What is the Next Step After Fingerprinting For a Green Card? (2024)

FAQs

How long should I wait for green card process after fingerprints? ›

For example, after your biometric screening, scheduling a Green Card interview may take from several months to several years. Green Card renewal, in turn, may take 6-10 months after providing your biometric data. To check the status of your Green Card application: Visit the USCIS website.

Once your fingerprints are taken, it generally takes 30-45 days for the FBI clearances to appear in USCIS's system. The clearances are valid for 15 months from the date of the clearance. In some cases, applicants might need to be re-fingerprinted.

In simple terms, USCIS will obtain your photograph, fingerprints and have you sign your name. This process confirms your identity so that USCIS provides benefits to the correct person and facilitates the necessary criminal background check. USCIS will submit your biometrics to the FBI for the criminal background check.

In general, it takes about 15 months for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to process Form I-765. Previously, USCIS processed work permit applications within 5.7 months, but a growing backlog has caused additional delays. The cost for to file I-765 could increase significantly in 2023.

When Will I Get A Response After Biometrics? You can expect to receive the outcome of your biometrics appointment and instructions on what you have to do next in around 5 – 11 months after your appointment. The timeframes depend on which USCIS office is processing your application.

If you have a serious crime, you need to talk to an immigration lawyer before filing for that immigration benefit. Once you do and get fingerprinted, background checks usually take six to eight weeks, maybe 12 weeks.

The employment-based permanent residence process is generally comprised of three phases: PERM Labor Certification: Recruitment and Prevailing Wage Determination. I-140 Application for Immigrant Visa and Proof of Ability to Pay. I-485 Adjustment of Status.

Current Processing Time: Online Requests - About 3-5 days (after we receive your fingerprint card) Mail Requests - Up to 2 months.

To check your USCIS case status by phone, call 1-800-375-5283. You may inquire about your case status without a receipt number.

Does biometrics mean approval? ›

If I'm asked to give my biometrics, does that mean my application is approved? No. Giving your biometrics is one of the steps you need to do before we can process your application.

Once you've filed Form I-131 and attended your biometrics appointment, you're free to travel abroad. You can indicate on Form I-131 if you'd like USCIS to send your re-entry permit for collection at a U.S. consulate or embassy in the country to which you're traveling.

The current wait time for Form I-130 is 12.4 months. Form I-485 (“Application for Adjustment of Status”): Family-based green card applications (in other words, immediate relatives or spouses of a U.S. citizen) for applicants filing from within the United States average 11.7 months.

You can generally request expedited processing by calling the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833) or by asking Emma after you have obtained a receipt notice. (You can access Emma by clicking on the Ask Emma icon on the top right of this page).

1. Marriage to U.S. Citizen. This is the fastest way to immigrate. Typically, the process lasts from six to nine months, after which a temporary Green Card is received.

Approximately 6 to 9 months after filing Form N-400, USCIS will mail the naturalization interview appointment notice. Make every attempt to attend the scheduled interview time. Rescheduling an interview will add several weeks to the naturalization process.

How long does it take to get a response after biometrics UK? Typically, applicants receive a response within 10-15 working days (2-3 weeks) after biometrics. However, the actual response time depends on the type of application, service, and complexity of the case.

The green card background check process involves the FBI name fingerprint checks. The FBI name checks can be completed within two weeks of receiving the request from the USCIS. If the results indicate a match, the USCIS will resolve the matter within six months.

Background checks are mandatory for all individuals seeking to immigrate, regardless of age, ethnicity, or nationality. The process includes a background investigation through the Interagency Border Inspection System (IBIS), fingerprint checks performed by the FBI, and FBI name checks.

If you entered the U.S. unlawfully, have prior immigration violations, failed to attend removal proceedings, or otherwise abused the U.S. immigration process, you may be ineligible for a green card.

How do I know if my green card is approved? ›

Online: Use the case status online tool to check for updates about your immigration case. You will need your 13-character receipt number from your application or petition. By phone: If you are calling from the U.S., contact the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 or TTY 1-800-767-1833.

Stage 2: I-140 Immigration Petition

The I-140 Petition serves two purposes, Verifies that the job requirements on the PERM application are met by the green card applicant. Verifies that the employer is able to pay the offered wages to the employee.

The second step in the employment-based green card process is filling out an Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker (I-140) form. This petition is what leads USCIS to classify an alien as eligible for an immigrant visa based on one of the previously mentioned employment-based visa categories.

Green Card through the Green Card Lottery

Due to the high requirements in other Green Card categories such as employment-based, family, marriage, and investment Green Cards, the path through the Green Card Lottery is, for most people, not only the easiest but often the only way to a life in the USA.

The EB-3 application process involves three major steps: The PERM Labor Certification process, The I-140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, and. The application for adjustment of status or, alternatively, the application for an immigrant visa at a U.S. consulate abroad.

