Immigration cases can take some time to close. Depending on the complexity of the case and the type of visa applied for, processing times can differ. When going through the immigration process, it’s important that applicants know how to track their case and when to expect completion.
How to Track Your Immigration Case
There are two places an applicant must look to track their immigration case and find out how long it’s going to take. The first is the USCIS processing times chart followed by the Visa Bulletin.
USCIS Processing Times
Estimated processing times for immigration cases are outlined on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website. By selecting the submitted form and field office or service center where the application is routed, one can easily find out how long their cases will take.
The USCIS processing times chart provides a timeline of the estimated dates of completion for each type of immigration case.
Visa Bulletin
The Visa Bulletin gives more detailed information about the status of every immigration case. It tells an applicant if their case is current and when they are eligible to receive their green card.
The dates outlined in the Visa Bulletin are required for the state department or USCIS to move forward with the immigration case. Hence, it must be current at two points in the process:
- When the applicant files their green card application
- At the time immigration is ready to approve the case
These two websites provide information on how long an immigration case is going to take. They are accessible to all applicants, whether or not they work with an immigration attorney.