In a Nutshell
Five U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) service centers currently process Form I-130. - The processing time for U.S. citizens filing Form I-130 for a spouse beneficiary ranges from 13-54.5 months. - The processing time for legal permanent residents filing Form I-130 for a spouse beneficiary ranges from 32-67.5 months. - The current average processing time for Form I-485 across 89 field offices is around 20 months.
Written by ImmigrationHelp News Team.Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated December 11, 2023
Updated December 11, 2023
If you are a U.S. citizen or have permanent resident status and are petitioning to get a marriage green card for your spouse who is living with you in the U.S., you’ll submit two main forms in your application package. As the petitioner, you’ll file Form I-130: Petition for Alien Relative. As the beneficiary, your spouse will file Form I-485: Application for Adjustment of Status. You can file both of these forms at the same time. This is called concurrent filing.
Form I-130 Processing Times
Form I-130: Petition for Alien Relative is the first form you must file to start the marriage-based green card application process. A U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident must file this form on behalf of their foreign spouse. Five USCIS service centers process Form I-130.
Here are the current processing times for Form I-130 for U.S. citizens filing for a spouse beneficiary:
USCIS Service Center | Last Week | This Week | Change? |
---|---|---|---|
California Service Center | 14 months | 14 months | No change |
Nebraska Service Center | 14 months | 14 months | No change |
Potomac Service Center | 14 months | 14 months | No change |
Texas Service Center | 14 months | 14 months | No change |
Vermont Service Center | 14 months | 14 months | No change |
All Field Offices | 14 months | 14 months | No change |
Here are the current processing times for Form I-130 for lawful permanent residents filing for a spouse beneficiary:
USCIS Service Center | Last Week | This Week | Change? |
---|---|---|---|
California Service Center | 38.5 months | 38.5 months | No change |
Nebraska Service Center | 29 months | 29 months | No change |
Potomac Service Center | 32.5 months | 32.5 months | No change |
Texas Service Center | 37 months | 37 months | No change |
Vermont Service Center | 34.5 months | 34.5 months | No change |
All Field Offices | 70.5 months | 70.5 months | No change |
Form I-485 Processing Times
Form I-485 is the second form you and your spouse must file to get a marriage-based green card. This is the form that allows your spouse to adjust status, get permanent residency, and become a U.S. green card holder. Several USCIS offices process Form I-485.
Here are the current processing times for Form I-485 by field office:
USCIS Field Office | Last Week | This Week | Change? |
---|---|---|---|
Agana GU | 17 months | 17 months | No change |
Albany NY | 20 months | 20 months | No change |
Albuquerque NM | 14.5 months | 14.5 months | No change |
Anchorage AK | 16.5 months | 16.5 months | No change |
Atlanta GA | 23 months | 23 months | No change |
Baltimore MD | 24 months | 24 months | No change |
Boise ID | 18 months | 18 months | No change |
Boston MA | 15 months | 15 months | No change |
Brooklyn NY | 23 months | 23 months | No change |
Buffalo NY | 12 months | 12 months | No change |
Burlington VT | 12 months | 12 months | No change |
Charleston SC | 20.5 months | 20.5 months | No change |
Charlotte Amalie VI | 17.5 months | 17.5 months | No change |
Charlotte NC | 18.5 months | 18.5 months | No change |
Chicago IL | 17.5 months | 17.5 months | No change |
Christiansted VI | 17 months | 17 months | No change |
Cincinnati OH | 14.5 months | 14.5 months | No change |
Cleveland OH | 13.5 months | 13.5 months | No change |
Columbus OH | 13.5 months | 13.5 months | No change |
Dallas TX | 15 months | 15 months | No change |
Denver CO | 18.5 months | 18.5 months | No change |
Des Moines IA | 17 months | 17 months | No change |
Detroit MI | 14.5 months | 14.5 months | No change |
El Paso TX | 14 months | 14 months | No change |
Fort Myers FL | 18.5 months | 18.5 months | No change |
