By Country / Country guides
Born elsewhere: the 'rest of world' path
For most countries, EB-2 and EB-3 are near-current, so the process is mostly paperwork time. Concurrent filing, the few countries with their own queues, and how fast it can go.
If you were born anywhere other than India, mainland China, Mexico or the Philippines, you’re in the “All Chargeability Areas” column of the Visa Bulletin, often called “rest of world” (ROW).
What it usually looks like
For ROW, EB-2 and EB-3 have often been current or only a year or two behind. The wait is mostly processing time:
- Prevailing wage and PERM: commonly the longest step.
- I-140, often with premium processing.
- I-485, frequently filed concurrently with the I-140 if your date is current.
Countries with their own queues
- Philippines: EB-3 has a backlog; NFAP estimated up to 6 years for new filers.
- Mexico: some categories trail ROW.
When ROW retrogresses
Late in a fiscal year (summer), demand can use up the year’s numbers and ROW dates can move back temporarily. October usually brings them forward again.
The two-engineers story
On many teams, two people hired on the same day will have green cards years or decades apart purely because of where they were born. If you’re the one with the shorter wait, understanding your colleague’s reality helps. Our India and China guides explain it.
The good
- The whole process often takes about two to four years
- I-140 and I-485 can often be filed together
- Fewer surprises from retrogression
The hard
- Colleagues from India and China face very different waits, which can feel unfair on a shared team
- Mexico and the Philippines have their own queues in some categories
- "All chargeability" dates can still retrogress late in a fiscal year
Recent from immigration lawyers
From independent law firms, newest first. Not reviewed by h1b-life, not legal advice and not an endorsement.
- Can an Approved I-140 Still Help After the Employer Withdraws It?Murthy Law Firm · Nov 11, 2026
- My Child Aged Out of Our Employment-Based Green Card Case: What Now?Reddy Neumann Brown · Nov 11, 2026
- MurthyAudio: Tips for Proactive I-485 FilingsMurthy Law Firm · Nov 6, 2026
- Green Card Options: Does Your Company Do Research? The Green Card Option Most Employers OverlookReddy Neumann Brown · Nov 2, 2026
Sources
- Travel.State.Gov: Visa Bulletin
- Cato Institute: Employment-based immigration backlog (Philippines EB-3 figures)
- USCIS: Concurrent filing of Form I-485
Rules change often. If something here looks out of date, it probably is; check the official source and talk to an immigration attorney about your own case.