How Long Does It Take to Get a Green Card? 2026 Chicago Guide
How long does it take to get a green card in Chicago, Illinois? The answer depends on your specific situation, your family relationship category, and the current workload at the Chicago Field Office. This guide focuses specifically on adjustment of status: the process for obtaining a green card without leaving the United States. For consular processing timelines, see our I-130 Processing Time Guide.
What Is Adjustment of Status?
Adjustment of status is the process by which a foreign national already in the United States applies for lawful permanent residence, a green card, without having to leave the country. The primary form involved is Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. In immediate relative cases, the I-485 may be filed at the same time as the I-130; in all other cases it is filed after the I-130 is approved.
Who Can Apply Through Adjustment of Status?
Not everyone in the United States is eligible to apply for adjustment of status. To qualify, you must generally meet all of the following:
- Be physically present in the United States
- Have been inspected and admitted or paroled into the country
- Have a qualifying immigrant visa immediately available: immediate relatives of U.S. citizens always have a visa available; family preference category applicants must wait for their priority date to become current on the Visa Bulletin
- Not be subject to grounds of inadmissibility, or have obtained a waiver
Eligibility for adjustment of status is not always straightforward. Factors such as prior immigration violations, unlawful presence, a prior removal order, the manner of your entry into the United States, or certain bars under immigration law can affect whether adjustment is available to you, and in some cases, special provisions may apply. An experienced family immigration attorney in Chicago can assess your eligibility before you file.
Adjustment of Status Timeline: Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens
If you are the spouse, unmarried child under 21, or parent of a U.S. citizen, you are an immediate relative. Because there is no annual cap on immediate relative visas, you may file Form I-130 and Form I-485 at the same time, known as concurrent filing. This is one of the most significant time-saving advantages of the immediate relative category.
Current total timeline for immediate relative adjustment of status cases at the Chicago Field Office in 2026: approximately 10 to 24 months from filing to green card approval. Some cases resolve faster; complex cases or those involving requests for evidence can take longer.
Key milestones in the immediate relative adjustment process:
- Biometrics appointment: Typically 4 to 8 weeks after filing
- Work authorization (EAD): Typically 6 to 12 months after filing; until approved, the applicant cannot work legally in the United States
- Advance Parole (travel permit): Also typically 6 to 12 months and filed separately from the EAD; applicants with a pending I-485 must not travel internationally without an approved Advance Parole document
- Interview notice: Currently averaging 8 to 12 months at the Chicago Field Office
- Green card approval: May occur at the interview or within weeks after
Adjustment of Status Timeline: Family Preference Categories
If you do not fall into the immediate relative category, your case is in a family preference category: F1, F2A, F2B, F3, or F4. You cannot file Form I-485 until your priority date is current on the monthly Visa Bulletin, meaning a visa number must be available in your category and country of birth.
Unlike immediate relatives, preference category applicants must wait for their priority date to become current before filing, and that wait varies significantly depending on the category and country of birth. The timeline for preference category cases is highly case-specific and requires careful evaluation of your individual circumstances. An experienced immigration attorney in Chicago, Illinois can assess your situation and advise on the best path forward.
What Can Delay Your Adjustment of Status Case?
Even after filing the I-485, several factors can extend the timeline significantly:
- Criminal history: any arrest, criminal charge, or court proceeding must be fully disclosed and supported by certified documentation, even if dismissed or expunged
- Inconsistent information: name variations or discrepancies across passports, birth certificates, and prior immigration records can pause a case until explained and documented
- Request for Evidence (RFE): if USCIS determines your application is incomplete or needs clarification, processing pauses until you respond
- Affidavit of Support (I-864)issues: insufficient financial documentation or an incomplete Affidavit of Support is one of the most common causes of delays and denials
- Security clearance delays: the FBI background check backlog grew significantly between 2024 and 2026; applicants with complex immigration histories or prior violations may face extended interagency review
- Interview scheduling backlogs: workload at the Chicago Field Office directly affects how quickly interviews are scheduled
- May 2026 USCIS discretionary review policy: officers now conduct more thorough case-by-case reviews of each applicant’s background and history before approving a green card
Important 2026 Update: USCIS Discretionary Review Policy
In May 2026, USCIS issued a policy memorandum clarifying that adjustment of status is a discretionary benefit. Officers now conduct a more thorough review of each applicant’s overall background, equities, and history, including employment, tax compliance, family ties in the United States, and prior immigration conduct. While eligibility requirements have not changed, this policy makes thorough preparation and complete, accurate applications more critical than ever for Chicago, Illinois applicants.
Applicants with any criminal history, prior immigration violations, or other complex background issues should consult with an experienced immigration attorney in Chicago before filing.
Why Working with an Experienced Family Immigration Attorney in Chicago Matters
Obtaining a green card through adjustment of status is one of the most important legal steps a family can take, and one where the details matter enormously. At the Law Offices of Azita M. Mojarad, P.C., we have guided thousands of Chicago and Chicagoland families through this process for over 25 years. We identify potential issues before they become problems, prepare every application with precision, and stand by our clients from the initial filing through the day they receive their green card.
Contact Us Today for Expert Immigration Legal Services
If you have questions about adjustment of status, green card processing times, or any other immigration matter, please contact the Law Offices of Azita M. Mojarad, P.C. by emailing us at azita@azitalaw.com or calling 312.641.0771. We serve clients throughout Chicago, Illinois and the greater Chicagoland area.
