New York, NY immigration attorney Robert B. Scott explains how long it takes to get a green card through marriage. He notes that obtaining a green card through marriage depends on whether the person being sponsored is inside or outside the United States. For cases where the applicant is overseas, the process concludes at a U.S. consulate or embassy, where the applicant is interviewed for residency. These cases have been significantly affected by events following the COVID-19 pandemic, including embassy closures and other delays beyond anyone’s control. As a result, applicants outside the U.S. should generally expect the process to take a couple of years.

For marriage-based green card applicants who are already inside the United States, processing times vary, but the case is typically resolved within about a year to a year and a half.