Work Permit Journey collects self-reported milestones across common employment-immigration paths: F-1 to OPT, the H-1B lottery and petition, PERM labor certification, I-140, and the I-485 transition. Filter by visa type to see the self-reported cases listed and, once enough signed-in submissions include a step, how long that step took.
- What it shows: Average days from filing to EAD receipt for OPT and from filing to decision for I-140, the H-1B selection and approval rates, and charts by visa type and service center. Each average, rate and chart counts timelines from signed-in readers only, and shows once 20 of them have shared that step. RFE, PERM audit, STEM extension, lottery attempt and H-4 EAD processing answers are not collected yet.
- Who it is for: F-1 students planning OPT, OPT workers preparing for the H-1B lottery, workers in PERM or I-140, and anyone comparing their own milestones with self-reported cases.
- What it is not: An official USCIS or DOL data feed. Self-reported journeys reflect what applicants chose to share. Treat aggregates as community signal, not a guaranteed forecast. Not legal advice.
Self-reported journey milestones from community members. Averages and rates count signed-in submissions only. Not legal advice.
Filter & Explore
The Path From F-1 to Green Card
Most employment-based green card paths in the U.S. start years before the I-485 form. Each stage has its own timeline, paperwork, and risk. This page collects community-shared milestones so you can compare your own timeline with cases others have shared.
F-1 to OPT and STEM OPT
F-1 students typically activate Optional Practical Training in the final term of study using Form I-765. Standard OPT runs 12 months. STEM-eligible degrees can extend that by 24 months with a separate filing. Processing times for the EAD have varied widely by service center and year.
H-1B Lottery and Petition
Most workers transition from OPT to H-1B via the annual electronic registration lottery in March. Selected registrants then file Form I-129 between April 1 and June 30. Premium processing is usually available. RFE rates and approval times depend heavily on the receiving service center and the wage level claimed.
PERM and I-140
The green card track typically begins with PERM labor certification (Form 9089) filed by the employer with the Department of Labor. Once certified, the employer files Form I-140. The I-140 priority date locks your queue position in the Visa Bulletin and follows you across employers if approved.
I-485 Transition
Once your priority date becomes current under the relevant Visa Bulletin chart, you file Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status) along with EAD and Advance Parole applications. EAD/AP issuance usually precedes the green card by several months and gives unrestricted work and travel authorization while you wait.
Frequently Asked Questions
Anonymized self-reported journey milestones submitted by community members. Not legal advice.