WHAT ARE THE COSTS AND TIMELINES FOR GREEN CARDS?

Two of the most commonly asked questions regarding green cards are: how much will the process cost? and how long will it take? In trying to answer these questions, you will learn that there are several costs that are involved, and each type of green card application has its own timeline. If you have green card questions, then it is important that you speak to an experienced immigration attorney. 

GREEN CARD APPLICATION COSTS

A green card application is actually a combination of applications that must be filed to process a request for a green card. Each of these applications has its own costs which are subject to change by order of the federal government. When petitioning for a family-based green card, you may be required to submit some or all of the following forms. These forms are listed with their associated filing fees as following:

• Petition for Alien Relative (Form I-130) - $535 filing fee
• Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (Form I-485) - $1,140 filing fee
• Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) (Form I-129F) - $535 filing fee
• Application for Employment Authorization (Form I-765) - $410 filing fee
• Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant (Form I-360) - $435 filing fee
• Application for Travel Document (Form I-131) - $575 filing fee
• Consular processing immigrant visa application (Form DS-260) - $325 filing fee
• Biometrics Services Fee - $85

These costs are subject to change. Every green card application is required to include a Petition for Alien Relative (Form I-130) and an Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (Form I-485). If you have questions about how much your green card application fees will be, then it is important that you speak to an experienced immigration attorney. Different applicants will pay different fees depending on the type of family-based green card application that is being filed. 

GREEN CARD APPLICATION TIMELINES

The time that a green card takes to process is based on the type of green card applicant. Green card applications for U.S. Citizens sponsors are given priority and processed more quickly than green card applications for green card holder sponsors. The following are the general timelines for each type of green card applicant. 

        SPOUSES

• Spouse of a U.S. citizen and currently living in the United States – 10-13 month average to get a green card.
• Spouse of a U.S. citizen and currently living outside the United States – 11-17 month average to get a green card.
• Spouse of a green card holder and currently living in the United States – 29-38 month average to get a green card.
• Spouse of a green card holder and currently living outside the United States – 23-32 month average to get a green card.
• Widow or widower of a U.S. citizen – 10-13 month average to get a green card.

It is important to note that spouses of green card holders have to wait for a green card slot to become available. There are a limited number of green cards that are made available for the spouses of green card holders. It takes an average of two years for a green card slot to become available for an applicant spouse of a green card holder. There are no limits on green cards for spouses of U.S. citizens so applicant spouses never have to wait for one to become available.

        PARENTS AND CHILDREN

• Parents of a U.S. citizen – 10-13 month average to get a green card. 
• Children of U.S. citizens – 10-13 month average to get a green card.
• Children of green card holders – 23-38 month average to get a green card.

For parents and children of U.S. citizens, there are no limits on the number of green cards available. For children of green card holders, there are a limited number of green cards that are made available. It takes an average of two years for a green card slow to become available for a child of green card holders. 

These processing times can change depending on the current presidential administration and the immigration policy that the current president follows. Other factors such as COVID-19 have severely impacted USCIS processing times for all types of immigration forms. To get the most up-to-date processing times, make sure you speak to an experienced immigration attorney. If you have legal questions, then call us at You Are Home so we can help!

WHY CHOOSE YOU ARE HOME TO HELP YOU GET YOUR GREEN CARD?

You Are Home is a team of immigration lawyers whose mission is to help you obtain your green card while answering your questions and concerns along the way. Our main goal at You Are Home is to make your green card process as simple and pain-free as possible. As a You Are Home client, you will be paired with an experienced immigration attorney who will help you identify any potential issues with your case, while also helping guide you through each step together as a team in order to help you best achieve success. Our immigration attorneys are experienced not only in helping people file immigration paperwork and prepare for their green card interviews; they have also successfully defended clients facing detention and deportation in immigration court. When you have You Are Home on your side, you will be prepared for whatever legal obstacles that could appear in the way of obtaining your green card.

SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION WITH YOU ARE HOME TODAY!

You Are Home is proud to offer consultations with our immigration attorneys via phone or videoconference via Zoom. If you would like to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced immigration attorneys to answer your questions and review your documents, you may do so here. If you decide to hire You Are Home to help you further with your naturalization case or any other immigration legal service that we offer, then we will credit your consultation fee towards the cost of those services. Don’t go it alone, let the experienced attorneys at You Are Home help you officially make the United States your (new) home country.