EB-2 Green Card
Applicants for the EB-2 visa, an employment-based visa, are categorized based on their skills, background, and knowledge. An EB-2 green card is available for those foreign workers who fall into the United States’ second preferred category. They are available for individuals who fall into the following EB-2 visa categories. One of the requirements for EB-2 visa applicants is having a job from a sponsoring U.S. employer. The remaining requirements are outlined in the guide below.
EB-2 Requirements in 2023
Advanced Degree: Foreign workers in this subcategory must have more than a bachelor’s degree, such as a Master’s or Doctorate, or its foreign equivalent. One equivalent is a bachelor’s degree and at least five years of work experience in the field. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Foreign Labor Certification Process must approve workers in this category.
Exceptional Ability: Foreign workers in this subcategory have a specialized degree and significant competence in art, business, or science. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Foreign Labor Certification Process must also approve workers in this category.
National Interest Waiver: Foreign workers in this subcategory are seeking to have the Foreign Labor Certification Process waived because it is in the national interest of the United States to do so. Unlike the other EB-2 green card categories, these workers do not need an employer sponsor and may self-petition for an EB-2 visa.
Additional EB-2 Visa Requirements
Immigrants seeking an EB-2 green card under the Exceptional Ability or National Interest Waiver categories must additionally meet at least three of the following requirements:
- Official academic record of a degree relating to the field of exceptional ability
- Documentation of at least ten years of work experience in the field
- Professional license or certification
- A salary that indicates the person has exceptional ability in the field
- Be a member of related professional associations
- Peer or government recognition of achievements in the field
- Any other comparable evidence of exceptional ability
EB-2 Green Card Processing Time
The overall EB-2 visa processing time can range from 10 months to 2 years, depending on how long your I-140 takes to process and when a visa becomes available.
We can’t provide a definitive timeline for the total time it takes for your case to process since it will depend on several factors including your country of origin, the service center that processes your I-140, the documents in your submission, etc. Typically, the I-140 processing time takes anywhere from 6-9 months. However, premium processing is an option that can save you valuable time. The cost to opt for premium processing is $2,500. The standard I-140 filing fee (regular processing) is $700. To get the most accurate case processing time, use this USCIS case tool.
For those applying overseas through consular processing, you can expect to wait 4-6 months to receive word from the U.S. embassy/consulate after a visa becomes available. In terms of how long the adjustment of status takes, that will depend significantly on the service center processing the case.
EB-2 Category Process
To successfully receive an EB-2 green card, applicants and their employers must follow a three-step process.
1. The first step is for the employer who wishes to hire a foreign worker to file with the U.S. Department of Labor for Permanent Labor Certification using the Program Electronic Management Review (PERM) System.
The employer must certify that a job opening is available in a specified professional field, the job is also available to U.S. workers, the employer needs a foreign worker, and the pay is at a prevailing industry rate.
2. Your employer will need to undergo an extensive recruiting process to ensure no qualified American workers are available to take the position. Going through this process correctly is critical, as raising suspicion may trigger an audit from the Department of Labor. This could delay your processing time for up to a year and a half.
3. If the employer meets the requirements, the Department of Labor will issue the necessary PERM form. EB-2 green card applicants seeking a National Interest Waiver (NIW) may skip this first step.
4. After receiving the PERM form, the employer wishing to sponsor a foreign worker for an EB-2 green card must complete and file form I-140, the petition for the EB-2 visa. After receiving the petition, the applicant must wait for their EB-2 priority date to be eligible to proceed to the next step. The priority date depends on when USCIS received the application.
PERM
This section covers the PERM timeline for EB-2 cases. In 2023, the average PERM Labor Certification processing time is about four months for preparation, then six months for the application processing. The prevailing wage determination is part of this process as well and takes anywhere from 2-4 months. Recruiting also takes 60 days at a minimum. In terms of a timeline, make sure to present the PERM Labor Certification within 180 days of beginning any recruiting efforts. Essentially, this process aims to ensure no domestic workers are willing and able to carry out the job available.
Once the priority date becomes current, how long does it take to get a green card?
Go to the Employment-Based Preferences chart, and identify your category (EB-2) on the left-hand side. Some countries have longer wait times than others depending on the per-country visa cap number of submissions. You will compare the cutoff date to your priority date (when USCIS received or I-130 or when DOL received the labor certification from the employer). If on the Dates for Filing box chart, the section is says “current,” that means your priority date is current, and visas are available. Once you see that it’s current, you can contact the National Visa Center to move forward.
EB-2 Priority Date Retrogression and Consular Processing
It changes over time depending on how many visa applications are being processed. Applicants need to be aware of retrogression in the priority date. It occurs when more applicants for an EB-2 green card are available than the allocated green cards.
For example, if the current processing time is three months and suddenly there is a spike in the number of applications, only applicants who have filed at least six months ago might be allowed to proceed to the next step. This means that as soon as you can proceed to the final step, it is in your interest to do so if you do not want to experience delays in the EB-2 processing time.
When applicants can proceed to the final step, they may follow one of two different procedures.
Consular Processing
If the applicant is not in the United States, they must be interviewed at a U.S. Consulate office in their home country. The consular office will process the application from there and determine whether the individual qualifies for an EB-2 green card.
Consular processing is done through a one-on-one interview with a consular officer who will ask specific questions about your employer, your occupation, and your arrangements in the U.S. If the officer clears you, you can travel to the U.S. and get stamped as a legal permanent resident.
Adjustment of Status
If the applicant is already in the United States on a different visa, they must adjust their status to the EB-2 using Form I-485.
Applicants will then be told to go to a USCIS Application Support Center for security processing, which generally requires fingerprinting and taking your picture. Some applicants may be required to attend an interview. The final decision will be mailed to the applicant once it is available.
How Long Will the Total Process Take?
The total processing time varies tremendously depending on your country of origin and the service center that processes your I-140. On average, however, the petition takes about six months to process.
If you are required to get a PERM Labor Certification, that could take anywhere from eight months to two years depending on whether or not your employer is audited after the recruitment process. To ensure the best chances of avoiding an audit, make sure you work alongside an immigration attorney.
If six months is too long to wait for your I-140, you may consider opting for the premium processing service. The USCIS offers this optional feature and shortens your petition processing time from about six months to 15 calendar days for a fee of $2,500
Once USCIS approves your petition, you must wait until your priority date is current. For most countries, the date will be current as soon as the petition is approved. However, for EB-2 processing time for India and China, the dates may not be current for several years. The only way to expedite this process is to port your green card petition from EB-2 to EB-1, which is no easy task.
After your priority date is current, you can submit your I-485, which will take around six months to process. Again, like the I-140, this depends on the caseload of your service center.
All told, without premium processing, the total EB-2 processing time can range from a year and a half to several years. Because this varies from case to case, speak with your attorney to better understand how long you can expect to wait for your EB-2 visa.
Key facts
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