Fort Smith AR | 13.5 months | 13.5 months | No change |
Fresno CA | 16 months | 16 months | No change |
Greer SC | 13.5 months | 13.5 months | No change |
Harlingen TX | 18.5 months | 18.5 months | No change |
Hartford CT | 15.5 months | 15.5 months | No change |
Helena MT | 17 months | 17 months | No change |
Hialeah FL | 15 months | 15 months | No change |
Honolulu HI | 15 months | 15 months | No change |
Houston TX | 16.5 months | 16.5 months | No change |
Imperial CA | 12.5 months | 12.5 months | No change |
Indianapolis IN | 20 months | 20 months | No change |
Jacksonville FL | 19 months | 19 months | No change |
Kansas City MO | 20.5 months | 20.5 months | No change |
Kendall FL | 19.5 months | 19.5 months | No change |
Las Vegas NV | 22 months | 22 months | No change |
Lawrence MA | 14 months | 14 months | No change |
Long Island NY | 15 months | 15 months | No change |
Los Angeles CA | 15.5 months | 15.5 months | No change |
Los Angeles County CA | 13 months | 13 months | No change |
Louisville KY | 14 months | 14 months | No change |
Manchester NH | 13.5 months | 13.5 months | No change |
Memphis TN | 22 months | 22 months | No change |
Miami FL | 23.5 months | 23.5 months | No change |
Milwaukee WI | 14 months | 14 months | No change |
Minneapolis-St. Paul MN | 23.5 months | 23.5 months | No change |
Montgomery AL | 15 months | 15 months | No change |
Mount Laurel NJ | 14 months | 14 months | No change |
Nashville TN | 20 months | 20 months | No change |
Newark NJ | 17.5 months | 17.5 months | No change |
New Orleans LA | 25.5 months | 25.5 months | No change |
New York City NY | 18 months | 18 months | No change |
Norfolk VA | 21 months | 21 months | No change |
Oakland Park FL | 16.5 months | 16.5 months | No change |
Oklahoma City OK | 16 months | 16 months | No change |
Omaha NE | 19.5 months | 19.5 months | No change |
Orlando FL | 18 months | 18 months | No change |
Philadelphia PA | 15 months | 15 months | No change |
Phoenix AZ | 14.5 months | 14.5 months | No change |
Pittsburgh PA | 14.5 months | 14.5 months | No change |
Portland ME | 13.5 months | 13.5 months | No change |
Portland OR | 17 months | 17 months | No change |
Providence RI | 16.5 months | 16.5 months | No change |
Queens NY | 21 months | 21 months | No change |
Raleigh NC | 21 months | 21 months | No change |
Reno NV | 15 months | 15 months | No change |
Sacramento CA | 19 months | 19 months | No change |
Saint Louis MO | 14.5 months | 14.5 months | No change |
Salt Lake City UT | 34.5 months | 34.5 months | No change |
San Antonio TX | 17 months | 17 months | No change |
San Bernardino CA | 15 months | 15 months | No change |
San Diego CA | 18.5 months | 18.5 months | No change |
San Fernando Valley CA | 13 months | 13 months | No change |
San Francisco CA | 19 months | 19 months | No change |
San Jose CA | 14 months | 14 months | No change |
San Juan PR | 17.5 months | 17.5 months | No change |
Santa Ana CA | 17 months | 17 months | No change |
Seattle WA | 18 months | 18 months | No change |
Spokane WA | 15.5 months | 15.5 months | No change |
Tampa FL | 15.5 months | 15.5 months | No change |
Tucson AZ | 13.5 months | 13.5 months | No change |
Washington DC | 19 months | 19 months | No change |
West Palm Beach FL | 16.5 months | 16.5 months | No change |
Wichita KS | 15 months | 15 months | No change |
Yakima WA | 16.5 months | 16.5 months | No change |
Historical Form I-485* Processing Times: 2018-2022
Historical USCIS processing times for adjustment of status applications have been relatively consistent. In the last five years, the average median processing time for an adjustment of status application (Form I-485) was 10 months.
FY 2018 | FY 2019 | FY 2020 | FY 2021 | FY2022 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Form I-486: for all family-based adjustment applications | 10.6 months | 10 months | 8.8 months | 9.9 months | 11 months |
*USCIS does not track historical data for Form I-485 by eligibility category or family relationship. The above data is for Form I-485 for all family-based adjustment of status applications, which includes spouses, parents, and children (immediate relative or family member).
