Immigration Timeline Calculator

Green card and visa processing times swing widely depending on the category you're filing under and where you were born. Enter both, and the tool estimates how long the wait is likely to run so you can plan the rest of your immigration journey around it. Demand and government processing capacity push these numbers around constantly; as of early 2026, for instance, a Family-Sponsored F2A visa for the spouse of a permanent resident from Mexico is estimated at roughly 18-24 months of initial processing before an interview can be scheduled.

The estimates draw on published USCIS data and Department of State visa bulletins, combined with how processing has actually trended over recent months. For each category and country, recent bulletin movements are weighted and read against current backlog sizes and the quota availability projected for fiscal year 2026. That dynamic approach tends to track reality more closely than leaning on static historical averages alone.

Even solid estimates carry no guarantee, and individual cases rarely move in a straight line. A Request for Evidence (RFE), an unusually complex file, or a sudden policy shift can all stretch the timeline. Applicants also tend to overlook how long document gathering and interview prep actually take, and that lead time can add weeks or months to the total.