Busting green card myths: US citizen relatives face long waits too

Being related to a US citizen doesn’t always mean a quick path to a green card. While some family members qualify for faster processing, others may wait over 15 years — sometimes decades — depending on the relationship and country of origin.

 

“If you think your sibling can get a green card quickly just because you’re a US citizen, that’s a myth,” said Abhisha Parikh, a US-based immigration lawyer. “The fact is, only immediate relatives — spouses, parents, and children under 21 — get priority. Others, like siblings or married children, might be waiting 15 years or more.”

 

Under current US immigration law, family members of citizens and lawful permanent residents can apply for green cards, but delays depend heavily on their visa category and country of birth.

 

 

Two separate queues

 

There are two key wait periods that determine how long a green card takes:

 

1. The visa bulletin queue, which determines when you’re eligible to apply

2. the USCIS processing time, which starts once your application is submitted

 

Immediate relatives of US citizens skip the visa bulletin queue entirely. For others, both queues apply — sometimes spanning decades.

 

“For Indian nationals, the green card backlog is among the worst in the world — especially in categories like F4 (siblings of US citizens) and F1/F3 (adult children of US citizens),” Varun Singh, managing director at XIPHIAS Immigration told Business Standard.

 

The reason is a country cap that limits green cards for each nation to about 7% of the annual family-based total, regardless of demand.

 

Singh explains:

 

Siblings of US citizens: 15 to 20+ years

Adult children of US citizens: Over 10 years

Children under 21: 1 to 2 years

Spouses of US citizens: 12 to 18 months

 

“Spouses fall under the Immediate Relative category, so there’s no quota. That’s why their green cards are processed faster and with fewer hurdles,” he said.

 

Family-based green card waiting times (FY2025)

 

Here’s how long family-based green cards take, based on USCIS data:

 

Immediate relatives of US citizens (no visa bulletin wait)

 

Spouses in the US: 9.5 months

Spouses abroad: 14.3 months

Parents: 14.3 months

Unmarried children under 21: 14.3 months

 

Family preference categories (visa bulletin applies)

 

Spouses/children of green card holders (F2A): October 2024 | 35 months

Unmarried adult children of US citizens (F1): September 2017 | 9.5 months

Unmarried adult children of green card holders (F2B): January 2017 | 35 months

Married children of US citizens (F3): July 2012 | 9.5 months

Siblings of US citizens (F4):

 

India: October 2006

Most other countries: April 2008

Mexico: April 2001

Philippines: January 2008

USCIS time: 9.5 months

 

Family preference categories defined

 

F1: Unmarried adult sons/daughters of US citizens

F2A: Spouses and under-21 children of green card holders

F2B: Unmarried adult sons/daughters of green card holders

F3: Married sons/daughters of US citizens

F4: Siblings of US citizens

 

What determines the wait

 

Two key tools matter when tracking your green card timeline:

 

< The monthly visa bulletin, which tells you when your priority date becomes eligible

< USCIS processing times, which tell you how long the agency takes once your application is submitted

 

Immediate relatives can skip the bulletin entirely and apply straight away.

 

Why Indians wait so long

 

“It’s not about favouritism. It’s just maths,” Singh said. “The volume of Indian applicants is huge, but the law restricts how many green cards can go to each country. That’s what causes the bottleneck.”

 

He added, “The real cost is human. Families separated for decades, siblings growing old in different countries, and children ageing out before their number comes up.”

 

What applicants can do if delayed

 

In some cases, applicants can take legal steps if their application is stuck for too long.

 

“Couples sponsoring spouses should prepare thoroughly to avoid delays. If the wait becomes unreasonable, filing a writ of mandamus is an option to compel USCIS to act,” said Ketan Mukhija, senior partner at Burgeon Law.

 

What counts as marriage fraud

 

US immigration officials are strict about marriage-based green card applications. The following are considered marriage fraud:

 

Entering into a fake marriage for money or favours

Both parties knowingly entering a sham marriage

Deceiving someone into marriage for immigration benefits

 

USCIS investigates suspicious cases thoroughly, and penalties can include visa denial, fines, and removal from the country.