USCIS I-485 Processing Time
Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, is used to apply for a Green Card from within the United States. It is commonly filed by immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, family-preference applicants, and employment-based beneficiaries who are already in the country.
Processing times for Form I-485 vary significantly depending on the applicant's eligibility category and local USCIS field office. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens often experience shorter processing times, while other family-based and employment-based categories may take considerably longer.
To help applicants stay informed, Track My Visa provides free case tracking and backlog insights for I-485 applications. By joining our platform, you can follow your case progress, explore real-world processing patterns, and better understand where your application stands — all at no cost. Basic tracking and insights are free forever as part of our commitment to supporting I-485 applicants.
I-485 application flow
Every Form I-485 application begins in the Received status once USCIS has accepted the filing into its system. From there, the next steps can vary depending on the applicant's eligibility category, filing history, and whether the application was filed with another form, such as Form I-765 or Form I-131.
Most applicants are scheduled for a Biometrics appointment at a local Application Support Center (ASC). Many family-based applicants are also scheduled for an Interview at a USCIS field office, while employment-based and certain other categories may have the interview waived.
In some cases, USCIS may request additional information before making a decision. This step is shown as RFE, short for Request for Evidence.
After review, an I-485 application is either Approved or Denied. When an application is approved, USCIS produces and mails the physical Green Card. This final production and mailing step is shown as Card Issued.
To learn more about each status, visit our FAQ.
What does the current case backlog look like?
The chart below shows the current status of Form I-485 applications being tracked on Track My Visa.
The case backlog chart helps applicants understand how cases are moving through the adjustment-of-status process and where similar applications currently stand. Cases are grouped by the month each application was filed. Newer filing months typically have a higher share of cases in Received because those applications are still waiting for USCIS review or for the next step to be scheduled.
As filing months get older, more cases may move into later statuses such as Biometrics, Interview, RFE, Approved, Denied, or Card Issued. Because Form I-485 can include in-person milestones, such as biometrics appointments and interviews, processing patterns may vary based on the applicant's category, local field office, and whether the interview is waived.
The chart is based on I-485 cases tracked on Track My Visa. We are actively growing our I-485 community — the more applicants who join, the more accurately the chart reflects real-world processing patterns. Join now to see USCIS processing activity graphs and a zoomed-in view of the backlog chart, all for free!
