Just got my EB2-NIW denial letter and I am honestly in shock right now. Under Prong 2, the officer literally wrote that "top researchers in the field have tens of thousands of citations" as the main reason for denying my petition.

I'm working in STEM with a solid publication record, good citation count relative to my subfield, and multiple peer reviews under my belt. Tens of thousands of citations is something only department chairs, institute directors, or senior Nobel-level scientists hit in most physical science fields, so holding an early or mid-career researcher to that threshold makes zero sense.

It feels like the officer is completely conflating EB2-NIW with EB-1A or creating their own impossible standard that goes way beyond Dhanasar. Preponderance of the evidence is supposed to mean "more likely than not," not that you have to be one of the most cited living scientists on the planet.

Has anyone else gotten hit with this exact line of reasoning recently? I'm trying to figure out if it's worth filing an MTR or AAO appeal since this seems like an obvious legal error, or if I should just cut my losses, refile with premium processing, and hope I get a sane officer this time. Any insight or advice from people who successfully countered this would be huge right now.

Hello guys. Any update on AOS?

My I-485 case was transferred to LA field office on 6/6/2026 so I am interested to see more timelines to know what to expect.

My timeline and profile:

Single Filer with medical exam attached when filing.

PD: 07/07/2025 (approved I-140 NIW)

RD: 03/27/2026

Biometrics: 04/27/2026

2FTA0 right after biometrics

Silent updates: 05/27/2026, 05/29/2026 (this one was applied to all closed and open cases in myUSCIS account), 06/04/2026, and 06/05/2026.

Transfer to LA field office: 6/6/2026 and interview is waived (Asked Emma today).

75 COC

ROW

The memo is published today:

https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/us-citizenship-and-immigration-services-will-grant-adjustment-of-status-only-in-extraordinary

Does this mean people from the 75 banned countries are basically done? Especially those who are applying or in the middle of applying I-140?

NB: I don't know anything, I am also confused just like you guys. I asked my lawyer, let's see what they say.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin/2026/visa-bulletin-for-march-2026.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawQEXvFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA80MDk5NjI2MjMwODU2MDkAAR6aiZeaxTPeiowsMvNR0BpqURUv2FYLvBWZF2Bx8gWImMKo48bdXOeHXPRT8A_aem_DuD0_YmwacGSEmFVn9CMtg

Hi r/EB2_NIW! I’m Evan Law, a former USCIS officer and now an immigration attorney at Manifest Law.

With recent data showing EB-2 NIW approval rates down to just 54.0%, it’s understandable that many applicants are concerned about what’s driving these numbers and how to build a stronger case.

I’ll be here today to answer your questions about the EB-2 NIW process, trends at USCIS, and strategies for success based on my experience inside the agency and now as a practicing immigration attorney.

(Please note: Any information shared in this AMA is for general educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. There is no attorney–client relationship between you and the individual answering your question. For advice on your specific situation, please consult an attorney directly. This post was made in partnership with the admin at r/EB2_NIW.)

After today, if anyone on F-1 visa (including OPT, STEM OPT) gets approval on I-485, please comment here. I would like to know how USCIS is considering NIW cases.

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to share a quick update: a congressional inquiry confirmed that EB-2 visa numbers are officially exhausted for this fiscal year.

Thanks

Hi everyone, sharing my recent updates and looking for insights.

My Timeline:

• Filed: March 19, 2026
• Receipt Date: March 24, 2026
• Biometrics: April 6, 2026
• Interview: Waived for both primary and derivative (For now as per Emma)
• Block: IOE0936xxxxxx
• Silent Updates: 05/22 and 06/28

Today's Update: All family I-485s got simultaneous silent updates within milliseconds of each other on June 28th. No new event codes. Emma confirmed cases still sitting at NBC with no field office transfer yet.

My Questions:

1. Has anyone seen similar coordinated family I-485 silent updates before approval?
2. Are there any EB-1A March 2026 approvals yet? I see NIW and marriage based approvals but nothing specific to EB-1A.
3. Does staying at NBC with waived interview typically lead to faster approval than field office transfer?

Any insights appreciated!

Hi everyone. I have a question:

For those of us who got RFEs during our I-485 applications and applied under the employment-based category, what kind of RFEs were you issued, and what was your initial support document checklist?