Form I-765 Processing Times
When you submit Form I-485 to adjust your status, you can also apply for a work permit (also called an employment authorization document or EAD). To do so, you need to file Form I-765: Application for Employment Authorization. If you file both forms at the same time, you do not have to pay an additional filing fee for Form I-765. Prior to 2022, most applicants received their work permits 4–6 months after submitting their forms to USCIS. Current wait times are considerably longer, ranging from 4.5–14 months.
Here are the current processing times for marriage green card applicants who file Form I-765 at the same time as their Form I-485 to adjust status:
USCIS Service Center | Last Week | This Week | Change? |
---|---|---|---|
California Service Center | 5.5 months | 5.5 months | No change |
National Benefits Center | 8 months | 8 months | No change |
Nebraska Service Center | 3.5 months | 3.5 months | No change |
Texas Service Center | 11 months | 11 months | No change |
Vermont Service Center | 10 months | 10 months | No change |
Historical I-765* Work Authorization Application Processing Times: 2018–2022
USCIS processing times for work permit applications have been climbing in recent years. In the last five years, the average median processing time for a work authorization application (Form I-765) was 3.6 months. Times have ranged from less than one month to 9.2 months, with the longest waiting period in the last five years being in 2022.
FY 2018 | FY 2019 | FY 2020 | FY 2021 | FY2022 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Form I-765 based on pending I-485 | 0.9 months | 2 months | 2.5 months | 3.2 months | 9.2 months |
*USCIS does not track historical data for Form I-765 by eligibility category or family relationship. The above data is for Form I-765 file concurrently with any family-based adjustment of status application, which includes spouses, parents, and children.
How Long Will My Marriage Green Card Application Take?
The entire marriage green card timeline can take 10–38 months. Several factors influence wait times, including processing delays — such as the continued backlog due to the pandemic — and staffing or budget issues at a given service center or field office. Aside from submitting your forms, you’ll need to submit supporting documents, undergo a medical examination, biometrics appointment, and a green card interview.
If you’re wondering what’s happening with your marriage green card case, you can check your case status online using the receipt number from your application receipt notice. Our Learning Center contains several articles that can help you understand your case status.
If your application is outside normal processing times, you can contact USCIS to ask for additional information.
Greetings, fellow enthusiasts of U.S. immigration processes. As someone deeply entrenched in the intricate realm of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) procedures, I bring to the table a wealth of first-hand expertise and a profound understanding of the nuances involved. My commitment to staying abreast of the latest developments in immigration law positions me to shed light on the comprehensive landscape of Form I-130, Form I-485, and associated processes.
Let's delve into the specifics of the article you provided:
Form I-130 Processing Times: Form I-130 is the initial step in the marriage-based green card application process. For U.S. citizens filing for a spouse beneficiary, the processing times across the five USCIS service centers remain consistent at 14 months. Meanwhile, lawful permanent residents experience a slightly longer processing time, ranging from 29 to 70.5 months, depending on the service center.
Form I-485 Processing Times: Form I-485, the second crucial form, facilitates the adjustment of status for a spouse to obtain permanent residency and a U.S. green card. Processing times for this form vary across USCIS field offices, with durations ranging from 12 to 34.5 months.
Historical Form I-485 Processing Times (2018-2022): Over the past five years, the average median processing time for Form I-485, encompassing family-based adjustment applications, has been relatively consistent. The figures for FY 2018 to FY 2022 reveal an average ranging from 8.8 to 11 months.
Form I-765 Processing Times: Form I-765, allowing applicants to request a work permit concurrently with Form I-485, presents varying processing times across service centers. Current wait times range from 3.5 to 11 months.
Historical I-765 Work Authorization Application Processing Times (2018–2022): The historical trend for Form I-765 processing times shows an increase in recent years. The average median processing time over the past five years ranges from 0.9 to 9.2 months.
Marriage Green Card Application Timeline: The entire marriage green card application process, from submission to completion, spans a timeframe of 10 to 38 months. Numerous factors influence these wait times, including processing delays attributed to pandemic-related backlogs, staffing issues, or budget constraints at specific service centers or field offices.
In conclusion, the intricate journey of obtaining a marriage green card involves navigating through precise processing times, historical trends, and an understanding of the multifaceted Form I-130 and Form I-485 procedures. For those traversing this path, staying informed and regularly checking case status online are crucial steps in managing expectations and ensuring a smooth immigration process. If you find yourself outside normal processing times, contacting USCIS for additional information is a recommended course of action.