I-485 Processing Time 2026
Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status: how long USCIS takes, from its own quarterly data for Apr 1 – Jun 30, 2026 (FY2026 Q3).
National median
Half of the cases USCIS completed in Apr–Jun 2026 took this long or less (national median). Your case may differ: offices and individual cases vary. Not legal advice.
Trend by quarter
National median in months for each USCIS fiscal-year quarter we have the report for (FY = October–September). “n/a” = USCIS no longer hosts that quarter’s report.
| Quarter | Employment-based | Family-based | Asylum-based | Refugee-based | Cuban Adjustment | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY26 Q3 Apr–Jun 2026 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 25.6 | 17.6 | 16.3 | 21.0 |
| FY26 Q2 Jan–Mar 2026 | 4.9 | 5.9 | 22.0 | 14.6 | 19.5 | 20.7 |
| FY26 Q1 Oct–Dec 2025 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| FY25 Q4 Jul–Sep 2025 | 7.5 | 6.0 | 11.9 | 7.5 | 9.1 | 18.5 |
Track your own case
Paste your receipt number to see which office has it, how old it is compared with this median, and the next steps. Free; without an account your cases stay in your browser.
Open the case tracker →What is Form I-485?
Form I-485 is how someone who is already in the United States applies for a green card (lawful permanent residence) without leaving the country. It is usually filed on the basis of a family petition (I-130), an employment petition (I-140), asylum or refugee status, or other special categories.
USCIS reports separate medians for family-based, employment-based, asylum, refugee, Cuban Adjustment Act and other I-485 cases, because they move at very different speeds.
Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (uscis.gov)
What affects the processing time
- Visa availability: in preference categories the case cannot be approved until a visa number is available for your priority date (see the Visa Bulletin).
- Whether USCIS schedules an interview at a field office or waives it.
- Biometrics and the medical exam (Form I-693).
- Security and background checks, which can take much longer for some applicants.
- Requests for Evidence (RFE): the clock keeps running while you gather and mail the response, and the case waits for it.
- Which office has the case and how many cases are pending there; offices can differ a lot from the national median.
Typical steps
- Receipt notice (I-797C)USCIS accepts the filing and mails/posts a receipt with your receipt number and received date.uscis.gov
- Biometrics appointmentA notice schedules fingerprints/photo at an Application Support Center. Missing it without rescheduling can lead to denial.uscis.gov
- Request for Evidence (if needed)USCIS may ask for more documents. Answer by the deadline on the notice.
- Interview (if required)USCIS may interview you at a field office, or waive the interview.uscis.gov
- DecisionYou receive a written decision. Denials generally can’t be appealed, but a motion (I-290B) may be possible.uscis.gov
- Green card produced and mailedAfter approval the card is produced and mailed; USPS tracking appears in your case status.uscis.gov
FAQ
How long does I-485 take in 2026?
In USCIS’s latest quarterly report (Apr 1 – Jun 30, 2026 (FY2026 Q3)) the national median for I-485 was Employment-based: 6.0 months; Family-based: 7.0 months; Asylum-based: 25.6 months; Refugee-based: 17.6 months; Cuban Adjustment: 16.3 months; Other: 21.0 months. Half of the cases completed in that quarter took longer, and your office may be faster or slower.
Does the I-485 processing time include waiting for the priority date?
The median counts the months from receipt to completion for cases USCIS completed in the quarter, so time a case spent waiting for a visa number is included for those cases. It does not tell you when your own priority date will become current; check the Visa Bulletin for that.
Can I work or travel while my I-485 is pending?
Many applicants file Form I-765 (work permit) and Form I-131 (advance parole) together with the I-485. Leaving the US without advance parole can cause the I-485 to be treated as abandoned for most applicants.
My case is taking longer than the median. What can I do?
Look up your form and office on USCIS’s official processing-times page. If your receipt date is earlier than the “receipt date for a case inquiry” it shows, you can ask USCIS about the case through e-Request. Answer any notices on time, and consider an attorney if something looks wrong.
Source
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, “Number of Service-wide Forms By Quarter, Form Status, and Processing Time”, Apr 1 – Jun 30, 2026 (FY2026 Q3), data queried 7/2026 (quarterly_all_forms_fy2026_q3_v1.xlsx).
- Download the report (uscis.gov)
- USCIS immigration and citizenship data
- Office-level processing times (egov.uscis.gov)
This page is rebuilt automatically when USCIS publishes a new quarter.