While you are waiting for your application for permanent residence (Form I-485) to be processed, you must be careful about traveling outside the United States. If you don't receive permission to travel before your trip, you might inadvertently cancel your permanent residence application.

First of all, don't be intimidated by the word “biometrics!” During this appointment, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will simply record your fingerprints and take photos of you. They will then run this information through the FBI database in order to check for any criminal records.

If the USCIS official feels it necessary to secure other background investigations, they have the authority to do so. However, the three most common parts of this check include the investigation of your background, fingerprints, and a name check.

USCIS will consider an applicant's credit report, credit score, debts and other liabilities as a factor in determining whether the individual is likely to become a public charge. A good credit report is considered a positive factor while a bad credit report is considered a negative factor.

Your Biometric Services Appointment will be scheduled approximately 5-8 weeks after filing Form I-485. Your Biometric Services Appointment should take about 30 minutes). In this appointment, USCIS will collect your fingerprints, photograph, and signature.

Does the biometric appointment mean that green card is approved? ›

Once you have filed your green card application, the biometrics appointment is the first major milestone on the road to being approved. Sometimes you may receive an appointment notice before you have a confirmation from USCIS that your application was processed.

Next Steps After “Fingerprint Review Was Completed” Stage

Once you find out that your fingerprints were reviewed, you will have to contact the FBI and ask about your status. They will tell you more about your case and whether the fingerprints were accepted or not.

Frequent hand washing/frequently using hand sanitizer. Activities that create calluses (playing certain instruments, rock climbing, weight-lifting, manual labour, etc.) Certain kinds of office work (typing, mailroom work, etc.) Exposure to certain chemicals (bleach, chlorine, etc.)

Ideally, you should travel after submitting the biometric information, because your presence will not be required too soon afterward. If leaving is a must due to an emergency, you can also consider a service center walk-in. In case you have a USCIS service center nearby, try to find out if walk-ins are accepted.

In terms of travel without a green card, a lawful permanent resident can travel outside of the United States without a Green Card. Still, they must present other documents, such as a valid passport from their home country and a reentry permit from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

USCIS may expedite processing on your case if you can prove that a person or company will suffer severe financial loss if USCIS does not give you a decision on your case sooner rather than later.

Many factors may affect how long it takes USCIS to complete an application, petition or request, such as the number of applications, petitions, or requests we receive, workload and staffing allocations, the time a benefit requestor takes responding to a request for more information, as well as policy and operational ...

Share this graphic: The field office in Cleveland tops the index, with a typical (median) citizenship application processing time of 4 months, and almost nobody waiting longer than 12.3 months.

Category 1: Green Card Through Family. If you're a close relative to a U.S. citizen or a green card holder, they can petition for you to obtain legal permanent residency. This option is the fastest and most popular path to getting a green card.

Can you get a green card in 2 months? ›

Introduction. Immigrants who are approved for a green card before traveling to the United States should receive their green card in the mail within 30 – 90 days of entering the country. USCIS has up to 120 days to mail the green card, but it's pretty rare to see a case that takes longer than 90 days.

The rule states: “For purposes of determining equivalency to a Baccalaureate degree in the specialty, 3 years of specialized training and/or work experience must be demonstrated for each year of college-level training the alien lacks.” In laymen's terms, the 3-for-1 rule allows for three (3) years of work experience to ...

One major reason for the slower review times is that immigration forms have significantly increased in length over the last two decades, from fewer than 200 pages total in 2003 to more than 700 pages total in 2023. Overall, 93% of USCIS forms have grown in length since their introduction.

Once the biometrics are complete, the USCIS will make another appointment for a naturalization interview. You must attend this interview at the time it is scheduled because rescheduling is difficult and can add several months to the naturalization process.

Documents that you must take your naturalization test and interview include: Interview appointment notice. Permanent resident card (also known as a green card) Your driver's license or other state-issued identification card.

The top 3 government offices handling citizenship applications most efficiently are in Cleveland, Ohio; Providence, Rhode Island; and Raleigh, North Carolina. The worst 3 government offices handling citizenship applications least efficiently are in St. Paul, Minnesota; Miami, Florida; and Houston, Texas.

Travel Abroad After Applying for Citizenship

Submitting Form N-400, Application for Naturalization will not affect your ability to travel abroad. Just because you're trying to become a naturalized citizen, it doesn't mean you're not allowed to travel anymore. After all, you are still a permanent resident.

Processing Times. It generally takes 2 weeks to schedule a Form I-693 medical exam, and 2 weeks after that to receive the complete and sealed Form I-693. A properly signed and submitted Form I-693 will remain valid for 2 years. The current processing time for a full Green Card application is 6 months to 4 years.

What is your legal status in the United States? When did you come to the United States? How do you come to the United States? Are you a legal resident?

What are checked in biometrics? ›

A mobile Biometric Check is an electronic device used to capture and verify someone's identity using their physical characteristics. The most common form of biometric check is a fingerprint scanner, but iris scanners and facial recognition software are also becoming more common.