Federal permanent residency applications are taking longer than ever due to new security protocols, additional review stages, and processing center consolidations implemented in 2024-2025. Families face years of uncertainty as applications sit in multiple queues with different bottlenecks for family-based versus employment-based cases. The key to navigating these delays is understanding new requirements like expanded address history documentation, stricter medical exam scheduling, enhanced financial documentation, and updated biometrics procedures. Common mistakes include using outdated forms, incorrect photos, poor document organization, and improper address change notifications. Success requires thorough preparation, realistic timeline expectations, and proper responses to any government requests for additional evidence.