Getting a green card while on H-1B visa is rarely fast. The process involves multiple stages (PERM, I-140, and I-485) and can take anywhere from two to eight years, depending on your country of birth and visa category. While backlogs and employer dependence often slow progress - early planning, concurrent filing, and smart use of H-1B extensions can help shorten the wait. This guide breaks down the full timeline, what helps, what hurts, and what every H-1B professional should do to stay ahead.
Generally, for H-1B visa holders sponsoring a green card via employment, the path typically looks like this:
Step 1 | Employer files a labor certification (PERM) |
Step 2 | Employer files a Form I-140 immigrant-petition |
Step 3 | Wait for your priority date to become current under the monthly Visa Bulletin |
Step 4 | File the adjustment of status (Form I-485) or immigrant visa |
Processing times from the U.S. government show the bulk of the time is spent waiting for visa availability, especially if you were born in a country with heavy demand. Some general estimates for the employer-sponsored route range from 18–24 months for the administrative steps (PERM + I-140 + I-485) before any backlog wait kicks in.
