'Where Are We Right Now?'



There's a question many people ask first after starting the U.S. green card process.

'There are so many terms that I don't even know what I'm waiting for right now.'

I-140, PERM, I-485, DS-260...
Looked at individually, these are just names of documents, but if you can't picture how they connect to one another, the years of waiting that follow feel far more anxiety-inducing.

So today, let's set aside the complicated legal language for a moment and take a single sweep through the '7-step journey of the U.S. green card,' based on employment-based immigration (EB-1, EB-2 NIW, EB-3). Simply knowing exactly where your case stands among these seven steps makes it far clearer what you need to prepare for next.



■ Step 1: 'Which Path Will You Take?' — Deciding Your Category and Strategy

The starting line of the green card journey is surprisingly simple. It begins with deciding, 'Which route will I take?'

If you have research achievements or an exceptional career, EB-1 is a candidate; if your career contributes to the U.S. national interest in a specialized field, EB-2 NIW; and if you have a solid sponsoring company and position, PERM-based EB-2/EB-3 becomes a candidate.

The questions you should ask yourself at this stage are as follows.

- What tier does my education and career fall into?
- Do I have a sponsor right now, or do I need to proceed on my own?
- How long can I wait, and how much cost can I bear?
- Do I need to bring my family (spouse, children) along?

If your initial strategy is set incorrectly, years can disappear by the time you realize it and go back to fix it. That's why, at this Step 1, being 'accurate' matters more than being 'fast.'



■ Step 2: The Sponsor, the Position, and the Foundation Work of Documentation

Once you've decided on your category, it's time for the foundation work.

For PERM-based EB-2/EB-3, you need to finalize a U.S. employer and position. On the other hand, for self-petitioning categories like EB-2 NIW, a project proposal outlining 'what value I will create through what work in the United States' becomes important.

The materials you prepare at this stage may seem tedious, but they form the foundation that gets reused all the way through I-140 and the interview.

- Resume, proof of work experience, degree and transcript
- Certifications, publications, patents, portfolio
- (If sponsored by a company) job description, salary level, working conditions

In terms of building a house, this stage is where you draw up the blueprint and put up the frame.
It's an invisible part, but if it's shoddy, you'll end up with leaks and cracked walls later.



■ Step 3: PERM Labor Certification — Proving That Americans Were Given the First Opportunity

PERM is a name that many people in EB-2/EB-3 vaguely fear. But the concept is surprisingly simple.

'It is the process of proving that this position was first given a sufficient opportunity to Americans, but since no suitable candidate was found, a foreign national will be hired.'

To do this, the employer goes through three steps.

- PWD (Prevailing Wage Determination) — the Department of Labor determines the minimum wage appropriate for this position.
- Advertising and recruitment — the employer posts a job opening in a prescribed manner, reviews applicants, and keeps records.
- Filing ETA-9089 — based on the results, the employer applies, stating that 'hiring a foreign national is necessary for this position.'

There are categories without PERM, such as EB-1 and EB-2 NIW, but whether or not PERM is involved greatly changes the overall timeline.
Separate from the visa bulletin, PERM is the first big hill that requires considerable time and effort.



■ Step 4: I-140 — The Formal Request to 'Recognize This Person as an Immigrant'

Once PERM is complete, or if you're in a category that doesn't require PERM, the next gate is the I-140 immigrant petition.
In simple terms, the essence of this document is one thing.

'This person meets the requirements of the relevant immigration category, so please recognize them as eligible to receive an immigrant visa.'

If it's PERM-based, the employer usually becomes the petitioner, while for EB-2 NIW or EB-1A, you can petition on your own behalf.
Here, you need to prove two things.

- Whether the applicant's education, career, and achievements meet the standards required by law
- (If PERM-based) whether it is a genuine hire consistent with the labor certification

You can speed up processing through premium processing, but that only buys you speed with money — the strength of the case ultimately comes down to preparation.



■ Step 5: The Visa Bulletin and Priority Date — 'When Will Your Number Be Called?'

Even after I-140 is approved, a green card doesn't immediately arrive in the mail. From here begins what is, for many people, the most tedious yet nerve-wracking stage — the time spent watching the Visa Bulletin and waiting for your Priority Date.

Simply put, the priority date is 'the date you got in line.' If it's PERM-based, the PERM filing date often becomes the priority date; otherwise, it is usually the I-140 filing date.

Only when the date corresponding to your category and country in the monthly Visa Bulletin reaches your priority date does the signal turn on saying, 'It's your turn.'

- When it reaches the Dates for Filing chart → you can file your application (I-485/DS-260)
- When it reaches the Final Action Date → actual approval and issuance become possible

For some people, this stage may last 6 months; for others, it could be 6 years. This is where the longest silence in the green card journey flows.



■ Step 6: I-485 vs. DS-260 — Adjusting Status Within the U.S., or Entering from Abroad

When your priority date finally becomes current, you move on to the actual green card application. Here, a fork in the road appears.

- I-485 (Adjustment of Status), which changes your status within the United States
- DS-260 (Consular Processing), in which you obtain an immigrant visa abroad, such as in Korea, and then enter the U.S.

If you are already in the United States, many people choose I-485. Once you file I-485, after a medical exam and biometrics, you can also apply for a work permit (EAD) and travel authorization (Advance Parole), allowing a certain degree of activity even before your green card is actually approved.

Conversely, if you are living in Korea, it is common to go through DS-260, have an interview at the U.S. Embassy in Korea, receive an immigrant visa in your passport, and then enter the United States.​

Rather than one option simply being 'better,' this is a branching point where you need to make a strategic choice based on your current status, family situation, and timeline.



■ Step 7: Interview and Approval — The End of Waiting, a New Beginning

After going through so many documents, the place you finally end up standing is the interview room. ​
These days, interviews are waived in some cases, but for many green card applicants, the interview remains the final gate.

What the officer wants to confirm can be summarized into a few key points.

- Whether the immigration category matches your actual career and job duties
- Whether family relationships (spouse, children) are genuine as stated in the documents
- Whether there are any issues such as criminal history, immigration law violations, or overstays
- Whether you can settle financially without difficulty
- Whether your plans in the United States are reasonable

Once you pass this gate, I-485 cases within the United States receive their green card by mail after a certain period, while DS-260 cases enter the U.S. with their immigrant visa and then receive their card.

From that moment on, you are no longer a 'guest,' but form a new relationship as a member of American society. And a few years later, you become eligible to pursue citizenship as well.



■ Where Does Your Case Stand Right Now?

The U.S. green card process looks complicated and long, but if you simplify it a bit, it's ultimately a process of stepping through the following seven boxes in order.

- Deciding on a category and strategy
- Preparing a sponsor, position, and preliminary documents
- PERM labor certification (if applicable)
- I-140 immigrant petition
- Waiting on the visa bulletin and priority date
- Filing and review of I-485 / DS-260
- Interview & approval, receiving the green card

As you read this now, it might be worth taking a moment to check which of these steps your case currently stands at.​

For some, this may bring the relief of thinking, 'Ah, I'm about halfway there now,' while for others it may serve as a warning that 'now is the time to hurry.'

A green card is not a short sprint, but closer to a long-distance race that requires a strategy for each stage. Accurately understanding the meaning of each step, and making the necessary preparations at the right time — that is the most realistic way to make the U.S. immigration journey a little less anxiety-inducing and a little more predictable.