How Long Does It Take to Get a Green Card for U.S. Immigration? Revealing the Most Accurate Timeframe

Currently, the number of people immigrating to the U.S. is steadily increasing, leading many who are planning to or are already in the process of moving to the U.S. to wonder how long U.S. immigration takes to obtain a green card.

Do not worry! The following article from ImmiPath will reveal the exact timeline to help you quickly hold that golden ticket to becoming a lawful permanent resident in the United States. See it now!

1. How Long Does It Take to Get a Green Card After Moving to the U.S.? The Most Accurate Timeline

Typically, after moving to the U.S. legally, you will receive your green card within a maximum of 2 months from your entry, depending on the processing in each state or the type of application.

However, the time it takes to receive your green card can vary based on the following factors:

• If you entered the U.S. and paid the immigrant visa fee before entry, it may take up to 90 days from your entry date to receive your green card.
• If you entered the U.S. and paid the immigrant visa fee after entry, it may take up to 90 days from the date of payment to receive your green card.
• If you did not pay the immigrant visa fee online before your green card processing began, you need to pay the fee online using this link: USCIS Immigrant Fee.

2. Green Card in the U.S.: What Are the Two Types and Their Differences?

The Green Card, also known as a permanent resident card, allows foreign nationals to live and work legally in the U.S. It is commonly referred to as the “Green Card” because of its color.

This is considered the golden ticket to enter the U.S. This ticket allows foreign nationals to immigrate legally and permanently to the U.S., to start fulfilling their dream of settling in the land of opportunity, establishing a new life in the land of the free, and enjoying the benefits of permanent residency status in the U.S.

There are two main types of Green Cards: the 2-year Green Card and the 10-year Green Card. Here’s a clear comparison between the two:

Aspect	2-Year Green Card	10-Year Green Card
Definition	The 2-year Green Card is a conditional Green Card valid for two years. After the two-year period, you must apply for a 10-year permanent Green Card. You need to start the process of applying for the 10-year Green Card 90 days before your 2-year Green Card expires. Failure to do so may put you at risk of deportation.	The 10-year Green Card is a permanent Green Card issued to eligible immigrants in the U.S. If holders of the 10-year Green Card have not passed the U.S. citizenship test, they must continue to renew their Green Card when it expires. The 10-year permanent residency Green Card is valid for ten years. You will need to reapply for your 10-year Green Card every ten years and ensure you complete all necessary paperwork a few months before the card expires.
Eligibility	The 2-year Green Card is issued if you have residency rights through a marriage lasting less than two years or through the EB-5 investment immigration program. However, if you have been issued a 2-year conditional Green Card, you must carefully monitor its expiration date. Failing to submit the appropriate paperwork to remove the conditions before the 2-year Green Card expires can significantly impact your residency status.	Family-sponsored Green Cards, such as those for parents sponsoring children, children sponsoring parents, siblings, and spouses in marriages lasting over two years, all qualify for the 10-year Green Card.  In addition, immigrants in the U.S. on an EB-3 employment-based visa will also receive a 10-year Green Card. If you have a 2-year Green Card but are widowed and your previous marriage to a U.S. citizen has ended due to death. You can apply to USCIS to adjust your status and potentially receive a 10-year Green Card by providing compelling evidence. If you have a 2-year Green Card but your marriage to a U.S. citizen has ended in divorce within the 2 years, you can still apply for a 10-year Green Card. In cases where you or your child are abused or mistreated by the U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you must apply within 90 days to request a 10-year Green Card before the 2-year Green Card expires.
Benefits	When the 2-year Green Card expires, the permanent residency status is lost. While the 2-year Green Card can be replaced if lost or damaged, it cannot be renewed. Once expired, the 2-year Green Card becomes invalid, and the permanent resident is considered to be unlawfully present. With a 2-year Green Card, you are not allowed to leave the U.S. for more than six months. A holder of a 2-year Green Card must renew it at least once to apply for citizenship if the Green Card was obtained through marriage, and at least three times if obtained through the EB-5 program.	A 10-year green card is a permanent green card, becoming a permanent, legal resident in the United States. With a 10-year green card, you have the right to go everywhere.  The 10-year green card expires but the permanent resident still has normal residence rights. If you are too busy or forget to renew, it will also affect your permanent residence status.

3. How Can You Ensure a Timely Green Card Process?

In addition to knowing how long U.S. immigration takes to get a Green Card, it is also essential to understand how to ensure that the Green Card process is timely and smooth.

With the following sharing from ImmiPath, you will know when things might be taking too long. You can then contact the relevant departments to inquire about the status of your case. You can even check the processing times to track the progress of your application.

3.1 Request Expedited Processing

In certain circumstances, you can request expedited processing for your application. You need to provide evidence of an urgent situation that requires expedited processing and submit the correct documents to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

For example, expedited processing may be possible for individuals needing family-based visas before coming to the U.S. for critical organ transplants.

3.2 Prepare Complete and Accurate Documentation

Ensure that all your documents and forms are prepared accurately and submitted on time. Every form you complete must contain the required information without any errors.

