How Long Does It Take USCIS To Process Marriage Green Cards May 2023?

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In this video, attorney Jacob Sapochnick answers one of your most frequently asked questions: how long is it currently taking for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to adjudicate marriage-based adjustment of status applications (green cards) in May of 2023?

If you would like to know the answer to this question, please keep on watching!

Did You Know? USCIS processing times vary depending on the workload of the Field Office and/or Service Center where the I-130/485 applications are being adjudicated. USCIS reports the processing times of each Field Office and Service Center directly on its website, including time estimates of how long it took the agency to process 80% of adjudicated cases over the past 6 months. However, USCIS cautions that each case is unique, and some cases may take longer than others to be adjudicated. Due to this, processing times should be used as a reference point, not an absolute measure of how long your case will take to be completed.

Additionally, remember to consider the processing time of your local USCIS Field Office, where you will eventually be called to appear for an in-person interview before an immigration officer to prove that you have a bona fide marriage, and meet all other requirements for a green card.

Overview

Service Centers Processing Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative

There are currently six different Service Centers that process the Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative. These include:

  • California Service Center (CSC)
  • Nebraska Service Center (NSC)
  • Potomac Service Center (PSC)
  • Texas Service Center (TSC)
  • Vermont Service Center (VSC)
  • National Benefits Center (NBC)

How do I know which Service Center is processing my I-130 petition?

The first three letters of your receipt number, as it appears on your Form I-130 and/or Form I-485 receipt notice, will indicate which Service Center is processing your petition. Your I-130/485 receipt notices are mailed to you approximately 2-4 weeks after filing your applications with USCIS.

If your receipt notice begins with the following letters, then your petition is being processed at the Service Center indicated thereafter:

  • EAC, Vermont Service Center
  • VSC, Vermont Service Center
  • WAC, California Service Center
  • CSC, California Service Center
  • LIN, Nebraska Service Center
  • NSC, Nebraska Service Center
  • SRC, Texas Service Center
  • TSC, Texas Service Center
  • MSC, National Benefits Center
  • NBC, National Benefits Center
  • IOE, ELIS (e-Filing)
  • YSC, Potomac Service Center

At a Glance

Average Processing Times of Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative

  • If you are a U.S. Citizen filing Form I-130 for a spouse, it is taking about 15 to 18 months on average for USCIS to process these petitions as of May of 2023.
  • If you are a lawful permanent resident (green card holder) filing Form I-130 for a spouse inside the United States, it is taking about 25 to 28 months on average to process these petitions as of May of 2023.
    • Note: Before a foreign spouse in the F2A visa category can file Form I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, his or her priority date must be current on the Visa Bulletin, during the month in which he or she seeks to file the application with USCIS. If your priority date is not current on the Visa Bulletin, you are not eligible to file Form I-485.

Average Processing Times of Form I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status

Processing times of marriage-based I-485 adjustment of status applications will depend on the workload of the local field office where you will eventually be called to attend an in-person interview before an immigration officer to prove that you maintain a bona fide marriage and are otherwise eligible to receive permanent residence. As an example, if you are living in the city of San Diego, your local field office would be in San Diego.

  • The average processing time for Form I-485 is approximately 20 to 22 months on average for all field offices.
  • The fastest I-485 processing time is in St. Louis, Missouri, which is taking about 12 months on average.
  • The slowest I-485 processing time is in Salt Lake City, Utah, which is taking about 45 months on average.
  • The majority of I-485 processing times fall somewhere between 12 months to 45 months.

Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative, Processing Times by Service Center

Average Form I-130  Processing Time by Service Center

  • California Service Center: 15 months on average.
  • Nebraska Service Center: 14 months on average.
  • Potomac Service Center: 16 months on average.
  • Texas Service Center: 13 months on average.
  • Vermont Service Center: 14 months on average.

Work and Travel Permits

Adjustment of Status applicants may file Form I-765 Application for Employment Authorization, and Form I-131 Application for Travel Document, along with their Form I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, for no additional filing fee.

In the past 6 months, work permits (also known as Employment Authorization Documents – EADS) were taking up to a year or longer to be processed by USCIS.

Recently, we have seen that USCIS is speeding up processing, with some clients receiving their work permits as soon as 4 to 5 months after filing.

How long will it to take for my adjustment of status application to be processed by USCIS from start to finish?

I-485 Adjustment of Status applicants residing inside of the United States, can expect to wait anywhere from 11 months to 27 months for their green card applications to be processed. However, actual processing times may vary depending on a number of different factors, including but not limited to: the service center processing your application, your local field office, the complexity of your case, whether a Request for Evidence will be issued for your case, whether an in-person interview is required, etc.

In some limited cases, we have seen USCIS waive the in-person interview requirement for certain adjustment of status applicants. Such individuals have been able to receive their green cards within 4 to 6 months after filing their cases. However, the average processing times provided above are still the norm for most green card applicants.

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