this is a very popular category and there are usually more applications than actual visas and Green Cards granted.
You can possibly get your Green Card within a year. But it could easily just as well take between 4 and 6 years if you apply in a popular category that receives many applications.
Returning Resident Immigrant Visa Processing Time
A returning resident visa is available to people who had LPR status but lost it due to spending too much time outside of the country. During this time their LPR status expired and they can, therefore, not return.
To qualify for the Returning Resident Immigrant visa, you need to prove the reason why you couldn’t return to the U.S. was beyond your control. You also need to prove you made attempts to return at that time.
You can complete the application and interview process abroad at a U.S. embassy or consular office. There is no processing time involved. The consular officer presiding over your case will inform you if you got your visa. The waiting period depends on how fast you and the U.S. authorities can complete the required application procedures.
How to Speed Up the Green Card Process
Who likes to wait? Hardly anybody! That is why we’ve got some tips on how to get your Green Card faster.
Understand the Usual Timeline for Your Green Card or Visa
You need to know the average waiting period for your Green Card. Armed with this knowledge, you’ll know when things are taking too long. You can then go to the applicable departments and ask for your case status. You can even check case processing times to track the progress of your application.
Ask for Expedited Processing
You can, under the correct circumstances, ask for expedited processing of your application. You need proof of the emergency that requires the expedited process and the correct paperwork to request this. For instance, an expedited process may be possible for someone who needs a family-based visa before they can come to the U.S. for a much-needed organ transplant.
Carefully Preparing Your Green Card or Visa Application
This is one of the best pieces of advice you need to hear. Everything within your control must be correct and on time. Every form you complete must contain the required information without any errors. The USCIS will ask you to either submit additional information or, even worse, reject your application altogether if the information isn’t correct. This will add weeks and even up to months to your processing time.
Summary
How long does it take to get a Green Card? Well, it depends on the type of visa you currently have. There are four main types of Green Cards and each has its own processing times. Use the estimates supplied above to gauge how long you might wait. Also, remember to apply the tips to speed up your processing time.