How long does it take a South Korean citizen to acquire a green card through the EB-5 program?

There is no current backlog for Korean nationals, but certain countries, including Korea, may oversubscribe eventually. The sooner you file, the better your are chances to avoid a backlog. Overall processing times for I-526 are about two years and consular processing is generally three to six months.

There is no special processing time in terms of a backlog for South Koreans, unlike Chinese nationals. The pending time varies, depending on the quality of the petition and if ever there were any requests for evidence. As of now, though, the pending time for the I-526 is anywhere between 20 to 24 months.

Based on current processing times, it should take an EB-5 investor who is a South Korean citizen approximately 2.5 years to become a conditional permanent resident and approximately 4.5 years to become an unconditional permanent resident.

Right now, a two-year card is about two years unless the category backlogs for oversubscription.

Since South Korea is not one of the backlogged countries whose nationals are subject to a priority date waiting period, the processing time would depend on the I-526 petition processing time (about two years from filing), then the immigrant visa (approximately six to 12 months) or adjustment of status processing time (approximately 12 months).

About 24 months for the I-526 petition to be approved, and about five to eight months for consulate processing (provided you are in South Korea now and will go through the consulate). This is the same for all countries other than China and Vietnam.

Fortunately there is absolutely no backlog under the quota under the EB-5 preference for South Korean nationals. Thus, the length of time is entirely based upon the backlog in processing. In theory, when you file your EB-5 petition on Form I-526, same could be adjudicated the next day, but in reality it will take a year or longer for the CIS examiner to reach your petition, review it and adjudicate it. Then you have to add on at least six months or longer before you can be scheduled for your final interview at the appropriate American consulate. So, in total it could easily take two years.

USCIS is quoting an average processing time to adjudication for your I-526 EB-5 application at approximately 24 months. There are expedited projects at less than 90 days.

The current processing time averages around 20 months for an I-526 approval followed by consulate processing, which can take around six months. Overall, you are looking at around at least two years to get a conditional green card.

There is no visa backlog for South Korean nationals at this time. However, this may change in the near future. As such, processing time from start to finish would likely be standard. Adjudication of the I-526 petition will take approximately 12 months, followed by approximately four to six months to complete the consular processing phase. It is advised you move forward as quickly as possible to avoid any delays with a visa backlog for South Korean nationals.

As of today, approximately two to three years. Budget about 16 to 24 months for I-526 processing and hopefully you will get a consulate interview within six months after that. However, if South Korea retrogresses in 2019 like the DOS is forecasting, do not be surprised if that number jumps to 6-plus years.

Currently, there is no visa backlog for Korea. However, Charlie Oppenheim, chief of visa number control, forecasts that with the number of pending I-526 petitions in USCIS, there could be a backlog for Korea as well as India, Brazil and other countries next year. Please note that backlog is not retrogression, and each year on Oct. 1, with the new fiscal year, there are new 10,000 visas added to the EB-5 category. Having said that, just like getting a ticket to the sold-out concert, the sooner you get in line to purchase the ticket, the better. With the current normal processing time for I-526, you could be a conditional green card holder in about two years or longer, depending on how long I-526 takes to be approved. Obviously, the sooner the I-526 is approved, many of our clients&#39 I-526s have been getting approved in less than 13 months. And sooner you will be able to become the conditional resident.