How Long Does Family Based Green Card Take?

The processing time for a family-based green card depends on the relationship between the petitioner and the beneficiary, as well as the applicant’s country of origin. For immediate relatives of U.S. citizens—including spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents—the process usually takes about  9.5 to 14.3 months since visas are immediately available in this category. 

For other family categories under the family preference system, such as siblings of U.S. citizens or spouses and children of green card holders, the wait can range from 2 years to over 20 years, depending on visa availability and country-specific backlogs. Checking the monthly Visa Bulletin issued by the U.S. Department of State can help estimate wait times for these preference categories.