U.S. immigration is not one process — it’s multiple legal tracks (family, employment, humanitarian, lottery, investment), each with different forms, queues, and bottlenecks. This page is built to stay current: it focuses on decision logic, official tools, and what to re-check every 6–12 months.
How to use this guide
- Pick a pathway that matches your strongest, documentable advantage (relationship, career evidence, humanitarian eligibility, DV selection, investment).
- Track the three clocks: petition → visa availability → interview/adjudication.
- Before paying fees or planning travel, confirm the latest official guidance.
Two ways to complete the process
- Consular processing (outside the U.S.): USCIS approval → NVC → embassy interview → immigrant visa → entry → green card.
- Adjustment of Status (AOS) (inside the U.S.): if eligible and a visa number is available, file to adjust status without leaving.
Contents
The immigration “map”: the three clocks that control your real timeline
Immigration timelines are often misread because people track only one thing (“USCIS processing time”). In practice, your total time is driven by three separate clocks:
Clock #1 — Petition / eligibility review: your underlying petition is filed and adjudicated (family petition, employer petition, self-petition where allowed).
Clock #2 — Visa number availability (queues): preference categories can have backlogs; the Visa Bulletin controls when a case can move forward.
Clock #3 — Final step scheduling: NVC document review + interview capacity abroad, or USCIS final AOS adjudication inside the U.S.
Petition / eligibility
The petition is filed and adjudicated (family/employer/self-petition where allowed).
Visa availability / queue
Visa Bulletin controls when preference-category cases can move forward.
Interview / final decision
NVC + interview capacity abroad, or USCIS final AOS decision inside the U.S.
Consular processing: USCIS approval → NVC → embassy interview → immigrant visa → entry → green card
Adjustment of Status (AOS): file in the U.S. if eligible and visa number is available
Main pathways (decision-first overview)
This table is intentionally practical. Exact eligibility is fact-specific, but you can usually identify the correct lane quickly — and avoid losing months to the wrong queue.
| Pathway | Best fit | Typical core steps | What most often delays cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family Immediate relatives + preferences | Spouse/parent/child of a U.S. citizen, or family preference categories. | Petition approval → (if abroad) NVC + DS-260 → interview; or AOS if eligible in the U.S. | Documentary completeness, relationship evidence, queue category, interview capacity. |
| Employment EB-1/EB-2/EB-3 | Professionals, researchers, managers, founders; employer-sponsored or self-petition where allowed. | Petition (often I-140) → Visa Bulletin priority date → AOS or consular processing. | PERM where required, evidence quality, priority date backlog. |
| Humanitarian Asylum / special protections | People who meet strict legal definitions for protection-based routes. | File + interviews/hearings; some routes later lead to permanent residence. | System backlogs, evidence and credibility issues, procedural deadlines. |
| DV Lottery Diversity Visa | Eligible nationals seeking a chance-based option; requires readiness if selected. | Registration → selection → DS-260 → interview (if scheduled) → visa issuance (if available). | Timing windows, document readiness, and current operational guidance. |
| Investment EB-5 | Investors able to meet capital + job creation rules; due diligence is critical. | Petition → visa availability → interview or AOS; then conditional → permanent residence steps. | Project documentation, source-of-funds, compliance, quota/availability. |
Employment routes: EB categories + “bridge” work visas that often support a long-term strategy
Employment-based immigration is where planning matters most. Your outcome depends on: (1) category fit, (2) evidence quality, and (3) priority-date reality. The best category is the one you can prove with the strongest, cleanest evidence and the least risky timeline.
Many people don’t enter the U.S. on an immigrant visa immediately. A common lawful pattern (when appropriate): work-authorized status → build a consistent U.S. footprint → finish via AOS (if eligible) or consular processing when the immigrant path is ready.
EB categories (plain-English orientation)
The same profile can sometimes qualify under more than one category. The goal is not “the highest category” — it’s the category you can document best, with minimal credibility risk and a realistic queue.
EB-1 (priority talent / researchers / multinational managers)
- EB-1A: extraordinary ability — evidence-heavy; often used by top-tier professionals and founders with strong records.
- EB-1B: outstanding researchers/professors — typically employer-sponsored with strong academic metrics.
- EB-1C: multinational executives/managers — depends heavily on corporate structure and role history.
EB-2 (advanced degree / exceptional ability; includes NIW)
- Employer-sponsored EB-2 may require labor certification (PERM) depending on the role.
- EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver): often used by researchers, engineers, and founders when the work has U.S. national interest value.
- Strong NIW cases read like a structured impact dossier: measurable outcomes, expert support, sector relevance, and a clear plan.