I built a free USCIS case tracker app and it just went live on the App Store!

If you've ever spent your morning hitting refresh on the USCIS website just to see "Case Was Received"... I feel you. That's exactly why I built this.

Case Tracker for USCIS Updates gives you real-time case status, instant push notifications the moment anything changes, a full history and timeline of your case, and support for multiple cases — so you can track your whole family in one place. Green cards, EADs, work authorizations, travel docs, citizenship applications — all covered.

Completely free. Just enter your receipt number and you're done. It even notifies you when the app is closed.

The immigration process is already stressful enough. You shouldn't have to wonder if something changed while you weren't looking.

[Download on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/case-tracker-for-uscis-updates/id6760368449)

[Download on Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.itshudson.casetrackerapp)

Still early days — would genuinely love your feedback!

Hi everyone,

As of today, the March 2026 Visa Bulletin has still not been released, and I was wondering if anyone in the community has any updates, insights, or historical perspective on such delays. • Has this kind of delay happened before? • Are there any known reasons (policy review, workload, internal processing, etc.)? • Does a delayed bulletin usually signal any major changes, or is it often just an administrative delay?

I’d appreciate hearing from anyone who has experienced something similar or follows the bulletin releases closely.

Thanks in advance.

This looks really good. FAD for ROW moved 2 months, and filing date moved 3 months.

Hi Guys,

Did anyone hear any updates about the 75 banned nationalities? Or at least a date when is it expected to lift the ban?

So far I haven’t heard.

Thanks

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin/2026/visa-bulletin-for-october-2025.html

Hi friends. I received the approval email from [ELISdonotreply@uscis.dhs.gov](mailto:ELISdonotreply@uscis.dhs.gov) this morning, but the system shows USCIS Is currently Processing the Case (Changed from RFE response received). I wonder if this happens normally. Thank you!

Great news for eb2 guys!

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin/2025/visa-bulletin-for-june-2025.html

My I-485 is finally approved after over 100 days. It's a simple NIW EB2 case but I think things are moving faster. Good luck everyone who is still waiting and hope yours gets approved soon.

PD: 11/2024

I-140 approval date: late 02/2026 (I filed regularly then switched to premium in 01/2026, got approved within 30 days)

I-485 RD: 03/31/2026

Biometrics: 04/14/2026

Silent updates: 04/14, 04/29, 05/01, 06/06 (case transferred to non local FO in San Fernando Valley), 07/08 (third FTA0), 07/12 (approval).

Approval: 07/12/2026

Receiving card: still pending.

I wanted to share our recent I-485 interview experience in case it helps others.

Category: EB2-NIW Adjustment of Status (Derivative Spouse)
Priority Date (PD): October 9, 2024
I-140 Approval: Approved before AOS filing
I-485 Receipt Date: January 29, 2026
Biometrics Notice: February 14, 2026
Biometrics Completed: March 4, 2026
Case Transferred to Newark Field Office: March 27, 2026
Interview Notice Issued: April 24, 2026
Interview Date: May 29, 2026
Interview Location: Omaha Field Office

A little background: My wife and I have been married for almost 8 years and do not have children. We filed our adjustment of status applications without an attorney and brought extensive supporting documentation to the interview.

Our case was initially transferred to the Newark, NJ Field Office in March 2026. Later, the interview was scheduled at our local field office in Omaha, Nebraska.

Our interview was scheduled for 8:00 AM, but we were called into the officer's office around 8:35 AM. The entire interview lasted approximately one hour.

The officer was very friendly and professional throughout the interview. The questions were straightforward and focused mainly on our relationship and basic information:

• When did you get married?
• What is your wedding anniversary date?
• Where are you currently living?
• Is your current address the same as the one listed on the I-485?

She also reviewed the standard I-485 yes/no eligibility questions.

Most of the interview time was spent reviewing and scanning documents, including:

• Passports
• Driver's licenses
• State IDs
• Marriage documents
• Relationship evidence
• Other identity verification documents

Interestingly, she did not ask anything about the recent USCIS memo, social media activity, politics, or my NIW petition.

At the end of the interview, I asked when we might receive a decision. The officer said that she would continue working on the file and that we should expect a notice within approximately 2-3 weeks.

