How long does it take to get an employment-based green card?

Getting an employment-based green card in California typically takes a few months to around a year depending on the circumstances. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) must approve the green card application, which requires the U.S. employer to prove that there are no qualified American workers available for the job the immigrant is being offered. After the employer files the application with USCIS, it may take several weeks for USCIS to process the documents. Once the application is approved, the process of obtaining the green card typically takes between a few months and one year. First, the U.S. Department of Labor must certify the application, which may also take several weeks. After that, the application is sent to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) which reviews and then issues the foreign worker a permanent residency card, or green card. Various factors can affect the length of time it takes to get an employment-based green card, such as the current immigrant visa availability, and the type of job and immigration status of the worker. Additionally, if the immigration application is complicated, it can take longer to process. In addition to waiting for the approval of the green card, the worker and employer must keep in mind that the worker must maintain a valid work permit as well as meet other immigration requirements. Therefore, workers and employers should be prepared for the possibility of a lengthy process when applying for an employment-based green card.

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El tiempo que tarda en obtener una tarjeta verde basada en el empleo varía según el proceso que esté en juego. Si el solicitante es elegible para el proceso de ajuste de estatus, es decir, si se encuentra legalmente en los Estados Unidos, generalmente el proceso puede tardar entre 6 meses y un año. Si el solicitante debe comenzar el proceso de inmigración desde el extranjero, el proceso normalmente puede tomar de 6 meses a 2 años. Si el solicitante es elegible para el proceso de inmigración mediante una exención de la Regla de Carga Laboral (PERM), el proceso puede tomar hasta 18 meses. Además, si hay un aumento de casos de inmigración en la Oficina de Inmigración de California, esto puede prolongar el tiempo de la solicitud. Por esta razón, es importante que los solicitantes de tarjeta verde estén preparados para asumir tiempos de espera desconocidos.

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