lennikov

My I-485 case was approved in 229 days. There were no RFE or interview and no case updates since "Fingerprints were taken" until April 21, 2025, when I suddenly received an update about a "New card being produced", followed by the "Case being approved" the next day. It was rather an uneventful process. It was a long 5 years since I started the whole process with the NIW application that took about 2 years to get approved, followed by the 3 years it took to get a waiver, and then the I-485. There are a few more steps, such as updating the driver's license and SSN card, and no longer having the DHS authorisation text written on it. But I suppose my journey ends here. I appreciate all the forum members for being so helpful and encouraging, and wish everyone luck in their visa journey.

If someone is still following my journey, I'm still waiting for the decision on my green card, i485. I filed it on September 5th, 2024, and performed fingerprinting on October 23. I have received work authorization and travel authorization within weeks of fingerprints. However, my wife only received work authorization, and no progress has been made on her travel authorization ever since. There have been no further updates on my i485 case ever since fingerprinting. Looking back, I realize I should have prepared my green card application and filed it as soon as my waiver came in. This way, it might have been approved around the new year before the new administration backlogs kicked in. I'll let you know if something happens in the coming months. At least with work authorization, I can stay in the country as long as I need and not worry about my visa anymore.

DOS usually takes 1.5-2 years to review your case, less than 24 months, but about 18-20 months on average. With about 10-12 months of the lead time for USCIS to send your case to DOS, the whole ordeal is around 3 years.

Dear Community, it's been a while. I wanted to provide an update on my timeline from a Favorable Recommendation in April this year to my current situation of the adjustment of status. It took me several months to assemble all the documents to file the adjustment of status; I had to re-issue my marriage certificate due to a minor mistake we did not notice years ago and complete health appointments for STDs, transmittable diseases, and overall health. The point of interest is that you will need many vaccines, most of which are available for free from CVS, with most health insurance coverage. However, if you do this vaccine on the day of the appointment, your insurance will not cover it and will go 100% from your pocket. The immigration health appointment staff may not necessarily be forthcoming regarding this aspect unless you ask them directly. So, it is best to get the list of the vaccines you are missing and get them from CVS or your PCP. Finally, I filed for the position on September 5th of this year. I filed I-485 for myself and my wife, I-131 for travel authorization, and I-765 for work authorization. On October 25th, I reviewed my fingerprint appointment. A few weeks later, my work and travel authorization was approved, and I received a combo card allowing me to work in the US without restrictions and travel in and out of the country. The filing fees and other unrelated expenses have depleted my resources, so even though I can travel now, I don't expect any international travel in the next couple of years. My wife only received work authorization; her travel authorization is still pending after fingerprint collection. While green card review certainly takes its time, it is incomparable with the hell of 3 years of waiting for an I-612 waiver, and you get benefits along the way with work and travel authorizations. I'll update you on the final outcome and if I will be required for the green card interview. Here is some advice for those waiting for their waiver: If you want to save time, prepare your green card submission package in advance. It makes sense to do it after a positive recommendation. If rejected, the document effort would be useless, but preparing the green card submission can save you several months as you can file within weeks you receive the I-612 approval letter as soon as you finish your health appointment and receive the sealed package with your health information.

So, I finally received the waiver document from USCIS. The timeline so far looks like this Filed documents to USCIS Feb 2022. USCIS made finding of hardships in September 2022 Filed documents to DOS in October 2022. Favorable recommendation from DOS April 2024 Waver document send by USCIS May 2024 I retained an Ellis Porter immigration attorney to file for my adjustment of status.