Green Card
Process
What you need to, and when to do it
The content of your application, who to send it to, when it will be reviewed and how long it takes are all determined by your process.
NEW USCIS PROCESSING TIMES
USCIS released ‘Processing Times’ and ‘Case Inquiry Dates’ based on a new methodology.
- Learn how to read, interpret and use this new information.
- Form I-485: examine the data for all USCIS Field Offices and read our analysis.
Don’t know what your Green Card process is?
Let’s do a quick check.
adjustment of status for immediate relatives
You are an immediate relative and you live in the United States? You may be eligible to the adjustment of status for immediate relative process, known as ‘concurrent filing’.
Conditions:
- You are the immediate relative of a U.S. citizen
- You are physically present in the United States
- You entered the United States legally, or obtained advance parole
Consular Processing for Immediate Relative
You are an immediate relative and you live abroad while your sponsor live in the United States? You will go through consular processing for immediate relatives.
Conditions:
- You are the immediate relative of a U.S. citizen
- You live abroad, outside of the United States
- Your sponsor lives in the United States
Note: Immigration Planner’s application also explores automatically whether the faster consular processing at a USCIS international office is a possibility when the sponsor is living abroad.
Detailed TimelineConsular processing for family preferences
You are eligible under a family preference and you live abroad? You will go through consular processing for family preferences.
Conditions:
- You are eligible for a green card under preferences F1, F2A, F2B, F3, or F4
- You live abroad, outside the United States
- Your sponsor lives in the United States
Adjustment of status for family preference
You are eligible under a family preference, but already live legally in the United States? You may be eligible for adjustment of status.
Conditions:
- You are eligible for a green card under preferences F1, F2A, F2B, F3, or F4
- You are physically present in the United States under a valid, unexpired visa (such as an H1-B visa)
- You will be able to maintain legal status in the United States until the priority date of the I-130 submitted by the sponsor on your behalf is ‘current’
Confirm your process
Answer more detailed question to make sure you know your Green Card process
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Different processes, different contacts
Know who you will be interacting with
CONSULAR PROCESSING
Sponsor
Applicant
USCIS in the United States
National Visa Center (NVC)
Authorized Physician abroad
Consular Officer
Custom and Border Patrol Officer
ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS
Sponsor
Applicant
USCIS in the United States
Civil Surgeon
Adjudicating Officer
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Visa Bulletin Predictions
Immigration Planner uses technology and proprietary mathematical models to inspect years of data and predict the ‘Final Action Date’ for applicants of all countries (except Mexico, the Philippines and F4-India) for all the family preferences (F1, F2A, F2B, F3, F4).
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