I-485 processing time 2026: how long it takes
How long a green card through adjustment of status (I-485) takes according to the official USCIS median by category: family, employment, asylum and more.
Source: USCIS quarterly report — accessed Oct 19, 2026
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I-485 median processing time
| Period | Category | Median (months) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2026 Q3 | Family | 7 |
| FY2026 Q3 | Employment | 6 |
| FY2026 Q3 | Asylum | 25.6 |
| FY2026 Q3 | Refugee | 17.6 |
| FY2026 Q3 | Cuban | 16.3 |
| FY2026 Q3 | Other | 21 |
I-485 key facts
- Since Sept. 18, 2026, USCIS only accepts the 09/18/26 edition of Form I-485, with no grace period. (Source)
- With Form I-485 you must also submit Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, completed by a civil surgeon in a sealed envelope. (Source)
- In general, you may not file Form I-485 until an immigrant visa is immediately available in your category. (Source)
- Form I-485 can be filed by mail or, for certain applicants, online. (Source)
- On Oct. 7, 2026, USCIS changed the paper filing location for Form I-485 and accepts forms postmarked on or before Nov. 9, 2026, that are sent to a prior filing location. (Source)
Why your category matters more than the average
Adjustment of status bundles very different cases: the spouse of a citizen, a worker sponsored by an employer, an asylee or refugee who already lives here, a Cuban applicant and other less common paths. USCIS counts them separately in its quarterly report, and the gap between the fastest and the slowest row is wide. That is why this page does not give you a single number.
Before thinking about the wait, make sure you are allowed to file. In family and employment preference categories your priority date has to be current under the Visa Bulletin; if you send the package early, the case does not move. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens always have a visa available.
The I-485 package is heavy and mistakes cost months. Two things changed at once this fall: the form edition, which has no grace period, and the mailing address. If you file on paper, also make sure the civil surgeon’s medical exam stays in its sealed envelope.
While you wait, USCIS may schedule you for biometrics and for an interview. If you also asked for a work permit or travel permission with your adjustment, those forms move on their own track and have their own median, which you can check on the I-765 and I-131 pages.
More about this form
Frequently asked questions
Why does asylum-based adjustment take longer than family-based?
USCIS publishes a separate median for each I-485 basis, and the asylum row is among the longest in its quarterly report. Always compare against the row for your category.
Can I file Form I-485 whenever I want?
Not always. According to USCIS, you generally need an immigrant visa to be immediately available in your category; for preference categories that depends on the Visa Bulletin.
Does the median include the interview?
The median covers the whole process, from the day USCIS receives the form until it completes it, so it includes the interview when there is one.
Official sources
- USCIS — Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status → — accessed Oct 19, 2026
- USCIS — Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative → — accessed Oct 19, 2026
- USCIS quarterly report (FY2026 Q3) → — accessed Oct 19, 2026
