When to Start Your Green Card
Find the critical PERM filing and I-140 approval deadlines before your H-1B 6-year limit ends. The tool applies federal AC21 §106(a) and §104(c) rules, factors in your country of birth and EB category backlog, and shows you whether you're safe, tight, urgent, or overdue.
How This Tool Works
Enter your H-1B start date, country of birth, EB category, and where you are in the green card process. The tool calculates your 6-year max-out date, works backwards through the AC21 §106(a) 365-day deadline, then accounts for ~18 months of PERM processing time to tell you when you should realistically start PERM recruitment. It also shows your I-140 approval target, which is when §104(c) 3-year extensions unlock.
What the Data Covers
AC21 §106(a) and §104(c) rules are federal law from the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-First Century Act (AC21). PERM processing times are sourced from DOL OFLC published data (~18 months as of 2026). Priority date backlog classifications come from the current DOS Visa Bulletin for EB-2 and EB-3 across India, China, Philippines, Mexico, and All Others.
Tips for Using This Tool
Frequently Asked Questions
Data Source & Methodology
Federal AC21 rules are deterministic. PERM processing times are conservative estimates based on DOL OFLC published times for 2026 (18 months from filing to approval for cases without audit). I-140 processing times assume regular processing (6 months); premium processing can shrink this to ~15 days. Recommended PERM start date is calculated by subtracting the PERM processing duration from the §106(a) deadline, giving a safety buffer for cases that go to audit.
AC21 rules have edge cases: recaptured time, L-1 to H-1B transfers, changes of employer mid-process, and cap-exempt work at universities or nonprofits can all shift your deadlines. Always confirm your specific situation with a licensed US immigration attorney before making filing decisions. Missing an AC21 deadline can have irreversible consequences.