The time it takes to get a green card varies widely depending on the type of green card, the applicant's relationship to a U.S. citizen or green card holder, the applicant's country of origin, and whether the application is filed from inside or outside the U.S.
General Processing Times in 2025
- For Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens (spouses, parents, unmarried children under 21):
- Applying from within the U.S. (adjustment of status): about 9.5 months.
- Applying from outside the U.S. (consular processing): about 14.3 months.
- These categories do not have to wait for a visa number to become available, so their total wait is essentially the USCIS processing time
- For Family Preference Categories (e.g., spouses/children of green card holders, adult children, siblings):
- There is a significant visa bulletin wait time before the green card application can be filed, which can range from months to several years depending on the category and country of origin.
- After the visa becomes available, USCIS processing takes about 9.5 months.
- For example, spouses/children of green card holders (F2A) currently face about a 35-month wait plus USCIS processing
- For Employment-Based Green Cards:
- The process often starts with PERM labor certification, which can take 18-24 months.
- After PERM certification, the employer files Form I-140, and then the applicant waits for their priority date to become current according to the Visa Bulletin.
- Once eligible, USCIS processing for adjustment of status takes about 6.9 months.
- Total time can range from 2 years to several years depending on category and country
Summary
Green Card Category| Visa Wait Time| USCIS Processing Time| Total Estimated
Time
---|---|---|---
Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens (in U.S.)| None| ~9.5 months| ~9.5 months
Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens (outside U.S.)| None| ~14.3 months| ~14.3
months
Family preference categories| Months to years (varies)| ~9.5 months| Visa wait
- 9.5 months
Employment-based (with PERM)| 18-24 months PERM + visa wait| ~6.9 months| 2+ years, varies by category/country
These times represent median USCIS processing times as of early 2025 and do not include additional waiting times for visa availability under the Visa Bulletin, which can significantly affect total wait times
. In summary, getting a green card can take anywhere from about 9 months (for immediate relatives inside the U.S.) to several years (for family preference or employment-based categories with visa backlogs).
