Green Card Pathway Planner 2026

Map your full multi-year journey from current visa to permanent residence. AI analyzes every viable pathway — EB-1A, EB-2 NIW, EB-3, family-based — with real visa bulletin data and timeline estimates.

🗺️ All Pathways Mapped 📅 Multi-Year Timeline ⚠️ Critical Deadlines 📊 Visa Bulletin Backlogs 💰 Cost Estimates 📄 4-Page PDF Report
Full Pathway Plan $49 · one-time · instant PDF
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Current Status
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Background
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Achievements
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Employer
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Family & Goals
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Review
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What is your current US immigration status?
This tells us which pathways are available and which timelines apply to your situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Timeline depends on your country of birth and category. For most countries: EB-2 typically 2–4 years. For India-born: EB-1A often 1–2 years (no backlog), EB-2 India 10–15+ years. EB-3 with PERM: 3–5 years (most countries), 10–20+ years for India. Our planner maps your specific scenario with real visa bulletin data.
Fastest routes: (1) EB-1A Extraordinary Ability — no employer needed, no PERM, no backlog for most countries including India/China, typically 1–2 years total. (2) Marriage to a US Citizen (IR-1/CR-1) — typically 1–2 years, no employment required. (3) EB-2 NIW for non-India/China nationals — 1.5–3 years with no employer needed. EB-3 PERM with employer sponsorship is generally the slowest route.
Yes — two employment categories allow self-petition: EB-1A (Extraordinary Ability, requires meeting 3 of 10 USCIS criteria) and EB-2 NIW (requires advanced degree + national interest waiver under the Dhanasar 3-prong test). Both file Form I-140 without an employer. Marriage to a US citizen is also employer-independent.
India and China-born applicants face severe EB-2 and EB-3 priority date backlogs — currently 5–15+ years for EB-2 India. Approving your I-140 secures your "priority date" but you cannot adjust to green card status until your date is "current" per the monthly visa bulletin. EB-1A and EB-1B generally have no India/China backlog, making them the primary strategies. Our planner factors in your country and current bulletin dates.
H-1B is generally limited to 6 years (initial 3 + one 3-year extension). Beyond 6 years, you can get: 1-year extensions if a PERM or I-140 has been pending for 365+ days, OR 3-year extensions if your I-140 is approved and you're waiting for a visa number (backlog). Filing I-140 early — even if I-485 will take years — is critical for preserving H-1B extension rights and future job portability under INA 204(j).
Government fees: I-140 $715, I-140 premium processing $2,965 (optional), I-485 $1,440. Total gov fees ≈ $2,155–$4,960. Attorney fees: $2,500–$5,000 for NIW/EB-1A; $5,000–$12,000 for PERM + I-140 + I-485. Total range: $4,000–$15,000+. Your pathway plan includes a cost breakdown specific to your recommended and alternative pathways.
Under INA 204(j) (AC21 portability), after your I-140 has been approved for 180+ days, you can change employers or job roles in the same or similar occupational classification without losing your green card progress. The priority date stays. However, PERM is employer-specific — if you change jobs before I-140 approval, you may need to restart the PERM. NIW and EB-1A are self-petitions with no employer tie.
This is an AI-generated educational reference based on publicly available USCIS policy and real government data (visa bulletin, processing times, approval rates) as of 2026. It is NOT legal advice. Use this report to understand your options and prepare for a conversation with a licensed immigration attorney (AILA member). Individual circumstances vary significantly.
Related tools: H-1B Analyzer O-1 Analyzer EB-2 NIW Analyzer Case Status Checker Fee Calculator Document Checklist Processing Times Visa Bulletin
Generating Your Pathway Plan…
Querying real visa bulletin data, analyzing pathways, and building your PDF report. This takes about 30–45 seconds.