The Part Nobody Should Ignore: Visa Availability
This is probably one of the most important parts of the entire conversation.
Being eligible for an employment-based category doesn’t necessarily mean you can receive your green card immediately.
The U.S. government limits the number of employment based immigrant visas available each fiscal year.
The State Department says employment-based immigrant visas are divided into five preference categories, with specific percentage allocations for each category.
Your priority date can therefore become extremely important.
Depending on the category and your country of chargeability, you may have to wait until your priority date becomes current.
And visa availability can change.
The Department of State’s 2026 Visa Bulletins, for example, show movement and warnings about possible retrogression or unavailability in certain employment categories.
So if someone tells you:
“This green card route takes exactly 12 months.”
Be careful.
Immigration timelines are not always that predictable.