How Long Does It Take to Get a Green Card for Family Preference Immigrants?
It depends on the family preference category and your country of origin. In general, getting a Green Card through family preference can take anywhere from a few years to over 20 years.
Family preference categories are limited by annual quotas, meaning there are only a certain number of Green Cards available each year. The categories include:
- F1: Unmarried sons and daughters (age 21 and over) of U.S. citizens
- F2A: Spouses and minor children of permanent residents
- F2B: Unmarried sons and daughters (age 21 and over) of permanent residents
- F3: Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens
- F4: Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens
Typical wait times by category:
- F2A: 2 to 3 years (sometimes faster)
- F2B: 5 to 8 years
- F1: 7 to 10 years
- F3: 10 to 14 years
- F4: 14 to 22 years or more
If you are from countries with higher demand like Mexico, India, or the Philippines, the wait times are usually longer.
The exact timing also depends on your priority date and when your visa becomes available according to the U.S. Department of State’s Visa Bulletin.
