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Fact check: How long does it take to get a green card through marriage if already in the US on a visa?
Executive Summary
Applying for a marriage-based green card while physically present in the United States typically takes about 10–24 months in many of the cited analyses, but processing times vary widely by case type, whether the petitioner is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and local USCIS workload [1] [2]. Sources emphasize that there is no fixed national standard and recommend monitoring USCIS processing-time tools and preparing robust evidence of a bona fide marriage to avoid delays tied to requests for additional evidence or interviews [3] [2].
1. What the sources actually claim — timelines that sound similar but vary
Three analyses converge on the idea that marriage-based green card timelines while inside the U.S. are not fixed but fall into a familiar range: one source states 12–18 months during peak COVID-era processing with an interview likely in that window, another claims 10–24 months for applicants admitted to the U.S., and a third points users to case-by-case tracking on USCIS without a firm number [2] [1] [3]. These repeated ranges suggest a broad consensus that the process often spans roughly one to two years, while acknowledging outliers exist and local field office variability matters.
2. Why the wide range exists — differences in petitioner status and location
The analyses explain that timelines lengthen when the petitioning spouse is a green card holder rather than a U.S. citizen, and when the applicant is outside the United States undergoing consular processing; the inside-the-U.S. adjustment of status route commonly runs faster, roughly half the time of consular routes per one source [1]. This distinction is critical because eligibility categories, visa availability, and the need for National Visa Center processing for overseas applicants introduce additional procedural stages and backlogs that drive the reported variation.
3. The role of evidence and interviews — how marriage bona fides affect timing
Several sources stress that longer marriages provide more documentary evidence of a bona fide relationship, which can reduce issuance of Requests for Evidence (RFEs) or delays tied to credibility reviews; conversely, newly married couples often face closer scrutiny and more documentation demands [2]. The need for an in-person interview — commonly part of adjustment of status — is identified as a typical milestone; interview scheduling and local USCIS field office backlog often determine when a final adjudication occurs, affecting the 10–24 month window cited [1] [2].
4. Biometrics and follow-up steps — what happens after initial filings
One analysis highlights that biometrics collection does not set a universal countdown and that post-biometrics timing remains case-specific, with approvals triggering card printing after adjudication but without a fixed post-biometrics timeline [3]. This framing means applicants should view biometrics as an administrative checkpoint, not a clear predictor of final notice date; USCIS processing-page checks are the primary recommended tool for tracking expected timeframes, per the sources.
5. Conflicting or irrelevant materials — what to disregard from the supplied pool
Some collected items in the analyses contain little direct relevance to the marriage-based green card timeline question, including pieces focused on employment-based PERM or broader citizenship requirement changes that do not directly shorten or lengthen marriage adjustment processing [4] [5]. These items underscore the need to separate procedural categories: PERM/I-140 employment tracks and citizenship-rule updates can affect some applicants long term but do not replace USCIS guidance for immediate marriage-based adjustment timing [4] [5].
6. Practical takeaways: what applicants should do now
Given the consensus range and variability, applicants should prepare for about 10–24 months if pursuing adjustment of status inside the U.S., expect longer timing for consular processing or petitions filed by permanent residents, and build a strong documentary record of the marriage to minimize RFEs and credibility reviews [1] [2]. Applicants are advised to regularly monitor USCIS processing times and local field-office notices, respond promptly to any requests, and consult an immigration attorney for case-specific guidance to address unique complications flagged by the sources [3].
7. Final assessment — balancing consensus and uncertainty
Across the provided analyses, the most defensible aggregate conclusion is that there is no universal processing time, but the prevailing experience reported is roughly one to two years for in‑U.S. applicants admitted lawfully, with notable exceptions and local variability influencing any individual case [2] [1] [3]. The evidence-based path forward is concrete: document the bona fides of the marriage, track USCIS case-status and processing pages, and anticipate that interviews, RFEs, and field office backlog will be the primary drivers of delays according to the sources supplied [2] [3].