Green Card Wait Time Estimator 2026

Wait times are estimated based on the monthly Visa Bulletin published by the US Department of State. They depend on your preference category, country of birth, and how quickly your priority date becomes "current" in the relevant chart.

US immigration law caps annual green card issuances at 7% per country. India and China have far more applicants than their annual allocation allows, creating massive backlogs spanning decades for some categories.

Retrogression occurs when a priority date that was previously current moves backward, meaning applicants who were close to filing can no longer proceed. This happens when USCIS receives more applications than expected in a given month.

The Final Action Date chart shows when your green card can actually be approved. The Date for Filing chart (when applicable) shows when you can file your I-485 adjustment of status, even if final action hasn't been reached. Not all categories have a filing date chart.

In some cases, yes. For example, an EB-3 applicant from an oversubscribed country might convert to EB-2 if they qualify, or file an EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) which doesn't require employer sponsorship. Consult an immigration attorney for your specific situation.