Family Green Cards
US Immigration Attorneys

San Diego Office:
7486 La Jolla Blvd., PMB 175
La Jolla, CA 92037
phone:  (858) 375-4566  (858) 375-4566
fax: (858) 456-4506

www.familygreencards.com
info@familygreencards.com

• How long will it take?
• What is a Priority Date?
• Processing time
• Priority Date table

 (858) 375-4566  (858) 375-4566
or Contact us

How long will it take?

The time it takes to obtain a US Green Card varies quite a lot depending on the family relationship and where you process. The most important consideration is whether your case will be given a "Priority Date" and this is based on the type of family relationship to the US Citizen or Green Card holder. If you receive a Priority Date, your case will take between one to 22 years. In addition to that time, each USCIS office, Embassy and Consulate has additional processing time just to handle the paperwork. Which office you file at depends on where you and your sponsor each live. The wait starts after you file your paperwork, so our advice is to start the process as early as possible and file your paperwork correctly.

Below, we have included a chart that shows current Priority Dates for a variety of family relationships and for a variety of different countries.

What is a Priority Date and who receives one?

A Priority Date is issued by the US Department of State. Priority Dates are intended to slow down the flow of the immigration into United States. By law, there is a number limit (or "quota") of immigrants each year. Only 7% of the total number of people immigrating to the US each year can be from any one country. In addition, each year there is a limit on the total number of immigrants from all countries. Since these number quotas tend to fill up quickly, cases filed each year become backlogged and applications are rolled over onto waiting lists for later years. Each country has a different backlog depending on the number of people from that country wanting to immigrate. The Philippines, for example, traditionally has the largest backlog for brothers and sisters of US citizens. Immigrants must wait approximately 22 years after the sponsorship petition is filed before their Green Cards may be processed.

We have included below a chart that shows Priority Dates for a variety of different countries.

There are exceptions. "Immediate relatives" of US citizens are not subject to quota limits and will not receive Priority Dates. They will be able to apply for their Green Cards immediately. You are considered an "immediate relative" if:

1. You have a husband or wife that is a US citizen.
   
2. You have a parent that is a US citizen and you are under 21 years old and not married.
   
3. You have a child that is a US citizen that is at least 21 years old.

In all other cases, you will be subject to quota limitations and receive a Priority Date, see the chart below.

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Processing time

Besides the Priority Date, there are other considerations that affect timing. Each Immigration Office, Embassy and Consulate has different administration, staff and caseload. Some offices are quicker than others. Procedures at each office change on a regular basis. You must make sure your case is filed properly according to current procedures at the office handling your case. An improperly filed Green Card petition can result in delays and also a potential bar against your family member from entering the US for up to ten years.

Procedures change for USCIS processing of forms, even if the form instructions remain the same. In fact, most form instructions were already out of date the day they were printed and many form instructions have errors in them. Even so, you are still required to comply with current USCIS procedures even when not currently printed on the the forms involved. The USCIS and Embassies simply do not have the resources to constantly update the public on their procedures. For this reason, it is our work as competent immigration attorneys to remain current on all immigration laws and procedures so your case will be processed correctly and in the shortest possible time.

Call us at  858-375-4566  858-375-4566 or Contact us and we will be glad to assist in determining how best to proceed in your case.

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Priority Dates for Family Based Immigration Visas

• 1st: Unmarried people, any age, who have at least one US citizen parent.
• 2A: Spouse and children under 21 years old, of Green Card holders.
• 2B: Unmarried sons and daughters of Green Card holders who are at least 21 years old.
• 3rd: Married sons and daughters of U.S.citizens
• 4th: Sisters and brothers of US citizen, where the US citizen is at least 21 years old.

	All other country Except those listed	CHINA-Mainland	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
1st	08 NOV, 04	01 NOV, 04	08 NOV, 04	22 OCT, 92	15 MAR, 95
2A	01 JAN, 08	01 JAN, 08	01 JAN, 06	01 DEC,06	01 JAN,08
2B	15 NOV, 02	15 NOV, 02	15 NOV, 02	15 JUN, 92	08 MAR, 99
3rd	22 JUN, 01	22 JUN, 01	22 JUN, 01	22 OCT, 92	22 MAY, 92
4th	01 SEP, 00	01 SEP, 00	01 SEP, 00	08 DEC, 95	01 APR, 88

Updated monthly. Last update was Jun 3, 2010. 

Note: there are exceptions - Immediate Relatives are not subject to the extra wait times in the above Priority Dates Table. Contact us to choose your best category and get your case started.

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