I-485 processing time
How long Form I-485, the green card application filed inside the U.S., is taking depends on why you filed and which office has your case. These are USCIS’s figures as published September 17, 2026.
Checked against USCIS guidance on October 9, 2026. The sources are listed at the end of this page.
Family-based I-485, by field office
USCIS publishes a separate figure for each field office. Across the 90 offices USCIS lists, the figure runs from 12.5 months (Burlington VT) to 60.5 months (Spokane WA). The median office is at 32.8 months. Figures published September 17, 2026.
| Field office | USCIS figure |
|---|---|
| Agana GU | 38 months |
| Albany NY | 26.5 months |
| Albuquerque NM | 28 months |
| Anchorage AK | 29.5 months |
| Atlanta GA | 31 months |
| Baltimore MD | 32.5 months |
| Boise ID | 37.5 months |
| Boston MA | 28.5 months |
| Brooklyn NY | 40 months |
| Buffalo NY | 17.5 months |
| Burlington VT | 12.5 months |
| Charleston SC | 21.5 months |
| Charlotte Amalie VI | 41.5 months |
| Charlotte NC | 31 months |
| Chicago IL | 40.5 months |
| Christiansted VI | 37.5 months |
| Cincinnati OH | 25 months |
| Cleveland OH | 30.5 months |
| Columbus OH | 35.5 months |
| Cranbury NJ | 34.5 months |
| Dallas TX | 29 months |
| Denver CO | 39.5 months |
| Des Moines IA | 22.5 months |
| Detroit MI | 34.5 months |
| El Paso TX | 22.5 months |
| Fort Myers FL | 29.5 months |
| Fort Smith AR | 21 months |
| Fresno CA | 37.5 months |
| Greer SC | 20.5 months |
| Harlingen TX | 23 months |
| Hartford CT | 31.5 months |
| Helena MT | 14.5 months |
| Hialeah FL | 27.5 months |
| Honolulu HI | 37.5 months |
| Houston TX | 36 months |
| Imperial CA | 33 months |
| Indianapolis IN | 35 months |
| Jacksonville FL | 32.5 months |
| Kansas City MO | 27 months |
| Kendall FL | 29 months |
| Las Vegas NV | 36 months |
| Lawrence MA | 39.5 months |
| Long Island NY | 33 months |
| Los Angeles CA | 37 months |
| Los Angeles County CA | 38.5 months |
| Louisville KY | 24.5 months |
| Manchester NH | 21.5 months |
| Memphis TN | 33 months |
| Miami FL | 40 months |
| Milwaukee WI | 32.5 months |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul MN | 34.5 months |
| Montgomery AL | 21.5 months |
| Mount Laurel NJ | 33.5 months |
| Nashville TN | 23.5 months |
| New Orleans LA | 36.5 months |
| New York City NY | 33.5 months |
| Newark NJ | 38 months |
| Norfolk VA | 41 months |
| Oakland Park FL | 39 months |
| Oklahoma City OK | 39 months |
| Omaha NE | 21 months |
| Orlando FL | 33 months |
| Philadelphia PA | 31 months |
| Phoenix AZ | 24.5 months |
| Pittsburgh PA | 27 months |
| Portland ME | 36.5 months |
| Portland OR | 37 months |
| Providence RI | 21 months |
| Queens NY | 40.5 months |
| Raleigh NC | 40 months |
| Reno NV | 36.5 months |
| Sacramento CA | 39 months |
| Saint Louis MO | 25 months |
| Salt Lake City UT | 21.5 months |
| San Antonio TX | 24.5 months |
| San Bernardino CA | 33 months |
| San Diego CA | 31.5 months |
| San Fernando Valley CA | 38.5 months |
| San Francisco CA | 41.5 months |
| San Jose CA | 43 months |
| San Juan PR | 30 months |
| Santa Ana CA | 43.5 months |
| Seattle WA | 56.5 months |
| Spokane WA | 60.5 months |
| Tampa FL | 26.5 months |
| Tucson AZ | 13.5 months |
| Washington DC | 24 months |
| West Palm Beach FL | 29 months |
| Wichita KS | 28.5 months |
| Yakima WA | 57.5 months |
Employment-based and other I-485 categories
USCIS’s figures as published September 17, 2026.
| Category | Office | USCIS figure |
|---|---|---|
| All other applications | Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 141.5 months |
| Based on an approved T Visa | Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 47.5 months |
| Based on an approved U Visa | Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 28 months |
| Based on grant of asylum more than 1 year ago | All Field Offices | 43.5 months |
| Based on refugee admission more than 1 year ago | All Field Offices | 60 months |
| Employment-Based adjustment applications | All Field Offices | 19 months |
| Employment-Based adjustment applications | Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 48.5 months |
While your I-485 is pending: work permit and travel
Many applicants file for a work permit (Form I-765, category (c)(9)) and advance parole (Form I-131) alongside the I-485. USCIS publishes separate figures for those:
| Form | Office | USCIS figure |
|---|---|---|
| I-765 (c)(9) work permit | National Benefits Center | 16.5 months |
| I-765 (c)(9) work permit | Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 16 months |
| I-131 advance parole | Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 34 months |
What the number means
For each form, category and office, USCIS shows one figure: the 80th percentile. It is how long it took USCIS to complete 80% of the cases it decided over the prior six months. So 8 in 10 recent cases finished within that time; the slowest 2 in 10 took longer.
USCIS describes the figures as a reference point, not a guarantee of how long your case will take, and it updates them. Every figure on this page carries the date USCIS published it.
What usually happens while you wait
- Receipt. USCIS sends a receipt notice; the status shows Case Was Received.
- Biometrics. Fingerprints and photo at an Application Support Center, then Case Was Updated To Show Fingerprints Were Taken.
- Review. Case Is Being Actively Reviewed By USCIS, sometimes with a Request For Additional Evidence.
- Interview, if needed. Interview Was Scheduled.
- Decision. If approved: New Card Is Being Produced, then Card Was Mailed To Me.
When you can ask USCIS about a slow case
USCIS’s glossary says it will only research your case if it is taking longer than the current processing time. On the Check Case Processing Times page you enter the receipt date from your receipt notice, and the tool tells you whether you can contact USCIS yet. When you can, it links you to submit an inquiry online.
That inquiry is a service request for a “case outside normal processing time.” You can make one online or through the USCIS Contact Center. USCIS’s general goal is to resolve a service request within 15 business days of creating it.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an I-485 take?
It depends on your category and office. As published September 17, 2026, family-based figures range by field office as shown above, and employment-based figures are listed separately. Check USCIS’s page for the latest.
Which office do I choose on USCIS’s processing times page?
The office shown on your most recent USCIS notice.
My I-485 is past the processing time. What now?
Enter your receipt date on USCIS’s Check Case Processing Times page. If it says your case is outside normal processing time, it links you to submit an inquiry. USCIS’s goal for resolving these service requests is 15 business days.
More Processing times guides
Sources
MyCheck is not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency. Processing times are USCIS’s published figures as of the date shown and describe past cases, not a promise about yours. This page is general information, not legal advice.
