The Green Card also known as permanent resident card is a document that permits a foreigner to permanently reside in the United States and work for any employer in the country. It is a major achievement on the road to the American citizenship because it provide to the holder almost all rights any American citizen have. However, there are various factors that dictate the duration it takes for one to get this Green Card.
Green Card Processing Time and Its Determinants
The time to get a Green Card depends on Green Card type, the place where it has been applied and the applicant’s country. Application is processed by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and it takes longer time as it may ask for other documents.
Family-Based Green Cards
The family-based Green Cards, however, can take from a few months to a number of years. Marriage-based Green Cards take a period of between 10-23 months when the spouse is a resident of the United States and the applicant is inside the United States.
That is between 11 to 15 months for those in a foreign country and 5 to 6 months for those in the same country as the embassy or consulate. If the spouse is a Green Card holder the process can take between 29 to 40 months.
Employment-Based Green Cards
Green Card for employment is granted for various types of employment depending on the shortage of the particular employees; the processing time varies. Categories that are not very popular can take about a year and categories such as the top categories can take up to six years.
Waiting Time and Final Steps
The waiting period may be longer for the persons sponsored by the relatives, often from India or Mexico, because of annual quotas. It is only when an applicant gets a priority date that their case is ready for processing to the next level.