A 2025 Green Card Journey: Lessons From One Applicant’s Waiting Game

(MONTREAL, CANADA) For many families, the journey to a U.S. Green Card is less like a straight line and more like a long, uneven road with stretches of silence. A recent case of a Canadian spouse processed through the U.S. consulate in Montreal shows how this works in real life: more than two years from filing to card in hand, with long gaps between each step. At the same time, official data for 2025 shows that timelines vary widely by category, country, and where the applicant lives during the case.

This guide walks through that journey step by step, from filing the first petition to entering the United States 🇺🇸 and finally receiving the physical Green Card. It also sets out what students, H‑1B workers, and other skilled immigrants can expect at each stage, based on current processing trends and this real case.

Big Picture: How Long Does the Family Green Card Journey Take?

For immediate relatives of U.S. citizens (spouses, minor children, parents), typical total time in 2025 is often 9–15 months if everything goes smoothly. But as the Montreal case shows, problems like background checks, scheduling delays, or document issues can stretch that into two years or more.

According to USCIS, average times in 2025 are:

• I‑130 family petition: about 14.8 months
• Consular processing after approval: about 14.5 months

For employment-based Green Cards, the process is generally much slower. For example:

• PERM labor certification: 16–21.6 months
• Some Indian EB‑2 applicants from 2013 are only now becoming current

VisaVerge.com reports many professionals view the family route (through marriage to a U.S. citizen) as faster than the employment line, even if it still feels painfully slow.

Timeline Snapshot (Montreal Case)

Step 1 – Filing the I‑130: Starting the Relationship Proof

The first step in a marriage-based case is Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative), filed by the U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse. The main goal is to prove a real marriage, not just paperwork for immigration.

• Official form and instructions: Form I‑130
• Average 2025 processing time for immediate relatives: around 14.8 months

In the Montreal case:

• The couple married in 2000.
• They filed the I‑130 in August 2023.
• The I‑130 was approved in late November 2024 — about 15–16 months, close to the 2025 average.

During this stage, most of the waiting feels quiet. You may only receive a receipt notice and, much later, the approval. For students or H‑1B workers already in the United States, this silence can be stressful because future plans—jobs, moves, studies—often depend on that approval date.

Your tasks at this stage:

• Keep copies of:
  • Marriage certificate
  • Joint bank or lease documents
  • Photos and proof of shared life
• Make sure your mailing address and email are current with USCIS.
• If you are inside the United States, keep your current status valid (F‑1, OPT, H‑1B, etc.).

Note: USCIS often sends receipt notices within three business days, but active work on the file can sit for months.

Step 2 – National Visa Center and DS‑260: From Approval to Visa Application

Once USCIS approves the I‑130, the case moves to the National Visa Center (NVC) if the foreign spouse is outside the United States. For consular processing, the main form is the DS-260 online immigrant visa application.

• DS‑260 guidance and process: Apply for an Immigrant Visa (DS‑260)

In the Montreal case:

• I‑130 approved: late November 2024
• DS‑260 submitted: mid‑December 2024, after clearing a background check issue

This stage usually involves:

• Paying visa and affidavit of support fees
• Submitting the DS‑260 online
• Uploading civil documents (birth, marriage, police certificates)
• Submitting the affidavit of support from the U.S. sponsor

Common delays:

• Missing police certificates
• Mistakes in the DS‑260
• Background check concerns

For skilled workers on H‑1B who plan to leave the U.S. for consular processing, these delays can affect job security, travel plans, and children’s schooling.

Your tasks at this stage:

• Gather police certificates and birth certificates early (some countries take weeks).
• Check your DS‑260 carefully before submitting; small errors can cause big delays.
• Keep copies of everything you upload.

Step 3 – Waiting for the Interview: The Long Quiet Period

After NVC accepts your documents and marks the case as “documentarily complete,” you wait for a consular interview slot. That wait depends on:

• Local consulate capacity
• Security checks
• Case category and country of origin

In the Montreal case:

• Interview scheduled for September 11, 2025 — about nine months after submitting the DS‑260.