EB-3 (skilled workers / professionals / other workers)
- Typically employer-sponsored and often relies on labor certification (PERM).
- Can be practical when EB-1/EB-2 evidence thresholds are unrealistic for the current career stage.
Work visa bridges (commonly used when appropriate)
These are not immigrant visas, but they are frequently used as lawful bridges when the facts align.
- L-1A/L-1B: intra-company transfer; often pairs with EB-1C in well-structured corporate cases.
- H-1B: specialty occupation; timing may depend on registration/cap mechanics.
- O-1: extraordinary ability; often overlaps with EB-1A-style evidence logic but uses different legal standards.
- J-1: exchange programs; can be useful for legitimate program goals but requires careful review of any 212(e) implications.
Three short examples (how the strategy is usually evaluated)
Example A — Founder/engineer aiming for EB-2 NIW
Time isn’t only “petition approval.” You also watch priority-date movement and choose the finishing track (AOS vs consular). The best NIW packages show impact that is specific and verifiable, not speculative.
Example B — Manager (L-1 → EB-1C)
Risk is rarely “forms.” Risk is proving real managerial/executive capacity, role scope, reporting lines, and a consistent corporate narrative across entities.
Example C — Artist/athlete (O/P bridge)
Evidence architecture matters: public record + contracts + expert letters must be consistent. If later moving to an immigrant category, avoid mismatches that trigger credibility issues.
Consular process detail: submitting Form DS-260 online does not formally execute a visa application; the application is not formally made until the consular interview.
Family, humanitarian, DV Lottery, EB-5 — plus fees & official timing tools
Family immigration (reliable when a qualifying relationship exists)
Family routes are often the clearest legal lane, but not always “fast.” Immediate relatives and preference categories can behave very differently in queues and scheduling. Your finishing track will be consular processing abroad or AOS inside the U.S., if eligible.
What typically accelerates family cases:
Consistent relationship evidence, clean timelines, and a complete document set early. In consular cases, the “documentarily complete” milestone matters because it affects when an interview can be scheduled.
Humanitarian routes (strict eligibility and heavy procedure)
Humanitarian pathways exist for legally defined situations. They are not “alternate shortcuts.” Deadlines, interviews, hearings, and credibility standards are central to these cases.
DV Lottery (chance-based route — always verify current operational guidance)
DV is selection-based and time-windowed. Treat it as a parallel option, not a single-plan strategy. If selected, document readiness and timing discipline are the difference between “selected” and “issued.”
EB-5 (investment route — compliance-heavy)
EB-5 requires a lawful source-of-funds story, qualifying project structure, job creation compliance, and a realistic timeline strategy (queue + final-step capacity).
Common consular processing fees (snapshot — verify before payment)
These amounts are shown on the U.S. Department of State fee chart for immigrant services and DV. Verify the current chart before paying.
| Item | Fee (USD) | When it applies | Where you verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Immigrant Visa Application Processing (family-based) | $325 | Approved family petition → consular processing | DoS fee chart |
| Immigrant Visa Application Processing (employment-based) | $345 | Approved employment petition → consular processing | DoS fee chart |
| Diversity Visa Application Fee (per person) | $330 | If selected for DV and applying for the DV immigrant visa | DoS fee chart |
| Affidavit of Support Review (when reviewed domestically) | $120 | Some family-based cases in the NVC process | DoS fee chart |
Official timing tools (use these instead of guesses)
NVC Timeframes (weekly):
Shows current case file creation and inquiry response windows. This is the clearest “system throughput” signal for consular cases.
IV Scheduling Status Tool (monthly):
Shows the documentarily complete month/year currently being scheduled at a selected post (when visas are available). It helps you understand whether the bottleneck is queue vs post capacity vs document readiness.
Visa Bulletin (monthly):
Controls visa number availability for preference categories and is essential for planning priority-date movement and next steps.
FAQ + update checklist + official U.S. government sources
Update checklist (repeat every 6–12 months)
- Fees: re-check immigrant visa processing fees and any relevant USCIS filing fees.
- Timelines: review NVC timeframes (weekly) and IV Scheduling Status Tool (monthly).
- Queues: verify the Visa Bulletin for your category/priority date (monthly).
- Forms: confirm DS-260 and CEAC steps for consular cases; confirm USCIS form editions where applicable.
- Operational updates: read the latest DoS Visas News if DV or immigrant visa issuance abroad matters to you.
- Examples: refresh examples to match the current system reality (tools, queues, scheduling).
- On-page signal: update “Last updated” date near the top of this guide.
