Now that you’ve attended your biometrics appointment, you’re one step closer to receiving your green card. However, depending on the processes that follow your biometrics appointment and the type of immigration benefit you’re seeking, it may take weeks or several months to get a green card.
In addition, there may be other challenges that affect green card processing times. For example, the USCIS service center processing your application may have staff shortages or overwhelming backlogs.
Based on these reasons, there’s no telling the exact time it takes to process a marriage green card. Nevertheless, you must know what to expect after your biometrics appointment.
Read more about this right here.
DISCLAIMER: Please note that this is NOT legal advice. If you need to speak to a marriage green card attorney, please call us at 253-332-9193 or send us a message online.
Processing Times After Biometrics
The USCIS needs your biometrics information to process your marriage green card application, renewal, or replacement. Some steps precede and follow the biometrics appointment in each of these processes. In addition, these steps have different timelines, as discussed below.
Marriage Green Card Application Biometrics
The biometric appointment for marriage green card application usually comes after you receive the receipt notice from USCIS. This should happen within 8 to 10 weeks after the filing date. The receipt notice confirms that the USCIS has received your application and is in the processing queue.
After the receipt notice, the USCIS will send you another notification for a scheduled biometrics examination. This notice comes 3 to 4 weeks before the actual appointment date. The biometrics appointment is a short process involving scanning your fingerprints, taking your photos, and verifying your signature.
Five more steps follow the biometrics appointment for a green card application. They include:
Receiving your Employment Authorization Card (EAD): You’ll receive your EAD Card about 90 days after your biometrics if you concurrently filed Form I-765 and your green card application.
Request for Evidence: If your application lacks some documents, the USCIS will send you a Request for Evidence (RFE), requesting more supporting documents. Typically, the RFE response timeframe ranges between 30 to 90 days.
Green Card Interview: Your green card interview may be anywhere between 5 to 10 months after the biometrics exam. This will also depend on your family preference category.
Approval Notice: You may learn about the USCIS decision at the end of your interview. However, if the USCIS officer needs more deliberation time, they’ll send a decision notice to your mail within 30 days after the interview.
Receiving your Green Card: The USCIS will send the green card to your mail within 2 to 3 weeks after the approval notice.
Marriage Green Card Renewal
The USCIS also collects your biometrics during a green card renewal. However, the succeeding processing timelines differ depending on the type of green card.
10-year Green Card
Renewing a 10-year green card takes a shorter time than its application process. This is because the USCIS eliminates most of the steps included in the green card application. Typically, renewing a green card involves;
- completing Form 1-90 and including supporting documents;
- paying the correct filing fees; and
- applying via mail or online.
The USCIS will mail you a receipt notice in about three weeks of receiving your application. Next, the agency will notify you of your biometrics appointment approximately 4 to 6 weeks from the filing date. However, the actual appointment takes place 2 to 4 weeks later.
The biometrics exam may be the last step before receiving your new green card. You may wait for 6 to 10 months from the filing date, depending on the current USCIS processing timelines. However, if the USCIS sends you an RFE to request more supporting documents, your green card renewal application will take longer to process.
There are a few exceptional cases where you can request the USCIS expedite your green card renewal process. However, the decision to accept or deny your request is discrete to the agency’s officer processing your application. Therefore, you may want to consult an experienced immigration attorney like Serah Waweru to assess your application and determine the reasons and evidence to include in your expedition request.
Can You Renew a Conditional Green Card?
You can’t renew a conditional green card after it expires. Instead, you must file a petition to remove conditions on the green card to receive a ten-year green card. Although they defer from case to case, this process mostly involves similar steps as the green card application.
You’ll typically complete Form I-751, attach sufficient supporting documents, and submit your application to the USCIS. Then, you’ll receive a receipt notice in about three weeks and a biometrics exam notice in about 6 to 10 weeks from the filing date.
Your green card should be ready 4 to 12 months later. However, if the USCIS sends you an RFE, it will affect the green card processing time. In addition, you and your spouse may be invited for an interview after your biometrics exam, resulting in more waiting time.
To avoid delays caused by RFEs, you must include sufficient supporting documents in your application. In addition, the waiting time reduces significantly if the agency waives your interview. However, that may only happen if your application is complete and includes all the necessary supporting documents.
Green Card Replacement
The green card replacement process is the same as the green renewal process, regardless of your type of green card. It may take 6 to 10 months before receiving a new green card. However, this process may be slow, depending on your reasons for seeking a replacement.
Usually, the delays result from filing insufficient documents to support your request. This may add approximately 30 to 90 days in waiting time after your biometrics appointment.
The Bottomline
The biometrics appointment is an essential process in green card-related applications. However, it may not be the last step before you finally have your green card. In some cases, the USCIS may require more information before processing your application. In others, you may be invited to an interview after your biometrics exam.
You can avoid additional waiting timelines by completing your application correctly with the help of a marriage green card attorney. This will most likely eliminate RFEs and potentially waive your interview, resulting in a shorter waiting time. In addition, the attorney can help you request for an expedition where applicable after determining that you have sufficient evidence for such a request.
Contact The Law Office of Serah Waweru for Questions About Your Green Card and Biometrics
Do you need a marriage green card lawyer serving Tacoma, Lakewood, Kent, Renton, University Place, Burien, Tukwila, Auburn, Federal Way, Olympia, and all over the United States? If so, call the Law Office of Serah Waweru at (253) 332-9193 to schedule a consultation.
Alternatively, you can send us a message online, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.,
