From petition to physical green card, your timeline depends on three variables: pathway, country of birth, and current location. The interactive calculator below estimates each phase and totals your expected wait.
Try the calculator
Use the universal eligibility quiz to get a personalized timeline, or read below for benchmark timelines by pathway.
Benchmark timelines by pathway
Family-Based, Immediate Relative (USC sponsoring spouse, parent, or child under 21)
- I-130 + I-485 concurrent filing: 8-18 months
- EAD/AP issuance: 3-7 months
- Green card receipt: 8-18 months from filing
Family-Based, F2A (LPR sponsoring spouse or child under 21)
- I-130 approval: 22-36 months
- Visa Bulletin wait: typically 0-12 months (currently F2A is mostly current)
- NVC processing or AOS filing: 4-9 months
- Total: 2-4 years
EB-1A (Extraordinary Ability)
- I-140 (premium): 15-45 days
- I-485 concurrent (most countries): 6-14 months
- India/China: priority date wait + 6-14 months I-485
- Total most countries: 8-16 months
- Total India/China: 3-5 years
EB-2 NIW
- I-140 (regular): 6-12 months
- Visa Bulletin wait (most countries): 0
- Visa Bulletin wait (India): ~12 years currently
- I-485 once current: 6-14 months
- Total most countries: 1-2 years
- Total India: 13+ years
EB-5 Rural
- I-526E (rural priority): 4-17 months
- Visa Bulletin wait: 0 (current all countries)
- I-485 concurrent eligible if I-526E filed and visa available
- I-485 to conditional GC: 8-14 months
- Conditional period: 2 years
- I-829: 24-48 months
- Total to conditional GC: 12-24 months
- Total to permanent GC: 4-7 years
EB-5 Unreserved (standard)
- I-526E processing: 36-52 months
- Visa Bulletin wait (China): ~9 years
- Visa Bulletin wait (India): ~4 years
- Total most countries: 4-6 years to conditional GC
- Total India: 7-10 years
- Total China: 12+ years
DV Lottery
- Registration: 1 day in October-November window
- Selection notification: May (next year)
- Processing window: October-September of fiscal year
- Total time from entry to GC: 12-18 months (if selected)
What can speed your timeline
- Premium processing for I-140 — 15-day decision for an extra $2,805
- Concurrent filing when eligible — files I-485 with I-140 instead of waiting
- Cross-chargeability — using a spouse's country of birth (if eligible)
- Pathway upgrade — EB-2 to EB-1 if achievements warrant
- Rural EB-5 priority — bypasses unreserved EB-5 backlog and most country caps
What slows your timeline
- Country of birth backlogs (especially India, China, Philippines, Mexico in some categories)
- RFEs (Request for Evidence) — adds 3-6 months
- NOIDs (Notice of Intent to Deny) — adds 3-9 months
- Document delays (police certificates from prior countries, embassy backlogs)
- Administrative processing at consulates (security review, can take 6-12+ months)
- Form errors causing rejection (rejection ≠ denial, but resets clock)