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Guide

I-485 processing time by USCIS field office

As of November 4, 2026, across the 90 USCIS field offices, 80% of family-based green card applications (Form I-485) were completed within 16 months at the median office (USCIS figures read November 4, 2026). The fastest were Burlington, VT (8.5 months), Tucson, AZ (8.5 months) and Anchorage, AK (9.5 months); the slowest Seattle, WA (36 months), San Jose, CA (32.5 months) and Santa Ana, CA (27.5 months). Form I-485 asks for two identical 2 x 2 inch passport-style photos; SelfieToPassport makes them for $6.95.

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The short version

  1. Median field office: 16 months for 80% of family-based I-485 cases (read November 4, 2026).
  2. Fastest: Burlington, VT (8.5 months), Tucson, AZ (8.5 months), Anchorage, AK (9.5 months), Helena, MT (9.5 months) and Buffalo, NY (10 months).
  3. Slowest: Seattle, WA (36 months), San Jose, CA (32.5 months), Santa Ana, CA (27.5 months), Raleigh, NC (24.5 months) and Portland, ME (22.5 months).
  4. USCIS updates its processing times every month; the figure is the time it took to finish 80% of the cases decided in the past six months.
  5. USCIS assigns the field office by your address; each office page shows its own figure and the others in the same state.
  6. Photos: two for the I-485, two for the I-765 and two for the I-131, all 2 x 2 inch passport-style.
  7. SelfieToPassport turns a phone photo into 2 x 2 inch photos on a 4x6 sheet with 2 and a letter sheet with 6, for $6.95.

I-485 field offices in the Northeast

Each office has its own page with the state comparison and the work and travel permit times: Albany, NY; Boston, MA; Brooklyn, NY; Buffalo, NY; Burlington, VT; Cranbury, NJ; Hartford, CT; Lawrence, MA; Long Island, NY; Manchester, NH; Mount Laurel, NJ; New York City, NY; Newark, NJ; Philadelphia, PA; Pittsburgh, PA; Portland, ME; Providence, RI; Queens, NY.

The rules

  • Albany, NY: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 15 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Boston, MA: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 13.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Brooklyn, NY: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 19 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Buffalo, NY: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 10 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Burlington, VT: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 8.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Cranbury, NJ: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 17 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Hartford, CT: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 14.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Lawrence, MA: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 20.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Long Island, NY: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 16.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Manchester, NH: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 13 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Mount Laurel, NJ: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 21.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • New York City, NY: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 14.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Newark, NJ: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 22 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Philadelphia, PA: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 15 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Pittsburgh, PA: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 14 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Portland, ME: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 22.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Providence, RI: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 12.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Queens, NY: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 21 months. egov.uscis.gov

I-485 field offices in the South

Each office has its own page with the state comparison and the work and travel permit times: Atlanta, GA; Baltimore, MD; Charleston, SC; Charlotte, NC; Dallas, TX; El Paso, TX; Fort Myers, FL; Fort Smith, AR; Greer, SC; Harlingen, TX; Hialeah, FL; Houston, TX; Jacksonville, FL; Kendall, FL; Louisville, KY; Memphis, TN; Miami, FL; Montgomery, AL; Nashville, TN; New Orleans, LA; Norfolk, VA; Oakland Park, FL; Oklahoma City, OK; Orlando, FL; Raleigh, NC; San Antonio, TX; Tampa, FL; Washington, DC; West Palm Beach, FL.

The rules

  • Atlanta, GA: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 16.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Baltimore, MD: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 19 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Charleston, SC: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 13.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Charlotte, NC: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 18 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Dallas, TX: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 13.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • El Paso, TX: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 12.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Fort Myers, FL: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 20 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Fort Smith, AR: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 15 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Greer, SC: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 15 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Harlingen, TX: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 11 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Hialeah, FL: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 14 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Houston, TX: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 18 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Jacksonville, FL: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 17 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Kendall, FL: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 14.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Louisville, KY: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 12.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Memphis, TN: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 22.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Miami, FL: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 21.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Montgomery, AL: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 13.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Nashville, TN: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 13.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • New Orleans, LA: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 21 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Norfolk, VA: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 19.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Oakland Park, FL: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 22.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Oklahoma City, OK: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 20.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Orlando, FL: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 18.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Raleigh, NC: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 24.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • San Antonio, TX: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 13 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Tampa, FL: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 17 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Washington, DC: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 18 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • West Palm Beach, FL: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 16.5 months. egov.uscis.gov

I-485 field offices in the Midwest

Each office has its own page with the state comparison and the work and travel permit times: Chicago, IL; Cincinnati, OH; Cleveland, OH; Columbus, OH; Des Moines, IA; Detroit, MI; Indianapolis, IN; Kansas City, MO; Milwaukee, WI; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN; Omaha, NE; Saint Louis, MO; Wichita, KS.