This wait often feels like the hardest part: the case is ready, but there is no clear appointment date until the embassy or consulate opens one.

What happens during this time:

• Security and background checks may continue.
• The consulate organizes its calendar based on staffing and demand.
• You prepare for the medical exam and the interview.

Impacts for students and workers:

• International students on F‑1 or graduates on OPT who are abroad may have job offers delayed.
• H‑1B workers planning consular “stamping” risk disrupting employment if their employer cannot wait.

Step 4 – Medical Exam and Consular Interview: Final Visa Decision

Before the interview, you must complete a medical exam with a panel physician approved by the U.S. consulate. The physician either sends results directly to the consulate or gives you a sealed envelope.

At the interview (Montreal example: September 11, 2025), the consular officer reviews:

• The DS‑260 answers
• Civil documents and relationship proof
• Police and background information

Possible outcomes:

• Visa approved and passport returned with the visa
• Administrative processing (more information needed) — can add weeks or months

In the Montreal case:

• Visa and passport were ready for pickup around September 25, 2025
• The visa had an entry deadline of December 11, 2025 (about a three-month window)

That entry window is critical for planning work, housing, and school terms.

Step 5 – Entering the United States and Becoming a Permanent Resident

The moment you enter the U.S. on your immigrant visa, you become a lawful permanent resident.

In the Montreal case:

• Entry by land on October 23, 2025
• Social Security number received November 3, 2025
• Physical Green Card delivered November 10, 2025

At the border the officer will:

• Take your fingerprints and photo
• Stamp the passport with an entry stamp that serves as temporary proof of permanent residence

After entry, USCIS prints and mails your Green Card to the U.S. address you provided. This usually takes a few weeks.

Your tasks after entry:

• Keep the entry stamp and later the Green Card safe.
• Apply for jobs, open bank accounts, and get a driver’s license per state rules.
• Check your Green Card for any errors in name or personal details.

Adjustment of Status Alternative: For Those Already in the U.S.

If you are physically present in the United States and eligible, you may skip consular processing and file Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) with USCIS:

• Official page: Form I‑485
• Average 2025 employment-based time: about 7 months
• For family-based, around 9.2 months

From December 2024, most applicants must submit Form I-693 medical exam at the same time:

• Official page: Form I‑693

Benefits and risks:

• This path allows many F‑1 and H‑1B holders to stay in the country while the case is pending.
• But it carries risks if a job ends or status lapses; careful planning with an immigration lawyer is advised.

After the Green Card: Timeline to U.S. Citizenship

Holding a Green Card is a major milestone, but many plan for naturalization via Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization):

• Official page: Form N‑400

As of 2025:

• N‑400 processing time: about 5.5 months
• Most people apply after 3–5 years as permanent residents, depending on marriage and other eligibility rules
• Total journey from first Green Card to passport can take 3–6 years

For international students and H‑1B workers, early planning for permanent residence influences career choices, employer loyalty, and where to raise a family.

Practical Lessons for Students, Workers, and Families

From both the Montreal case and current 2025 data, several clear points stand out:

• Expect long waits and silence. Even “simple” cases can sit for months.
• Keep status valid. Whether on F‑1, OPT, STEM‑OPT, H‑1B, or another visa, staying in status is the base for any long‑term plan.
• Stay ready with documents. Police certificates, medical exams, and civil records can expire; keep them current.
• Watch policy and political shifts. Changes under different administrations affect review intensity and processing time.
• Build backup plans. Job loss, visa denials, or long queues can push people to consider alternatives such as moving to Canada 🇨🇦, remote work, or a temporary return home.

Key takeaway: The Green Card journey involves forms like I‑130, DS‑260, and I‑485, but it’s ultimately about family life, careers, and a sense of home across borders. Knowing the steps and likely timeframes won’t remove the waiting, but it helps you move through each stage with more control and less fear.