USCIS may request additional information or, worse, reject your application entirely if the information is not accurate.

Inaccurate or incomplete information can extend the time it takes to receive your Green Card by weeks or even months.

4. Frequently Asked Questions about How Long it Takes to Get a Green Card for U.S. Immigration

4.1. What benefits does a Green Card provide?

A 10-year U.S. Green Card offers numerous benefits, including:

• You can live in the U.S. for life, avoiding the restrictions of residency requirements.
• You can work in the U.S. for life without needing an Employment Authorization Document (EAD).
• You can apply for U.S. citizenship after 3 to 5 years.
• You can travel in and out of the U.S., but avoid staying outside the country for more than 6 months without consulting an immigration expert or lawyer.
• You can sponsor your spouse and any unmarried children under 21.
• You can access certain federal benefits, including Medicare, Medicaid, SSI, SNAP, TANF, CHIP, and housing assistance.

4.2. What responsibilities do Green Card holders have?

As a legal permanent resident with a Green Card, you must live in and maintain your residency status in the U.S. Traveling abroad is allowed, but you should avoid extended absences and return to the U.S. in compliance with regulations to avoid any issues with your residency status.

In addition, you are required to: 

• Adhere to all U.S. laws.
• Submit income tax returns to the IRS and state tax agencies.
• Support the democratic form of government and not attempt to change it through illegal means.
• If you are a male between the ages of 18 and 25, you must register with the Selective Service System.

A Green Card allows you to live and work in the U.S. indefinitely, but you may lose these rights if you violate laws and could be subject to deportation.

4.3. Can a Green Card be revoked?

While it is not common, it is possible for a Green Card to be revoked. Most people lose their residency due to one of three reasons: fraud, criminal activity, or abandonment.

If you lie or deliberately omit important facts or commit any form of fraud while applying, the government may revoke your Green Card.

If you commit certain crimes after receiving your Green Card, you may lose your residency status. This is most commonly associated with crimes involving moral turpitude or serious felonies. You may also lose your residency if you commit drug-related offenses.

If you abandon your residency in the U.S. by moving to another country and demonstrating an intent to live there permanently, you may lose your permanent residency.

You jeopardize your lawful permanent residency by staying outside the U.S. for an extended period (over 183 days) unless you can prove that your absence was temporary.

You fail to file income taxes while living outside the U.S.

You declare yourself as a “non-resident” on your U.S. tax return.

ImmiPath always advises our permanent resident clients not to leave the U.S. for more than 180 days without proper planning to avoid unnecessary complications with residency status.

See more: What should you do if you lose your green card? The fastest way to get your green card back.

4.4. What is the priority date for a Green Card?

The priority date is an important aspect of the Green Card process, especially for categories with annual limits. For many categories, you might not need to worry about a priority date.

The most common instance where a priority date is not a concern is for individuals who receive a Green Card as immediate relatives of U.S. citizens. 

These categories have no annual numerical limits, but there might still be a wait due to bureaucratic delays.

Common examples of immediate relatives who receive residency include:

• Any unmarried child under 21 of a U.S. citizen
• The spouse of a U.S. citizen
• Parents of a U.S. citizen who is 21 years or older

Asylum seekers also do not need to worry about a priority date. However, they cannot apply for a Green Card until at least one year has passed since being granted asylum.

For all other types of residency, the priority date usually determines whether you can receive your residency immediately or if you are in a waiting list, and where you stand on that list.

This is due to numerical limits on available residency in each category (known as visa caps). For example, the family-sponsored visa category has a limit of 226,000 visas per year, while employment-based visas have a limit of 140,000 per year.

4.5. What is the difference between a Green Card and a visa?

A Green Card, also known as a Permanent Resident Card, is proof that you are a lawful permanent resident of the United States. It grants you many rights and privileges associated with being a U.S. resident, except for certain rights reserved for U.S. citizens, such as voting in federal elections or running for public office.

A visa, on the other hand, is a document issued by a consulate or embassy that allows someone to temporarily enter another country. There are 2 main types of visas: non-immigrant visas and immigrant visas.

Non-immigrant visas are for individuals who wish to visit a country temporarily. Common examples include tourist visas, student visas, and certain temporary work visas. Immigrant visas are for individuals who intend to live permanently in the country. There are various types of immigrant visas based on the reason for immigration, such as family-based or employment-based.

Individuals who enter the U.S. with an immigrant visa usually receive their Green Card by mail shortly after their arrival. In contrast, non-immigrant visas only allow for temporary stays in the U.S., and holders must leave the country when their visa expires. To stay longer, they must either extend their non-immigrant visa or adjust their status to an immigrant visa.

With the information shared by ImmiPath, you should now no longer wonder “How long does it take to get a Green Card after moving to the U.S.?” If you have any further questions regarding U.S. Green Cards, please leave a comment below or provide your phone number. Our team of consultants at ImmiPath will assist you and offer dedicated advice to help make your dream of U.S. immigration a reality.