I-485 — Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
employmentFiling fee: $1,440
Median wait (p50)
17.6 months
Range: 6.0–25.6 months
Fastest subtype
6.0 months
Employment
Slowest subtype
25.6 months
Asylum
Year-over-year
4.2 mo+4.2 mo
vs. Jun 26 last year
What is I-485?
Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, allows individuals physically present in the United States to apply for a Green Card without returning to their home country for consular processing. It is one of the most commonly filed immigration forms, covering family-based, employment-based, refugee/asylee, diversity visa, and special immigrant pathways.
Who files this form?
- Family members of U.S. citizens or permanent residents with an approved I-130 petition
- Workers with an approved I-140 employment-based petition and a current priority date
- Asylees and refugees eligible for adjustment after one year
- Diversity visa lottery winners
- Special immigrants (religious workers, certain juveniles, etc.)
Typical processing time today
Processing times vary significantly by category. Employment-based cases currently average around 7–11 months, while family-based and asylum categories may take longer. Cases requiring security checks or RFEs may exceed the p93 estimate.
I-485 Processing Times by Subtype
Current p50 and p93 wait times across all subtypes
Heatmap
p50 and p93 months by subtype
| p50 | p93 | |
|---|---|---|
| Asylum | 25.6 | 35.8 |
| Cuban | 16.3 | 22.8 |
| Employment | 6.0 | 8.4 |
| Family | 7.0 | 9.8 |
| Other | 21.0 | 29.4 |
| Refugee | 17.6 | 24.6 |
| Row | Column | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Asylum | p50 | 25.6 |
| Cuban | p50 | 16.3 |
| Employment | p50 | 6.0 |
| Family | p50 | 7.0 |
| Other | p50 | 21.0 |
| Refugee | p50 | 17.6 |
| Asylum | p93 | 35.8 |
| Cuban | p93 | 22.8 |
| Employment | p93 | 8.4 |
| Family | p93 | 9.8 |
| Other | p93 | 29.4 |
| Refugee | p93 | 24.6 |
Range Bars
p50 → p93 spread per subtype
| Series | Typical (p50) | Slow (p93) |
|---|---|---|
| Asylum | 25.6 months | 35.8 months |
| Other | 21.0 months | 29.4 months |
| Refugee | 17.6 months | 24.6 months |
| Cuban | 16.3 months | 22.8 months |
| Family | 7.0 months | 9.8 months |
| Employment | 6.0 months | 8.4 months |
| Subtype | p50 | p93 | Spread | Explore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment | 6.0 months | 8.4 months | 2.4 mo | Calculate ETA → |
| Family | 7.0 months | 9.8 months | 2.8 mo | Calculate ETA → |
| Cuban | 16.3 months | 22.8 months | 6.5 mo | Calculate ETA → |
| Refugee | 17.6 months | 24.6 months | 7.0 mo | Calculate ETA → |
| Other | 21.0 months | 29.4 months | 8.4 mo | Calculate ETA → |
| Asylum | 25.6 months | 35.8 months | 10.2 mo | Calculate ETA → |
I-485 Historical Processing Trend
Quarterly median processing time over the available data period
Median Processing Time Trend
9 quarterly data points
| Month | I-485 Median |
|---|---|
| December 2023 | 8.7 months |
| June 2024 | 8.4 months |
| September 2024 | 8.0 months |
| December 2024 | 9.0 months |
| March 2025 | 8.8 months |
| June 2025 | 7.8 months |
| September 2025 | 7.9 months |
| March 2026 | 11.6 months |
| June 2026 | 11.9 months |
Year-over-Year Comparison
Overlay processing times by calendar year to reveal seasonal patterns
I-485 Processing Times by Year
Each line represents one calendar year
| Month | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | — | — | — | — |
| Feb | — | — | — | — |
| Mar | — | — | 8.8 months | 11.6 months |
| Apr | — | — | — | — |
| May | — | — | — | — |
| Jun | — | 8.4 months | 7.8 months | 11.9 months |
| Jul | — | — | — | — |
| Aug | — | — | — | — |
| Sep | — | 8.0 months | 7.9 months | — |
| Oct | — | — | — | — |
| Nov | — | — | — | — |
| Dec | 8.7 months | 9.0 months | — | — |
I-485 Volume & Approval Rate
Quarterly case volumes and disposition breakdown
Quarterly Volume Trend
Receipts, approvals, denials, and pending cases
| Month | Receipts | Approvals | Denials | Pending |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 2023 | 256,826 | 150,326 | 15,935 | 1,005,983 |
| June 2024 | 223,575 | 215,569 | 17,050 | 1,032,289 |
| September 2024 | 218,679 | 213,184 | 21,318 | 1,007,951 |
| December 2024 | 271,261 | 190,629 | 18,851 | 1,071,245 |
| March 2025 | 273,988 | 178,549 | 21,306 | 1,147,113 |
| June 2025 | 273,184 | 170,703 | 22,779 | 1,237,464 |
| September 2025 | 240,991 | 205,052 | 23,818 | 1,243,917 |
| March 2026 | 237,191 | 117,828 | 15,443 | 1,437,210 |
| June 2026 | 242,989 | 101,568 | 16,798 | 1,560,290 |
Latest Quarter
FY2026 Q3
| Slice | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Approved | 101,568 | 6.1% |
| Denied | 16,798 | 1.0% |
| Pending | 1,560,290 | 92.9% |
Receipts (latest qtr)
242,989
Approval rate
85.8%
Currently pending
1,560,290
Quarter-over-Quarter Movement
How the median processing time has changed each quarter
Median Changes
Green = faster, Red = slower
| Series | Delta |
|---|---|
| Mar 26 | +3.7 mo |
| Dec 24 | +1.1 mo |
| Jun 25 | -1.0 mo |
| Sep 24 | -0.5 mo |
| Jun 26 | +0.3 mo |
| Mar 25 | -0.3 mo |
| Jun 24 | -0.3 mo |
| Sep 25 | +0.2 mo |
Processing Time Distribution for I-485
How processing times for I-485 are distributed, based on national p50 and p93 data
| Metric | Months |
|---|---|
| Typical (p50) | 17.6 months |
| Slow (p93) | 24.6 months |
| Your case | — |
Estimate Your I-485 Timeline
Pre-filled with this form — just pick a subtype and enter your receipt date