Resident visa wait times (2024)

FAQs

How long is the processing time for residence visa? ›

The immigration office will take up to 48 hours to process your application. If you are approved, the worker should receive their Emirates ID card within two weeks. Your worker's residence status lasts up to two years with the option for renewal. If they have the Golden Visa, it's up to ten years.

How long does it take to get an appointment? Although NVC strives to schedule appointments within three months of NVC's acceptance of all requested documentation, this timeframe is subject to the operating status and capacity of the consular section.

It may take up to 90 days from the date you entered to receive your permanent resident card. You entered the U.S. using your immigrant visa, You paid the immigrant visa fee AFTER you entered, It may take up to 90 days from the date you made your payment to receive your permanent resident card.

But why NVC taking so long? Delays in the National Visa Center (NVC) processing times can be caused by several factors. These include incomplete documents, technical issues, and even USCIS backlogs. And these delays may dampen the spirits of visa applicants and their families.

You can't leave the country until you have your approved travel document in hand, so you should expect to spend the 3–5 months after submitting your green card application in the United States. Theoretically, you could be out of the United States for as long as you have a travel document (one year plus renewals).

To request a review for expedite, submit a scanned letter (or statement) to NVCExpedite@state.gov from a physician (or medical facility). The letter must include the physician's (or medical facility's) contact information and declare a life or death medical emergency exists.

The fact sheet (PDF, 81.49 KB) includes newly published data showing that, for nearly all our highest-volume forms, median processing times are significantly lower in fiscal year 2024 to date than in the previous fiscal year. 2.7 months for Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (nonpremium).

The date your petition was filed is called your priority date. Priority dates are posted monthly on the Visa Bulletin, which provides up-to-date priority dates for cases NVC is processing.

Obtaining permanent residency in Canada can be a complex process and the level of difficulty can vary depending on a number of factors, including the individual's personal circ*mstances and the specific immigration program they are applying through.

How long does it take for NVC to send case to embassy for interview? ›

Since they tackle one month at a time, it's tough to predict precisely when your case will get scheduled. A good rule of thumb is to wait about 90 days from when they tell you that your case is "documentarily qualified" before reaching out. However, some people might need to have their visa application expedited.

The US student visa (F-1 visa) is one of the fastest visas to process. The study permit is often processed directly before your embassy interview. The interview is the last step of the application process.

For thoroughness, the NVC reviews all submitted materials to ensure they are both complete and accurate. Only after this vetting process will they move ahead with scheduling your interview. Remember that the timeline for getting an interview date varies due to several influencing factors.

According to the National Visa Center's Immigrant Visa Backlog Report for the month of August 2024, there has been a substantial increase in the immigrant visa (IV) backlog rising from 394,835 pending cases in July to 408,937 cases in August — nearly a 3.5% increase amounting to 14,102 additional cases added to the ...

As of May 23, 2022, the National Visa Center (NVC) has permanently suspended its public inquiry telephone line. This shift in communication channels aims to streamline processes and ensure efficiency in handling inquiries related to pending applications.

From the time of your interview, provided your documents are completely in order, it will usually take around 2-3 weeks for your permanent residence Permit to be processed.

US Green Card Processing Times

According to USCIS, an application for permanent residence (Form I-485) will take anywhere from 6 months to 33 months to process.

In most cases, it takes about two years for a green card to become available, and the entire process takes around three years. It can take slightly longer for citizens of Mexico, China, India, and the Philippines.

The validity of a residence visa varies according to its type and the sponsor. It can be for 1, 2 or 3 years on a sponsored visa, or up to 5 or 10 years on an unsponsored visa – Golden and Green visas. According to recent changes, a residence visa can also be issued for 5 and 10 years, subject to certain conditions.