Use this tool to estimate the remaining wait time for your employment-based (EB) or family-based (FB) Green Card application. The calculation relies on the difference between your Priority Date and the Current Final Action Date, along with your projection for the annual visa bulletin movement.
Green Card Wait Time Estimator
Estimated Remaining Wait Time
Detailed Calculation Steps
Enter valid values and click Calculate to see the steps.
Green Card Wait Time Estimator Formula
The calculation is based on converting dates into a total number of months and comparing the backlog to the rate of forward movement.
Queue Backlog (Months) = (FAD Month/Year - PD Month/Year)
Estimated Wait Time (Years) = Queue Backlog / Estimated Annual FAD Movement (Months/Year)
Formula Source: U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin FAQ | USCIS Policy Manual Chapter 2
Variables Explained
Understanding the inputs is crucial for an accurate estimate:
- Priority Date (PD): The date your immigration petition (e.g., I-130 or I-140) was filed. This date establishes your place in the visa queue.
- Current Final Action Date (FAD): The cutoff date published monthly in the Visa Bulletin. Your PD must be earlier than the FAD for a green card to be finalized.
- Estimated Annual FAD Movement: Your projection of how many months the FAD will advance in a 12-month period. This rate is highly volatile and depends on visa supply, demand, and legislative changes.
Related Calculators
- H-1B Cap Exemption Analyzer
- Naturalization Eligibility Checker
- Family Preference Visa Priority Tracker
- EB-5 Investment Threshold Calculator
What is the Green Card Wait Time Estimator?
The Green Card Wait Time Estimator is a predictive tool designed to help applicants gauge how long they may need to wait before their Priority Date becomes current according to the U.S. Visa Bulletin’s Final Action Dates (FAD). This wait time is a critical factor for millions of prospective immigrants, especially those from countries subject to per-country limits.
The duration of the wait is not static; it is influenced by the number of annual visas allocated by Congress, the demand (the number of applicants in the queue), and the rate at which U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) processes applications. This calculator allows users to model different scenarios by adjusting the highly variable “Annual FAD Movement” rate.
How to Calculate Your Wait Time (Example)
Let’s assume an applicant has a Priority Date of January 2017, and the current Final Action Date is January 2019, with an estimated annual movement of 8 months per year.
- Determine the Queue Backlog: The difference between the FAD (Jan 2019) and the PD (Jan 2017) is 2 years, or 24 months.
- Identify the Movement Rate: The user estimates the FAD moves forward by 8 months annually.
- Calculate Wait Time: Divide the 24-month backlog by the 8-month annual movement rate: $24 \text{ months} / 8 \text{ months/year} = 3 \text{ years}$.
- Result: The estimated remaining wait time is 3 years.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Is the result from this calculator guaranteed?
- No. The result is an estimate only. Visa Bulletin movement is highly unpredictable, affected by policy, backlogs, and congressional allocations. Use the result for planning purposes, not as a guarantee.
- What is the difference between Priority Date and Final Action Date?
- The Priority Date is your place in line (when you filed). The Final Action Date is the “processing date” that determines if you can move forward with the final stage of your Green Card application.
- Where can I find the official Final Action Dates?
- The Final Action Dates are published monthly in the official U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin, which is released around the middle of the preceding month.
- What is a reasonable number for the Annual FAD Movement?
- Movement varies by category and country. For most backlogged categories, 3 to 9 months per year is common. A value of 12 (1:1 movement) or greater is highly optimistic and rare.