What is the EB Visa Processing Time?
Once you’ve completed a step in your Visa application process, most individuals find themselves in the state of anxiety and uncertainty. Wondering whether or not they will get approved to the next stage of that Green Card or not, and how long will it take to process their applications so that they can be assured of success or failure. The Visa processing time varies based on factors such as file format, service centers, time of file submission and country just to name a few. However, the last variation in the Green Card time processing is based on category.
There are five EB Visa application categories, that is; EB1, EB2, EB3, EB4, and EB5. All these Green Card application categories vary by the requirements needed to qualify to apply and acquire United States residency for each. This article provides a general overview of what each of these Green Card applications entails, what makes one unique to the other and how does processing time vary for each. It is nonetheless important to consider that the information in this article is just an overview and so to get more accurate and extensive information you need the advice of an immigration attorney. RunRex is one such company that can provide you with professional and experienced attorneys to assist you with your immigration queries and matters.
EB1 Visa
EB1 Green Cards are offered to applicants who have displayed extraordinary abilities in whatever their fields of expertise are, ranging from; business, science, arts, athletics education and the list goes on. In the EB1 category, the applicant known as a priority worker is expected to work in the US in their field of expertise to maintain employment and permanent residency.
An EB1 applicant petitions file I-140 and supporting evidence to the relevant USCIS service center. The processing time will, however, vary depending on the service center that you file is petitioned. That is usually determined by USCIS depending on the state that you intend to get employed. The USCIS reports the EB1 processing times; an EB1 Visa takes eight months to process and upon approval, the government takes six months to issue the EB1 permanent residence Green Cards. That is, however, only if you go about the procedure appropriately. EB1 Visas tend to be the hardest to obtain but are relatively the fastest to process.
EB2 and EB3 Visas
EB2 and Eb3 Visas are different Green Card employment-based categories with minor similarities that include processing times. Both these Green Cards offer permanent residency to foreign nationals according to their professionalism and personal skill in given fields of expertise.
EB2 applicants are expected to have advanced educational standards, which in this case includes Masters or Doctorates in whatever field of professionalism they are versed. However, possessing baccalaureate degree plus five years of experience qualifies a candidate to fit into this category.
The educational requirements for EB3 applicants, on the other hand, are not stringent. This employment-based category has three subcategories, that is;
- EB-3A- skilled workers with at least two years training or experience.
- EB-3B- professionals with the US recognized bachelor’s degree.
- EB-3C- other workers with persons who perform unskilled labor that requires less than two years of training.
Eb2 and EB3 applications are applied for by the employer. Both employment-based categories entail the labor certification process, which pretty much forms their timeline process.
- The first step entails getting the prevailing wage determination from the Department of Labor which takes a month.
- Followed by employer advertising the job position to be granted to the Visa applicant as a requirement within the labor certification request. It typically takes two to several months.
- The Department of Labor will then take four to six months to scrutinize and issue a decision to your request.
- After the above process is over with, the employer can now file an I-140 petition to the USCIS, which can take from four months to three years to issue a decision based on your priority date.
- Upon approval by the USCIS, you can check the State Department’s Visa bulletin to see if your priority dates have come current. After which your following timeline will be based on whether you will be doing your processing from overseas or within the U.S.
The entire process can go on for years before you get issued with an EB2 or EB3 Visa as a permanent resident.
EB4 Visa
This employment-based category is viewed as a particular immigrant category which entails applicants of non-profit religious denominations within the United States. The EB4 processing time is majorly determined by the priority dates, which is the date the USCIS receives your petition after going through the due processes. The priority date is then compared to the final action dates according to the State Department’s Visa bulletin which you should be on the lookout for as an applicant. And when you EB4 priority date meets your final action date, the date becomes current.
Eb5 Visa
An EB5 Visa applicant is required to make a risky investment of around $500,000 to $1,000,000 to a business in the United States and directly or indirectly create ten jobs for U.S citizens. Once your attorney acquires all the necessary documents to file your I-526 petition to the USCIS, it will take 6 to 8 months to be processed. After which for consular processing will take four to five months and may take less for adjustment for status candidates.
Conclusively, these timelines can be compromised either positively or negatively by different upcoming factors such as purchasing premium processing or incorrectly submitted petitions respectively. All of these are more the reasons why you should seek the advice and guidance of an expert immigration attorney which in this case you would find at RunRex.