i485 Cases Approved Today - but what happens now?

[EriLupGus 0]

Brought my fiancé and her son over on 129F in December 2022, got married and filed all the i485 paperwork which was received in February 23. Here we are 5 months later and today received a notice online and the portal states "Case Approved".  

 

"We approved your form I-485,... and sent you an approval notice....please follow the instructions on your notice... if you do not receive your notice by Augst 19th... etc etc"

 

How excited should we be about this?  What usually happens from here?  I have been searching this forum and most of the discussion seems to end at people getting approved.  

Some obvious questions:

- What instructions are likely included in the approval letter?

-Since the case was "Approved" does that mean another interview is no longer needed?

-Will the green card just print and arrive automatically?

-What kind of timeline are we looking at?

 

Since it has only been 6 months and they publish 20 months I feel like maybe we are not really in the end game.  I want to be excited, but not sure if it's too early for that.

 

Thanks

 

- Feb 2021, Filed 129F

- Nov 2022, Interview in Mexico city (included biometrics and medical) APPROVED!

- Dec 2022, Crossed into USA, got married Dec 20th.

- Jan 2023, Competed all related i-485 forms, request to work, advanced parole, completed vaccinations/another medical

- Jan 2023, Got S/S card and Marriage certificates

- Feb 2023, Officially received my packet 

- March 2023,  Approved to work, received card

- April 2030, biometrics

- July 2023, activity on cases - indicated cases actively under review but back dated to March of 2023

- July 2023, activity on cases - i-485 Cases approved.

????

 

 

 

 

 

[Crazy Cat 39,591]

Congratulations!!!   The Green Card is on its way via the mail.    Next stop- I-751 and Removal Of Conditions in about 2 years.  It is not too early to look ahead and start collecting documents over the next couple years.

 

Your Green Card supersedes EAD and AP documents.  You might want to get the Social Security card ".....work authorization..." removed. 

Edited July 21, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[EriLupGus 0]

Thank you Crazy Cat.  Sooooo wow. Really? That's it? No real chance of getting the approval letter and it telling us we need an interview and 20 more things?   How long from "Case Approved" does it usually take to get a notice saying the card is being printed?  or does it just arrive with the approval letter?

 

They didn't take any action on the Advanced Parole applications.  I assume because they approved the i-485 we won't need advanced parole?

She does have a social security card already. Sounds like there is a better version of it once you are i-485 approved?

 

Sorry, a lot in my mind.    I did 100% of the paperwork on my own beginning to end. I'll check out the i-751.  That's a form I haven't looked into yet. 

 

Thanks

 

 

 

[Crazy Cat 39,591]

4 minutes ago, EriLupGus said:

They didn't take any action on the Advanced Parole applications.  I assume because they approved the i-485 we won't need advanced parole?

She does have a social security card already. Sounds like there is a better version of it once you are i-485 approved?

There is no need for an EAD or AP document.  With a Green card, you are authorized to travel and work, so there is no need for the "valid with work authorization" statement on the SS card.  

Edited July 21, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[Crazy Cat 39,591]

5 minutes ago, EriLupGus said:

I did 100% of the paperwork on my own beginning to end. 

Well done!!!!  Very well done!!

[Skye841 1]

On 7/21/2023 at 11:34 AM, EriLupGus said:

Brought my fiancé and her son over on 129F in December 2022, got married and filed all the i485 paperwork which was received in February 23. Here we are 5 months later and today received a notice online and the portal states "Case Approved".  

 

"We approved your form I-485,... and sent you an approval notice....please follow the instructions on your notice... if you do not receive your notice by Augst 19th... etc etc"

 

How excited should we be about this?  What usually happens from here?  I have been searching this forum and most of the discussion seems to end at people getting approved.  

Some obvious questions:

- What instructions are likely included in the approval letter?

-Since the case was "Approved" does that mean another interview is no longer needed?

-Will the green card just print and arrive automatically?

-What kind of timeline are we looking at?

 

Since it has only been 6 months and they publish 20 months I feel like maybe we are not really in the end game.  I want to be excited, but not sure if it's too early for that.

 

Thanks

 

- Feb 2021, Filed 129F

- Nov 2022, Interview in Mexico city (included biometrics and medical) APPROVED!

- Dec 2022, Crossed into USA, got married Dec 20th.

- Jan 2023, Competed all related i-485 forms, request to work, advanced parole, completed vaccinations/another medical

- Jan 2023, Got S/S card and Marriage certificates

- Feb 2023, Officially received my packet 

- March 2023,  Approved to work, received card

- April 2030, biometrics

- July 2023, activity on cases - indicated cases actively under review but back dated to March of 2023

- July 2023, activity on cases - i-485 Cases approved.

????

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Skye841 1]

Just now, Skye841 said:

 

Hi, congrats.

so you guys didn’t have to attend an interview for GC together? 
I have had my biometrics appointment and waiting to hear about AP/EAD and GC interview. 

[EriLupGus 0]

Nope, just the interview for her in Mexico city to approve the fiance visa. A second bio metric appt a month after filing i485 in March, green cards in the mail by August 3. Amazing. Only 5 months!

[Skye841 1]

3 hours ago, EriLupGus said:

Nope, just the interview for her in Mexico city to approve the fiance visa. A second bio metric appt a month after filing i485 in March, green cards in the mail by August 3. Amazing. Only 5 months!

Wow so good, i didn’t know some GC interviews must be getting waived. But that is good to know. Thanks