The rules

  • Chicago, IL: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 18.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Cincinnati, OH: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 14 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Cleveland, OH: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 15.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Columbus, OH: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 14 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Des Moines, IA: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 14.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Detroit, MI: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 14.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Indianapolis, IN: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 22 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Kansas City, MO: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 14 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Milwaukee, WI: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 15.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 16.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Omaha, NE: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 12 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Saint Louis, MO: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 12 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Wichita, KS: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 11.5 months. egov.uscis.gov

I-485 field offices in the West

Each office has its own page with the state comparison and the work and travel permit times: Albuquerque, NM; Anchorage, AK; Boise, ID; Denver, CO; Fresno, CA; Helena, MT; Honolulu, HI; Imperial, CA; Las Vegas, NV; Los Angeles, CA; Los Angeles County, CA; Phoenix, AZ; Portland, OR; Reno, NV; Sacramento, CA; Salt Lake City, UT; San Bernardino, CA; San Diego, CA; San Fernando Valley, CA; San Francisco, CA; San Jose, CA; Santa Ana, CA; Seattle, WA; Spokane, WA; Tucson, AZ; Yakima, WA.

The rules

  • Albuquerque, NM: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 13.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Anchorage, AK: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 9.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Boise, ID: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 18 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Denver, CO: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 22.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Fresno, CA: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 16 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Helena, MT: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 9.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Honolulu, HI: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 18.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Imperial, CA: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 12.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Las Vegas, NV: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 19 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Los Angeles, CA: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 15 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Los Angeles County, CA: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 17.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Phoenix, AZ: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 14 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Portland, OR: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 16 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Reno, NV: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 18 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Sacramento, CA: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 18 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Salt Lake City, UT: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 15 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • San Bernardino, CA: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 19 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • San Diego, CA: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 13 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • San Fernando Valley, CA: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 13 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • San Francisco, CA: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 18.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • San Jose, CA: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 32.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Santa Ana, CA: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 27.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Seattle, WA: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 36 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Spokane, WA: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 22 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Tucson, AZ: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 8.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Yakima, WA: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 21 months. egov.uscis.gov

I-485 field offices in Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

Each office has its own page with the state comparison and the work and travel permit times: Agana, GU; Charlotte Amalie, VI; Christiansted, VI; San Juan, PR.

The rules

  • Agana, GU: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 21.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Charlotte Amalie, VI: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 13.5 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • Christiansted, VI: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 18 months. egov.uscis.gov
  • San Juan, PR: 80% of family-based I-485 cases completed within 14.5 months. egov.uscis.gov

Work and travel permits while the I-485 is pending

The work permit (Form I-765) and advance parole (Form I-131) filed with the I-485 are decided by service centers, on their own clock.

The rules

  • Work permits (Form I-765) based on a pending green card application, category (c)(9): 80% were completed within 12 months at the National Benefits Center. egov.uscis.gov
  • The same (c)(9) work permits took up to 12.5 months for 80% of cases at USCIS Service Center Operations. egov.uscis.gov
  • Advance parole travel documents (Form I-131): 80% were completed within 26.5 months at USCIS Service Center Operations. egov.uscis.gov

How USCIS counts the processing time

The figure is not a promise for your case: it looks back at cases USCIS already decided. USCIS generally works in the order it receives cases, and some take longer than others. Your receipt notice shows the form, category and office to look up.

The rule

  • A USCIS processing time is how long it took USCIS to complete 80% of the cases it decided over the past six months. egov.uscis.gov

The photos for the I-485, I-765 and I-131

A complete filing with all three forms needs six identical 2 x 2 inch photos. SelfieToPassport turns a phone photo into 2 x 2 inch photos on a 4x6 sheet with 2 and a letter sheet with 6, for $6.95.

The rules

  • Form I-485 asks for two identical color passport-style photos of the applicant, 2 by 2 inches, taken recently. uscis.gov
  • Form I-765, the work permit application, asks for two identical color passport-style photos taken recently, on a white to off-white background. uscis.gov
  • Applicants in the United States filing Form I-131 for an advance parole document must send two identical color passport-style photos. uscis.gov

FAQ

Which USCIS field office is the fastest for the I-485?

In the USCIS figures read November 4, 2026: Burlington, VT (8.5 months), Tucson, AZ (8.5 months) and Anchorage, AK (9.5 months). Source: official page "USCIS Case Processing Times", checked on Nov 4, 2026.

How many photos do I need for a green card application?

Two identical passport-style photos for Form I-485, and two more for each of Form I-765 and Form I-131 if you file them together: six in all. Source: official pages "Instructions for Form I-485 (edition 09/18/26) › What Evidence Must You Submit › 1. Photographs", "Instructions for Form I-765 (edition 08/21/25) › C. Photographs" and "Instructions for Form I-131 (edition 01/20/25) › Photographs", checked on Nov 4, 2026.

Where this information comes from

Every rule on this page comes from a page published by the U.S. Department of State and the companies named, read on the date shown. We rewrite each rule in plain words and link to the page it came from. Each rule has a review deadline; one that passes it without a new check comes off the page.

Something here out of date? Tell us and we will check it against the official page.