Family-based immigration involves individuals moving to the United States to reunite with their spouse, children, and/or parents. According to recent data from the Department of Homeland Security, spouses, dependent children, and parents trying to join family members in the U.S. have average wait times of nearly a year.
Other family members, such as siblings and adult children, may wait even longer. The family-based immigration process is subject to varying timelines, primarily influenced by the applicant’s relationship with a U.S. citizen and their country of origin.
How long do family members have to wait for a green card?
Spouses, dependent children (minors), and parents of U.S. citizens tend to have shorter wait times than other family members. Between October 2022 and September 2023, the average wait time for spouses, dependent children, and parents was 11.8 months nationwide, while petitions for fiancé(e)s had an average wait of 13.9 months. Processing times vary by regional office, depending on application volumes, workload allocations, staff, and other factors. There is no specific legal timeframe for the U.S. to respond to immigration visa applicants.
The average processing time for cases involving international adoption has also increased: approximately 49.2 months as of 2023.
For family categories such as “Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens” and “Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents,” wait times can be even longer, ranging from several years to over a decade.
How many people are on the waiting list for a green card?
As of November 1, 2022, the Department of State reported 4.08 million people awaiting processing of their permanent visa applications. This is the total global of family-sponsored and employment-based applications and includes both primary applicants and their eligible dependents, including spouses and children.
The majority of the waiting list consists of family members: 3.92 million people (95.9% of applicants), while 168,148 people (4.1%) fall under employment-based preference.
Ten countries accounted for 75.7% of those on the family-sponsored waiting list in 2023:
• Mexico: 1.2M
• Dominican Republic: 283.7K
• Philippines: 279.6K
• India: 254.2K
• Vietnam: 223.5K
• Bangladesh: 216.1K
• China: 167.2K
• Pakistan: 137.2K
• Haiti: 117.9K
• El Salvador: 78.4K
Source: USA Facts