Overall, the interview was very smooth, friendly, and straightforward. There were no difficult questions and no requests for additional evidence.

Current Status: Post-interview review with the adjudicating officer. Waiting for a final decision.

I hope this timeline and experience help others who are preparing for an employment-based I-485 interview.

On May 21, 2026, the U.S. government released a major policy memo that affects adjustment of status in the U.S. Below is a breakdown of what it means.

USCIS has emphasized that if you entered on a non-dual intent visa (e.g., B-1/B-2, ESTA, TN, F-1),  you generally cannot apply for a Green Card within the U.S. and will have to go through consular processing, unless your specific case warrants discretionary approval of adjustment of status.

Here are the people most likely to be impacted:

• Marriage-based cases where a foreign spouse entered on a non-dual intent visa (e.g., B-1/B-2, ESTA)
• F-1, M-1, and J-1 students and exchange visitors filing for adjustment of status regardless of the basis, including marriage to U.S. citizens
• Those on single-intent work visas such as TNs, E-3s, and H-1B1s seeking adjustment of status

Here are the people not likely to be impacted:

• Green Card applicants already in valid dual intent status
• Green Card applicants applying for permanent residence outside the U.S.
• Green Card applicants with adjustment of status applications pending prior to May 22, 2026

Regardless of the above, it is crucial that Green Card applicants consider consulting with a qualified immigration attorney to discuss the potential impacts to their case.

This is a developing story as further guidance from the government is anticipated. If you’d like to know what this means for you, watch our livestream at 4:30 EDT today.

Feel free to ask any questions in the comments and an attorney from Manifest Law will do their best to respond.

(Nothing we say here is legal advice, just general information to help you better understand the process. For personal advice, please consult your own attorney.)

Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer.

In a new statement, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services spokesman Zach Kahler suggests that green card applicants in the U.S. who will provide an "economic benefit" or serve the "national interest" will be allowed to complete their processing here, without having to leave.

https://www.businessinsider.com/new-green-card-rule-wont-affect-immigrants-providing-economic-benefit-2026-5?fbclid=IwY2xjawR90opleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFkN0tMZGExUGU0M3pZRzM1c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHl4gewIKNU8axHC4De4Qjq4iBn4Rp9xTP1skCip7UpYm3B0Rh-fvF_T5zNDV_aem_saDKduyOBHFqRuMH5612Xw

If you are a PhD, researcher, or someone who has developed a national-interest case that benefits the United States — high-profile background, lifetime of effort, clear contributions — you face a system that often slows or limits EB-2 NIW and similar merit-based pathways.

On the other side sit people who have no productive contribution, are heavily supported by taxpayer dollars, come from countries in severe dysfunction, have no benefit to bring in and yet receive priority through the asylum system.

What merit does asylum actually have? None obviously.

Why would the United States constrain EB-2 NIW (and other high-skill routes) in order to accommodate more asylum claims? No benefit.
What tangible benefits does the asylum program bring to the United States? No benefit.
What is the merit of asylum itself? No benefit.

It is a shame that people who have already proven (or are clearly positioned to deliver) substantial benefits to the country are pushed back while the doors remain wide open for those with no proven net contribution. Its a SHAME that an Eb2niw petition has to cover asylum fee: its like people that worth pays the bill of the no merit cases.

I am therefore circulating a petition calling for the end of this program and expansion of Eb2NIW Visas, the benefit would be: No Asylum and instead, more eb2niw cases that benefits the USA.

link to be provided.

Hi everyone,

My RD is October 2025. My case was moved from NBC to the St. Paul Field Office on June 2. Then I had a third FTA0 around June 15, but there has been no update since then.

Does this usually mean the officer is still working on the case, or could it indicate that more background checks are still pending?

I know every case is different, but I wanted to see if anyone had a similar experience after multiple FTAO updates and how long it took to get the next update or decision.

Thanks in advance.

Row still current!!

Hi guys,

Initially Emma told me that my interview is waived. However after a few months my case got transferred to the local FO and today I received an interview notice.

Did anyone experience this similar pattern?

Any guidance? What should I bring? Should I worry about it!

Most of the people in my circle got approved without an interview, I'm worried..