How Long Does a Green Card Take? 2026 Timelines

The Honest Answer: It Depends

The most frustrating answer in immigration is also the most accurate: it depends. A marriage-based green card for a spouse of a U.S. citizen can take 12-18 months. An employment-based green card for an Indian national in the EB-3 category could take over 15 years. The variation is enormous, and understanding why helps you plan.

Marriage-Based Green Cards: 12-24 Months

If you are married to a U.S. citizen and filing through adjustment of status inside the U.S., expect 12-18 months from filing to approval. Consular processing cases typically take 14-24 months. There is no per-country backlog for immediate relatives of citizens — the wait is purely USCIS processing time. The marriage green card timeline guide has a detailed month-by-month breakdown.

Employment-Based Green Cards: 2-15+ Years

Employment-based timelines are driven by two factors: USCIS processing time and Visa Bulletin backlogs. For most countries, EB-1 and EB-2 are current as of April 2026 — meaning the only wait is processing time (roughly 2-3 years total for PERM + I-140 + I-485). For India and China, the per-country cap creates massive backlogs. Check your specific situation with our Green Card Calculator.

Family-Sponsored Green Cards: 2-24 Years

Family category wait times vary by relationship and country. F2A (spouses of green card holders) is currently current for all countries. F4 (siblings of citizens) has backlogs stretching back to 2007-2008 for most countries, and as far back as 2003 for the Philippines.