After You File
How Long Will It Take?
Processing times for a marriage-based green card depend on which pathway you're on and which USCIS field office is handling your case. Here's what to expect at each stage.
Adjustment of Status
8 to 14 months
For U.S. citizen sponsors. From filing to green card in hand.
Consular Processing
12 to 24 months
From I-130 filing to arriving in the U.S. with an immigrant visa.
These ranges reflect U.S. citizen sponsors. If the petitioner is a green card holder (not a citizen), wait times are significantly longer due to annual visa caps. See the full timeline guide for details.
Adjustment of Status: what to expect and when
AOS is the path for couples where the immigrant spouse is already in the U.S. After you mail the packet, here's the order of events.
Receipt notice (NOA1)
1 to 3 weeks after USCIS receives your packet
USCIS mails a paper receipt notice to the petitioner. This confirms they have the application. If you don't receive it after 4 weeks, it's worth checking.
Biometrics appointment
4 to 8 weeks after filing
USCIS sends a separate notice with a date, time, and location for the immigrant spouse's fingerprints, photo, and signature. The petitioner does not attend.
Interview appointment notice
6 to 12 months after filing (varies by field office)
USCIS schedules the in-person interview at the local field office. Both spouses attend. The wait for this notice is the longest part of the process, and times differ a lot depending on where you live.
Decision
Same day as the interview, in most cases
Most couples leave the interview with an approval. In some cases, USCIS needs a few more days or weeks to complete background checks before issuing a decision.
Green card in the mail
2 to 4 weeks after approval
USCIS mails the physical green card to the immigrant spouse's U.S. address.
Consular Processing: what to expect and when
CP is the path for couples where the immigrant spouse is outside the U.S. The process runs through USCIS, then the National Visa Center, then the U.S. embassy or consulate in the immigrant's country.
Receipt notice (NOA1)
1 to 3 weeks after USCIS receives the I-130
USCIS sends a receipt notice confirming they have the I-130 petition.
I-130 approved (NOA2)
4 to 8 months after filing
USCIS approves the petition and sends it to the National Visa Center (NVC). This is the petitioner's formal approval to sponsor their spouse.
NVC welcome letter and processing
2 to 4 months
The NVC contacts the petitioner with a case number and fee information. The petitioner pays fees, submits Form I-864, and the immigrant spouse submits Form DS-260 and civil documents. NVC currently reviews submitted documents in about 2 weeks.
Embassy interview
Scheduled by the consulate after NVC completes
The immigrant spouse attends an in-person interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate in their country. Most decisions happen the same day.
Immigrant visa and entry
A few weeks after approval
The consulate mails the immigrant visa. The immigrant spouse must enter the U.S. within 6 months of the visa being issued.
Green card in the mail
2 to 4 weeks after entering the U.S.
USCIS mails the physical green card to the address provided during processing.
Why the wait varies so much
The biggest variable is your field office.
Interview wait times in community data range from under 3 months in some field offices to over 10 months in others. Where you live matters as much as when you filed.
Busy urban offices often run slower.
Field offices in major cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York typically see longer waits than smaller offices in cities like Phoenix, Tampa, or Columbus.
Processing times change month to month.
USCIS adjusts resources, staffing, and case prioritization throughout the year. A time that was accurate 6 months ago may no longer reflect what's happening now.
Check current times for your specific office
USCIS official processing times
USCIS publishes current processing time estimates for every form and field office. This is the most reliable source for what's happening right now.
Check times at uscis.gov/processing-timesCommunity-reported timelines
VisaJourney tracks self-reported timelines from real applicants. The data isn't official, but it gives a field-office-by-field-office picture that USCIS's own tool doesn't always capture. Their AOS database covers over 35,000 cases.
Browse AOS timelines on VisaJourneyIf you haven't heard anything after 90 days: USCIS has an online case status tool where you can check your case with your receipt number. You can also call the USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283. Most delays are normal and don't require action.
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