India with jobs requiring a master's degree can complete the entire process, from labor certification to receiving the green card, within approximately one to two years from start to finish, if there is no backlog of visa availability, i.e., all priority dates are current. Workers whose immigrant visas are chargeable to China or India with jobs requiring only a bachelor's degree can expect to wait several years after their employer files the labor certification and immigrant visa petition to become eligible to file the final application for the green card itself. References External links Visa Bulletin, the United States Department of State USCIS definition of the first preference, EB1, category USCIS definition of the second preference, EB2, category USCIS definition of the third preference, EB3, category Immigration to the United States United States immigration law