Green Card Wait Time Tracker

US Green Card Wait Time Tracker for Nigerians (2026)
DeyWithMe Relocation math for Nigerians

Green Card Wait Time Tracker

Nigerian applicants (Rest of World) • EB categories • April 2026 bulletin data

Step 1: Select your green card category

For EB-3/EB-2 PERM: this is the date your PERM (ETA-9089) was filed with DOL. For EB-1/EB-2 NIW: the date your I-140 was filed with USCIS. Check your I-140 approval notice or PERM case number confirmation.

Adjustment of Status (I-485) is for those already in the US. Consular processing is for applicants outside the US.

Premium processing (15 business days for I-140) reduces that phase by ~5 to 20 months. Not available for all categories.

Common green card planning mistakes

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Confusing the Dates for Filing chart with the Final Action Dates chart. These are two different charts in the same visa bulletin. USCIS announces each month which chart applies for filing I-485. You can file earlier with the Dates for Filing chart, but your case cannot be approved until the Final Action Date is current.
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Thinking your priority date is the I-140 approval date. Your priority date is usually the date your PERM application (ETA-9089) was filed with the DOL, not the I-140 approval date. For EB-1 and EB-2 NIW (no PERM required), it is the I-140 filing date.
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Changing jobs and losing the PERM benefit. If you change employers before your I-140 is approved, you generally lose the priority date from the old PERM. The new employer must start a fresh PERM. There are portability rules after 180 days of I-485 pending status, but they have conditions.
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Not monitoring the visa bulletin monthly. Priority dates can retrogress (move backward) unexpectedly. If this happens after you file I-485, your application is not denied but it cannot be approved until dates advance again. Staying informed prevents surprises.
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Assuming Nigeria has the same queue as India or China. Nigeria is charged under “Rest of World,” which has far shorter wait times than India (12+ year EB-3 backlog) or China. EB-1 and EB-2 are currently available immediately for Nigerian applicants (April 2026), which is very different from the Indian queue.
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Frequently asked questions

How the Green Card Wait Time Tracker Works

This tracker compares your priority date against the April 2026 Visa Bulletin cutoff for your category and country of chargeability (Nigeria falls under “Rest of World”). It then adds phase-by-phase processing estimates to produce a total timeline estimate from priority date to green card approval.

How wait time is estimated:

Months behind = (Bulletin cutoff date – Your priority date) in months

Total wait = PERM (if applicable) + I-140 processing + Visa bulletin wait + I-485 or Consular processing

Remaining time = Total wait – Time already elapsed since priority date

April 2026 Bulletin Snapshot for Nigerian (Rest of World) Applicants

Nigeria is charged under the “Rest of World” chargeability. This is a significant advantage compared to India or China. As of April 2026, the situation per category is as follows.

CategoryApril 2026 Final Action DateMeaning for Nigerians
EB-1 (Extraordinary ability, Multinational Mgr, Outstanding Prof) Current (C) No wait for visa number. I-485 can be approved immediately after I-140.
EB-2 (Advanced degree, Exceptional ability, NIW) Current (C) No wait for visa number. Dates for Filing also current.
EB-3 (Skilled workers and professionals) June 1, 2024 Priority dates from before June 1, 2024 are current. New filings face approx. 2 to 2.5 year bulletin wait.
EB-3 Other Workers November 1, 2021 Longer wait. Unskilled/other worker subcategory has a separate, slower queue.

Source: April 2026 Visa Bulletin, US Department of State. Dates change monthly. Always verify at travel.state.gov.

Phase-by-Phase Green Card Timeline for Nigerians

EB-1 (Extraordinary Ability or Outstanding Researcher)

No PERM required. I-140 self-petition or employer petition. Premium processing available: 15 business days for $2,965. Standard I-140: 6 to 18 months. Priority date is currently current for Rest of World, so no visa bulletin wait. I-485 (adjustment of status): 8 to 18 months. Total estimated range: 14 to 36 months from I-140 filing to green card.

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EB-2 PERM (Employer-Sponsored, Advanced Degree)

PERM required first. Prevailing wage determination: 4 to 8 months. Recruitment phase: 2 to 6 months. DOL adjudication: 15 to 16 months. Total PERM: 21 to 30 months. Then I-140: 6 to 18 months (or 15 days premium). Priority date currently current for Rest of World (no bulletin wait). I-485: 8 to 18 months. Total from PERM start: 35 to 66 months (approximately 3 to 5.5 years).

EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver, Self-Petition)

No PERM, no employer required. I-140 self-petition. Standard processing: 18 to 36 months. Premium processing not available as of 2026 (45 business day option exists for some NIW cases). Priority date currently current for Rest of World. I-485: 8 to 18 months. Total: 26 to 54 months (approximately 2 to 4.5 years).

EB-3 Skilled Worker or Professional

PERM required. Full PERM process: 21 to 30 months. I-140: 6 to 18 months. Visa bulletin wait (EB-3 cutoff June 1, 2024): new filers face roughly 24 to 30 additional months of queue. I-485: 8 to 18 months. Total for new EB-3 filers: 59 to 96 months (approximately 5 to 8 years).

Realistic Scenarios for Nigerian Green Card Applicants

Scenario 1: EB-1A researcher at US university, already in US on H-1B

Ngozi is a biomedical researcher on H-1B. She files EB-1A with premium processing. I-140 approved in 15 business days. Priority date is immediately current (Rest of World EB-1 is current). She files I-485 concurrently. I-485 takes 10 to 14 months. Total from petition to green card: approximately 11 to 15 months.

Scenario 2: EB-2 PERM, software engineer in Texas, employer starts PERM in April 2026

Emeka’s employer starts PERM in April 2026. Prevailing wage: 5 months. Recruitment: 4 months. DOL adjudication: 16 months. PERM certified: roughly January 2028. I-140 premium: 15 days. Priority date (April 2026): currently ahead of EB-2 Rest of World cutoff (current), so no visa bulletin queue. I-485 filing immediately after I-140: 10 to 14 months. Estimated green card: early to mid 2029. Total: approximately 36 months (3 years).

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Scenario 3: EB-3 nurse sponsored by US hospital, arriving from Nigeria

Adaeze is a registered nurse. EB-3 Schedule A applies to nurses, which means the PERM labor certification requirement is waived. The hospital files I-140 directly. This shortens the process significantly. I-140 standard: 8 to 14 months. EB-3 priority date: June 1, 2024 cutoff currently. If her I-140 filing date is before June 2024, she is current. Consular processing from Nigeria: 6 to 12 months. Total with Schedule A exemption: 14 to 26 months. Schedule A is a major advantage for Nigerian healthcare workers.

Why the Green Card Path Matters for Nigerians

The US hosts an estimated 400,000 to 600,000 Nigerian-born residents. Many are in the US on H-1B, F-1 OPT, or L-1 visas and are actively working toward permanent residence. Unlike Indian applicants who face decade-long backlogs in EB-2 and EB-3, Nigerian applicants under “Rest of World” chargeability face much shorter or no wait times in EB-1 and EB-2 categories as of 2026. This is a meaningful structural advantage that most Nigerians are unaware of.

Assumptions Used in This Tracker

  • Priority date cutoffs: April 2026 Visa Bulletin (travel.state.gov). EB-1 and EB-2 are current for Rest of World. EB-3 cutoff is June 1, 2024.
  • PERM processing time: 21 to 30 months total (prevailing wage, recruitment, DOL adjudication averaging 15 to 16 months)
  • I-140 standard processing: 6 to 18 months depending on USCIS service center and caseload
  • I-140 premium processing: 15 business days ($2,965)
  • I-485 adjustment of status: 8 to 18 months
  • Consular processing from Nigeria: 6 to 12 months after National Visa Center processing
  • Nigeria chargeability: Rest of World (not India or China caps)
  • Priority date advance rate: historically 1 to 4 weeks per calendar month for Rest of World EB-3; variable and can retrogress
  • No PERM required for: EB-1A, EB-1B, EB-2 NIW, and Schedule A occupations (nurses, physical therapists)

Disclaimer

This tool provides estimates based on publicly available visa bulletin data and documented processing time ranges. Individual timelines vary based on specific circumstances, employer cooperation, USCIS workload, and policy changes. Priority dates change monthly and can retrogress. This is not immigration advice. Verify current dates at travel.state.gov and consult a licensed immigration attorney for case-specific guidance.

© 2026 DeyWithMe — Relocation math for Nigerians. Not immigration advice.

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