It consists of four subgroups, the F1, F2, F3, and F4. citizens and some specified family members of lawful permanent residents. This second category is for specific, more distant family members of U.S. citizens and the family preference category. Family-Based Green Cards Categories and Processing Timesįamily-based green cards can be broadly grouped into two categories.

This is primarily based on each applicant’s family-based green card preference level. This numerical cap, along with other factors, is the reason why some applicants apply for and obtain their green card within a year or two while some may need to wait several years, sometimes decades. While this might sound like a large number, the volume of people seeking green cards annually is often much higher. green cards that can be issued in a year.Įach year, a total of 226,000 family-based green cards are issued to applicants from different countries.

This is because there is a limit to the number of U.S. Despite this popularity, however, the process is not as straightforward or fast as many people perceive it to be.

If one or more of your cases has been selected, we will work with you in the coming weeks to prepare your H-1B filings.The family-based green card is one of the most popular ways to become a U.S. USCIS also noted that due to increased filings during the H-1B cap season, issuance of receipts may be delayed. It is highly likely that USCIS will make at least one additional round of selections during the summer, as it has done in past years' lotteries. Petitions must be filed during the 90-day filing period starting April 1, 2022. USCIS has randomly selected registrants and notified all prospective petitioners. On a separate note, USCIS announced yesterday that it has received enough registrations to reach the FY 2023 H-1B numerical limitation “cap,” including numbers for the advanced degree exemption (US Master’s cap). This would be a welcome option for so many individuals who have experienced significant backlogs - including more than one year for routine EAD applications. It is anticipated these will include I-140 EB-1 multinational executives or managers and EB-2 advanced degree professionals or foreign nationals of exceptional ability seeking a National Interest Waiver in 45 days, and certain I-539 applications for change of status or extension of stay in 30 days and I-765 EAD applications in 30 days. It has not announced precise dates of implementation, but noted it will roll out availability of Premium Processing in phases during FY 2022.

In addition, USCIS has announced it will expand the categories of petitions and applications eligible for expedited “Premium Processing” filing with varying fees and time frames for different types of filings. USCIS’ goals also include a six-month processing time for N-400 naturalization applications and non-premium I-140 employment-based immigrant petitions, as well as I-130 petitions for certain relatives and I-485 applications for adjustment of status. The reported cycle time processing goals include: two months for non-premium I-129 nonimmigrant worker petitions and three months for I-765 EAD applications, I-131 Advance Parole applications, and I-539 change of status or extension of stay applications. USCIS’ backlog reduction efforts will include internal cycle time goals to accelerate processing times and expand staffing and improve technology to increase its adjudications capacity by the end of Fiscal Year (FY) 2023. The agency will set backlog reduction goals, expand premium processing to additional types of filings and aim to reduce processing times for employment authorization documents (EADs). Yesterday, the agency announced it would make a concerted effort to reduce caseloads and significant backlogs, which have only worsened and grown exponentially during the pandemic. In a long overdue development, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced it is finally taking action in tackling its massive backlogs - a major problem that has plagued the agency for several years and has affected so many foreign nationals with long-pending applications and petitions.

I 130 processing time