I-485 processing time: green card
By the USCIS data of September 17, 2026, 80% of I-485 cases in the “family-based” category are decided within 8.5–36 months, depending on the office. All I-485 applications pending at USCIS (all categories): 1,560,290.
Times by category
Family-based
median of 90 offices
90 offices: 80% of cases within 8.5 to 36 months
Employment-based
median of 2 offices
2 offices: 80% of cases within 9.5 to 42.5 months
80% · 93% of cases
- All field offices
- 80%: 9.5 · 93%: 18.7 months
- Service centers (SCOPS)
- 80%: 42.5 · 93%: 48.5 months
How the time changed: Family-based
median of 90 offices
80% of cases93% of casesMonths, by month of the USCIS publication
80% of cases: 15.5 months in May 2022, 16 months in September 2026.
I-485 queue
Frequently asked questions
How long does I-485 take: family-based?
By the USCIS publication of September 17, 2026, 80% of cases are decided within 8.5 to 36 months, depending on the office; the median of the offices is 16 months. 93% within 32.6 months. Half of cases within 5.7 months.
When can I submit an inquiry to USCIS about I-485?
When your case has been pending longer than the 93% mark: for “Family-based” this is 32.6 months after the receipt date. Calculate the date for your case
How many I-485 cases are pending?
As of June 30, 2026, pending at USCIS: 1,560,290. In that quarter: filed 242,989, completed 118,366.
How has the I-485 time changed?
For “Family-based”, the 80% time was 15.5 months in May 2022 and 16 months in September 2026.
Which office is the fastest for I-485?
Fastest: Burlington VT (8.5 months). Slowest: Seattle WA (36 months). Median of the offices: 16 months.
Other forms
Updated November 4, 2026 · Sources: USCIS processing times, September 17, 2026; USCIS quarterly reports, June 30, 2026; ImmigrationTimes.org (CC BY 4.0); our snapshots of USCIS publications