We have taken action on your case! What does that mean? Let's see..

[Dragonsarereal 36]

hi all,

 

We came to the USA with a K1 visa in June 2024. Adjustment of status paperwork sent in August 2024 after wedding.

Finally in August 2025 ( a year later and right after Tump changed the law) we get asked to attend the interview for the Green card in mid September, which we do, bringing up to date proof of marriage, or living together etc

Officer talks positively about next steps and gaining citizenship. Interview all positive. Husband is a lawyer and was careful to provide every possible needed document to prove we are who we are. Officer takes them with a smile.

 

In September, my teen gets the USCIS email 'We have taken action on your case'

We log in and for months all we see is that they are looking at the 485 form. Until this morning.

 

Today we both got the USCIS email 'We have taken action on your case'

I log in as her and I get 'Case Is Still Being Processed By USCIS - As of December 11, 2025, your Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, Receipt Number XXX s still being processed'

 

I log in into my account and it says nothing. I cannot see my files, my progress, my history, my timeline - only the option windows for an appointment or other tasks. This has happened before and then my progress was then restored, and now missing again.

 

Gemini thinks 'this could indicate the officer has finished their review and the case is moving toward the final adjudication process.'

 

I am letting you know about this so you are aware that not all Green card interviews guarantee an immediate release of explanations, Green Cards or requests for documents.

 

We are dealing with the Centennial Colorado centre.

 

Good luck everyone!

 

 

 

 

[TBoneTX 48,675]

Thanks for this information.  Fingers crossed for good news soon.

[wildbug100420 386]

On 12/11/2025 at 2:50 PM, Dragonsarereal said:

hi all,

 

We came to the USA with a K1 visa in June 2024. Adjustment of status paperwork sent in August 2024 after wedding.

Finally in August 2025 ( a year later and right after Tump changed the law) we get asked to attend the interview for the Green card in mid September, which we do, bringing up to date proof of marriage, or living together etc

Officer talks positively about next steps and gaining citizenship. Interview all positive. Husband is a lawyer and was careful to provide every possible needed document to prove we are who we are. Officer takes them with a smile.

 

In September, my teen gets the USCIS email 'We have taken action on your case'

We log in and for months all we see is that they are looking at the 485 form. Until this morning.

 

Today we both got the USCIS email 'We have taken action on your case'

I log in as her and I get 'Case Is Still Being Processed By USCIS - As of December 11, 2025, your Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, Receipt Number XXX s still being processed'

 

I log in into my account and it says nothing. I cannot see my files, my progress, my history, my timeline - only the option windows for an appointment or other tasks. This has happened before and then my progress was then restored, and now missing again.

 

Gemini thinks 'this could indicate the officer has finished their review and the case is moving toward the final adjudication process.'

 

I am letting you know about this so you are aware that not all Green card interviews guarantee an immediate release of explanations, Green Cards or requests for documents.

 

We are dealing with the Centennial Colorado centre.

 

Good luck everyone!

 

At least you got interview, my wife is still waiting for interview, but got her work card within a month of biometrics. 

 

 

 

[Dragonsarereal 36]

An update, together they sent a new 'we have taken action' and this time we have both been approved. Finally! So now we shall wait for the Green Card to arrive. Apparently with the K1 it only lasts a couple of years and the renewal takes up to 5 years! Crazy...(But they do give an extension letter which is accepted at airports)

[OldUser 11,092]

1 hour ago, Dragonsarereal said:

An update, together they sent a new 'we have taken action' and this time we have both been approved. Finally! So now we shall wait for the Green Card to arrive. Apparently with the K1 it only lasts a couple of years and the renewal takes up to 5 years! Crazy...(But they do give an extension letter which is accepted at airports)

Congratulations! What renewal are you talking about? Removal of conditions on 2 year GC or renewal on 10 year GC? I don't think I-90 takes 5 years. I-751 also takes 3-4 years. 5 is a bit too much.

Edited yesterday at 04:11 AM by OldUser

[TBoneTX 48,675]

3 hours ago, Dragonsarereal said:

we have both been approved

What a great feeling.  Wonderful!

[Dragonsarereal 36]

I checked in many forums and so far they are taking years for removal of condition and over 18 months after naturalization interview. Crazy...

[OldUser 11,092]

6 minutes ago, Dragonsarereal said:

I checked in many forums and so far they are taking years for removal of condition and over 18 months after naturalization interview. Crazy...

You don't have to wait for Removal of Conditions to be approved to apply for citizenship. As soon as you are eligible, file N-400. Both I-751 and N-400 will be worked on concurrently. My journey took about 9 years from work visa to citizen.

 

Even based on marriage, some people say "it's 3 years to become a citizen". Not quite. It's about 1.5-2 years to enter the US / or adjust + 3 years of LPR + 6-18 months for N-400. Add a year for ROC. We're talking about 4-6 years easily.

Edited 19 hours ago by OldUser

[Dragonsarereal 36]

1 hour ago, OldUser said:

You don't have to wait for Removal of Conditions to be approved to apply for citizenship. As soon as you are eligible, file N-400. Both I-751 and N-400 will be worked on concurrently. My journey took about 9 years from work visa to citizen.

 

Even based on marriage, some people say "it's 3 years to become a citizen". Not quite. It's about 1.5-2 years to enter the US / or adjust + 3 years of LPR + 6-18 months for N-400. Add a year for ROC. We're talking about 4-6 years easily.

ah thank you. The rules are changing all the time so I don't know what will apply in 3 years. Also, as American citizens pay income tax to the USA even when moving abroad, I worry that if I go live say in Europe I will be double taxed...

 

[OldUser 11,092]

54 minutes ago, Dragonsarereal said:

ah thank you. The rules are changing all the time so I don't know what will apply in 3 years. Also, as American citizens pay income tax to the USA even when moving abroad, I worry that if I go live say in Europe I will be double taxed...

 

Green Card holders (LPRs) have exact same committments when it comes to US taxation. All world wide income must be reported. Additionally, if you hold GC for 8 years, you subject to same exit tax as US citizen who is renouncing their citizenship. Salaries in most of Europe are typically lower than in the US. And you can use foreign earned income exclusion to pay $0 tax to US on any income under $130000 while living in Europe. The only headache is mandatory form filing every year plus potential discrimination from banks who don't want to serve Americans due to FATCA requirements.

[appleblossom 5,525]

1 hour ago, Dragonsarereal said:

ah thank you. The rules are changing all the time so I don't know what will apply in 3 years. Also, as American citizens pay income tax to the USA even when moving abroad, I worry that if I go live say in Europe I will be double taxed...

 

 

Citizenship rules haven't changed for many years AFAIK. You won't be double taxed unless you move to a country without a tax treaty with the US (the UK isn't one of them). And as @OldUser said, you'd be subject to the same rules as a GC holder anyway. 

Edited 16 hours ago by appleblossom

[Dragonsarereal 36]

Good to know! Yes in Europe income  is lower, but cost of life is also much lower in many areas, and medical insurance not an issue, plus quality of life may be different. Anyways if we ever go there it will be for retirement with only pension as an income…so I am not concerned.