My Green Card Application Has Been Pending for Over a Year. Is That Normal Now?

If you filed for a green card and your case has been sitting without any news for months, or even more than a year, you are not alone. In 2026, delays in green card processing have reached levels most people never expected. Here is what is going on, why it is happening, and what you should be doing about it.

First, Let’s Talk Numbers

When people think about applying for a green card inside the United States, a process officially called “adjustment of status,” they often assume it will take six months to a year. That was a reasonable expectation a few years ago. Not anymore.

As of early 2026, processing times for the I-485 (the form used to apply for a green card while you are already in the U.S.) typically range from 8 months to well over two years, depending on your category and which USCIS office is handling your case. The average case that is still pending has been waiting about 12 and a half months, and roughly one in four cases has been sitting for more than 18 months.

Why Is This Happening?

Green card delays in 2026 are the result of four converging factors: record backlogs, new enhanced vetting rules, country-of-birth processing holds, and staffing shortages at USCIS. Several things happening at the same time have created a perfect storm of delays.

1. A Record Backlog

USCIS is currently sitting on over 11 million pending cases across all application types, the largest backlog in the agency’s history. When that many cases are in the system, even a well-staffed office will struggle to keep up.

2. New Vetting and Security Screening Requirements

This is the big one. On March 30, 2026, USCIS publicly announced major changes to how it screens applicants. The agency said that past vetting was not thorough enough and that some people who should not have been approved were approved. As a result, USCIS has put formal holds on entire categories of cases and launched new background check processes.

3. Holds Based on Country of Birth

If you were born in one of roughly 39 countries that are currently on the U.S. travel ban list, your case may be subject to a specific processing hold. This does not mean you are being denied. It means USCIS has paused decisions for people from those countries while it conducts additional review. Some of these holds have begun to be lifted on a case-by-case basis, but the process is not transparent and there is no published timeline.

4. Staffing and Budget Pressures

USCIS has faced staffing shortages and budget constraints. Fewer officers processing more cases, with additional steps required for each one, is a recipe for exactly what we are seeing today.

What a Delay Actually Affects in Your Daily Life

A pending I-485 can disrupt travel, work authorization, family plans, and job changes simultaneously, each tied to documents that have their own separate timelines and renewal cycles. People sometimes think a pending green card is just an inconvenience. In reality, it can affect multiple areas of your life at once.

While your I-485 is pending, you may face:

• Difficulty traveling internationally. You must have an Advance Parole document approved before you leave the U.S., or you risk abandoning your application.
• Work authorization issues. Your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) may need renewal while you wait, and delays in that renewal mean gaps in your ability to legally work.
• Uncertainty around major life decisions such as job changes, moving, and family planning.
• Separation from family members whose cases depend on the outcome of yours.

Is Your Wait Time Normal, or Is Something Wrong?

This is one of the most common questions we hear at our Chicago law firm. The honest answer is: it depends, and you need to check.

USCIS publishes estimated processing times on its website, updated weekly. These times vary by the type of case you filed and the specific service center or field office handling it. What is considered “normal” at one office may be significantly different from another.

Here is a general guide for 2026:
Current I-485 Wait Times (Approximate, as of early 2026):

• Family-based cases: roughly 8 to 26 months depending on field office
• Employment-based cases: roughly 9 to 20 months, with some categories running longer
• Cases affected by country-of-birth holds: indefinite, pending further review.
• Cases with an unanswered Request for Evidence (RFE): paused until you respond

If your case is past the published processing time for your specific office and category, you are eligible to submit a case inquiry directly to USCIS. Most online case inquiries receive an automated acknowledgment within 30 days. Submitting one does not automatically speed up your case, but it puts your request on record.

When Should You Actually Be Worried?

Not every long wait means something is wrong. But some situations do call for closer attention. Contact an immigration attorney if:

• You received a Request for Evidence (RFE) and are unsure how to respond. A poor response can result in denial.
• Your case is well beyond the published processing time and you have already submitted a case inquiry with no resolution.
• You need to travel internationally and your Advance Parole is not approved.
• Your work permit has expired or is about to expire while your I-485 is pending.
• You were born in one of the travel ban countries and your case has shown no movement in many months.
• Your personal circumstances have changed since you filed (new address, a criminal matter, change in marital status).

“Is your case outside of normal processing times? Contact our Chicago office at 312.641.0771 for a case evaluation.”

What You Can Do Right Now

While much of this is outside your control, there are practical steps that keep you protected:

• Check your case status regularly at uscis.gov using your receipt number.
• Make sure USCIS has your current address on file. Important notices are mailed, not emailed.
• Do NOT leave the United States without confirming your Advance Parole has been approved.
• Respond immediately to any Request for Evidence. Delays in your response pause your clock.
• Keep copies of everything you submitted, in case you need to reference it later.
• Review your social media accounts. USCIS is now factoring in online presence as part of enhanced vetting (more on this in our next post).

The Bottom Line

Yes, a year-long wait for a green card is unfortunately normal in 2026. But “normal” does not mean “nothing can be done.” Understanding where your case stands, staying ahead of deadlines, and knowing when to escalate are all things that matter.

If you are unsure whether your wait is within normal range, or if any of the situations in the red flag section above apply to you, do not guess. Immigration decisions have real consequences, and the stakes are too high to navigate alone.

Have Questions About Your Case?

Law Offices of Azita M. Mojarad, P.C.
azita@azitalaw.com | 312.641.0771