Congratulations on sending your green card application to USCIS!
This is an important and exciting phase in the process. However, you probably have many questions about what comes next. This article is designed to help answer these questions for you. Below, we will include explanations of timelines for work and travel permits, as well as tips for how to track your application’s progress! While notifications and approvals can come at different times, we will provide information on current wait time averages so that you have an idea of when you could expect times to receive updates from USCIS. This article will address the following:
- Average timeline of approvals
- How to create a USCIS account and keep track of your application
- Frequently asked questions after you send the application
- Average timeline of approvals
While most applications typically go through a similar review process, the order of events and timelines associated with them can vary and are subject to change. The following table demonstrates the typical order of events applicants can expect to experience and shows the average timelines for the different parts of the application processes.
As previously mentioned, notifications and acceptances usually happen in the order listed below, but sometimes the order can differ. For example, some people can get green card approval before getting work and travel authorization. Additionally, because USCIS is expediting some application types based on the reviewing officer’s discretion, some people may not be required to have an interview, , and may only receive an acceptance notice. Make sure to check your USCIS account for more information on the progress of your application.
Note: When looking at the table below, assume the applicant has just submitted their application to USCIS.
| FORM/EVENT | AVERAGE PROCESSING TIME AFTER INITIAL FILING | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION |
| 1. Receive Mailed receipts/I-797 C forms | 2-6 weeks | SimpleCitizen customers can add the receipt numbers to their accounts in Step 5. You can create a USCIS account to track your application. Use this link to track the process with your application |
| 2. Receive Biometrics appointment notice with scheduled biometrics date | 2-3 months | Go to the scheduled biometrics appointment. Bring your notice and your unexpired passport. For more information and questions, click here. |
| 3. Receive approval of Employment Authorization Document (EAD)/Form I-765/Work permit | 6-9 months | People can work once their EAD/work permit has been granted. If you requested it, a Social Security Card would come 2-4 weeks after their EAD comes. |
| 4. Receive approval of Advance Parole (AP)/Form I-131/Travel Permit | 9-12 months | People can travel outside of the country once the Advance Parole/travel permit comes. Please be aware that traveling on Advance Parole has some degree of risk. Before traveling outside the country, please visit this page for more information. |
| 5. Request for Evidence letters | Can be sent at any time. | Not everyone receives an RFE notice. However, if you get one, you must ensure it’s answered within the time allotted. |
| 6. Receive Interview Notice | 12-24 months | This notice has the date and time you will need to go to your interview. Please visit here for more information on questions, documents to bring, and how to prepare for your USCIS interview. |
| 7. Receive notice of decision for Green Card Application | 12-24 months | Once USCIS has issued a decision on the application, they will send you a notice notifying you of that decision. If you see the update “I-485 Approved” on your USCIS account, it’s a good sign that you should expect this notice in the mail very soon and that your application has been approved! |
| Please note that different USCIS offices have different average timelines. After receiving your receipt notifications, you can look up the timelines for the office processing your application, as shown in the receipts here. |
2. How to create a USCIS account to keep track of my application
It is highly recommended that you create a USCIS account to keep track of your application, notices, and wait times. Additionally, USCIS uploads some paper notices to the account so that you can access them electronically. Often, the electronic versions will be accessible before the physical notices arrive in the mail.
Here is a step-by-step guide on creating a USCIS account and keeping track of your application.
Note: You must wait until you get your physical receipt notices and USCIS Account Notice from USCIS before you can create an account.
- Go to the USCIS page to create an account and add an email address. You will get a confirmation email asking you to confirm you want to create an account. Please ensure you add an email you can access that is safe and not shared with anyone else.
- Choose how to receive your verification code (Mobile or Email). USCIS will send a verification code to your email or text every time you access your account. Please choose a safe option that will be securely and readily available.
- Once you open your account, this page will appear. To add the receipt numbers to your account, click the second option, “MyUSCIS”
- Once you click there, please go to “My Account” and choose “Add a case to your account”
- Add each receipt number you have received here. Please add ALL of the receipt numbers in your receipt notices (these usually start with IOE or MSC). You can only add one person’s notices per account. This means that the petitioner and the beneficiary will each need their own account.
- When you input your I-485 receipt number, it will ask for your online access code. You can add the online access code in the USCIS Account Notice physical receipt notice under this space:
- Once you add all the receipt numbers, you can check your application status whenever you open your account. Please consider that every time you log into your USCIS account. You must enter a one-time verification code sent to you either through a text or to your email account.
Here is a video from USCIS on how to create a USCIS account that could be helpful to you.
| SimpleCitizen would love to help you with your immigration case! To sign up now, click here. |
FAQs:
- How will USCIS notify me about the progress of my application?
USCIS will update you about your application in your USCIS account and will mail you updates to your mailing address. This is why your mailing address must be kept up to date. Please go here for information on changing your mailing address if you move.
Usually, notifications and notices will be updated under your USCIS account before they are mailed to you. You can use this link and your USCIS account to track the status of your application.
You can also find the notices and notifications USCIS sends on your USCIS account under the “Document” tab for each form.
- Why are Request for Evidence (RFE) notices issued?
Usually, RFE notices are sent for a variety of reasons. Here are the most common ones:
- If the USCIS officer has determined that the joint sponsor/sponsor’s financial information is insufficient, and they want more information.
- If the USCIS officer determines that the added relationship evidence is insufficient and requires more evidence.
- If any official documents, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce certificates, etc., are not the ones required by the Department of State and USCIS need to see a different version of them.
- If a person didn’t submit the medical exam with their application, USCIS can send them an RFE requesting the medical exam.
For more information on RFEs, please go here.
- What if I need to expedite the work or travel permit?
Applicants can request to expedite an application form after receiving their receipt numbers and completing their biometrics appointment with USCIS. Below are a few options for making an expedited request:
1. Contact USCIS directly and provide an explanation/evidence that your situation meets their criteria for being expedited. You can do this by calling USCIS at (800) 375-5283 and submitting a formal expedite request.
Please note that USCIS:
- Considers all expedited requests on a case-by-case basis;
- May require additional documentation to support a request (e.g., financial obligations, hospital records, death certificates, etc.);
- Has the sole discretion to decide whether to accommodate a request (i.e., approval of an expedite request is not guaranteed)
Please click here for more information about how to make this request through USCIS.
2. Work with the CIS Ombudsman office, which is dedicated to improving the quality of citizenship and immigration services delivered to the public by providing individual case assistance.
Please note: this option is only available if an applicant’s form is outside the normal processing time, so check the USCIS Processing Times website here to see if this option is right for you.
3. Work with a congress member or senator from your state. In unusual circumstances and in unexpected emergencies, government representatives may be able to help move the process along. In rare cases that require extreme assistance, your representatives can contact federal agencies and request a case be expedited. They can also assist applicants when their application is outside of normal processing times and alert USCIS of cases that are experiencing situations like severe financial hardship, a medical emergency, or an emergency trip abroad.
Please remember that members of Congress/senators cannot solve every immigration issue and cannot require USCIS to change a decision an officer has made on a case, such as a denial.
The best way to get started with this option is to look up your representatives/senators and review their websites to see if they have any information about requesting immigration assistance. You can also call their office to speak to someone on their staff if you cannot find that information on their website. Please click here to find your member of congress, and click here to find your local senators.
You can also look at this article for information on an expedited request for the employment authorization document.
If you have any other questions, please let us know – we wish you the best of luck!