If you would like to get your Green Card in the United States, you should know that it will take some time. So, it is not possible to get a permanent resident card immediately.
The average processing time for a permanent residency application in the United States is approximately 18 months. As you can see, it is quite a long time, a year and 6 months.
Steps to get your Green Card in the USA
Achieving permanent residency is a cherished goal for many immigrants living in the United States. The journey to obtaining a Green Card involves several crucial steps:
- completing the Form I-485,
- submitting the necessary documentation,
- providing biometric data,
- and successfully passing an interview.
This entire process is conducted through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which can be accessed at any of its 89 offices across the nation. It’s important to note that each office may have varying processing times for these applications.
According to USCIS, the processing times for the Form I-485 have remained relatively steady over the past five years, with an average wait time of 18 months.
According to the government agency, the offices with the fastest average processing times for permanent residence applications are:
Top Offices for Quick Processing Times regarding Green Cards
- Burlington: 10 months
- Norfolk: 10.5 months
- Providence: 11 months
- Omaha: 11.7 months
Understanding Processing Times
These processing times represent how long it took the USCIS to complete 80% of adjudicated cases over the past six months. It’s important to note that each case is unique, and some might take longer than others.