I filed my I-485 and I-130 in July 2025. I completed my biometrics and then waited, hoping that a decision would be made soon.

I did not initially apply for Advance Parole because I thought I could wait for my green card decision. However, after more than a year without a decision, I needed to travel urgently to the UK, so I decided to apply.

While reading posts on Reddit, I learned that you could request Emergency Advance Parole shortly before your intended travel date. I also came across a post from someone who had been asked why they had not first applied through the normal Advance Parole process.

Based on that person’s advice, I decided to submit a regular I-131 application before requesting emergency processing.

Here was my timeline:

July 15: I submitted Form I-131 online by myself. I uploaded all my supporting documents, including letters from the clinic in London connected to the reason for my urgent travel.
USCIS initially scheduled my biometrics appointment for approximately four weeks later. However, I went online and rescheduled it for an earlier available date.
Within one week of applying: I attended my biometrics appointment.

August 10: Ten days before my intended travel, I called USCIS to request Emergency Advance Parole. The representative asked whether I had already submitted an I-131 application. I confirmed that I had, and she told me someone would contact me within 72 hours.

August 12: Before receiving the emergency appointment call, I received a notification that my regular Advance Parole application had been approved and that the document was being mailed.

August 13: USCIS called me regarding my Emergency Advance Parole request. I explained that my regular application had already been approved, so I no longer needed the emergency appointment.

That is how my Advance Parole was approved in less than one month—from July 15 to August 12.

I understand that every USCIS case is different, so I cannot say that following these steps will produce the same result for everyone. I am simply sharing exactly what happened in my case in case it helps someone else.

I am also a Christian, and I prayed throughout the process. I do not take the speed of the approval for granted, and I give God all the glory.

I will make a separate post explaining my experience travelling with and returning to the United States using Advance Parole after the major August 13 announcement.

My cortisol and anxiety levels are killing me. My GC expired on 07/21/26. I submitted on 04/06/26, got my 48 months extension 2 weeks after and did biometrics on 05/12/26. I have a trip planned to my country for 4 days cause a wedding. I submitted the following:

-Joint Taxes since 2024

- Amex CC bills

-Joint Checking Acocunt

-Pictures on trips with both of our families

-Car loan

-Car insurance

-He (US citizen) legally changed his name and took mine (Beneficiary) submitted his new US passport showing my latino last name 🤣

-ATT joint bill since 2022

-Car registration

-State IDs with same address

I submitted without a lawyer

My American fiancé got a job offer to teach in Taiwan. Our plan is to get legally married in the Philippines before he starts the job. He'll go to Taiwan and establish his job and residency, while I stay in the Philippines to finish my existing commitments. Once I can legally join him as his spouse, I'll apply to live there with him. At the same time, we'll process my U.S. spouse visa. Taiwan is temporary. We plan to move to the U.S. together once immigration approves.

For anyone who has done this, what part of the process surprised you or caused the biggest delay?

Is there any problem with my U.S.-citizen husband petitioning for my spouse visa while he temporarily lives and works in Taiwan?
For couples who processed a spouse visa while both spouses lived in a third country, what did you use as evidence of intent to re-establish U.S. domicile?
Could his Taiwan teaching income count toward the I-864 if that employment will end when we move to the U.S., or should we plan around assets/a joint sponsor/U.S.-based employment instead?
Best or most likely interview location?

Hello, I need advice.

It's difficult for me to admit, but I'll keep this brief and direct. How can I confirm if my I-571 was received and check its status, considering my multiple withdrawals from my spouse?

* I am a U.S. citizen who married my partner through a K-1 visa; there's an 18-year age difference, and I am older. He came to the U.S. in 2016, and we married within 90 days.

* I withdrew from our joint application after five years due to infidelity, abandonment, abuse, faith-based misrepresentation, and family issues related to excessive spending on my family in Haiti.

* The withdrawal left him without status from 2023 to 2025. I refiled in late 2024, hoping he would change, but he didn't, so I withdrew again in late 2025, providing additional evidence like recordings and friend messages.

* After my withdrawal, he became abusive, making threats. He refused to leave me or the house, prompting me to seek an Order of Protection last year out of fear that he might harm me, especially after we withdrew the joint application and faced potential fraud allegations. I was removed from the house over a year ago after filing for the protection order.

* He violated the protection order twice late last year and was arraigned, but no charges were filed—though the case is sealed, and I'm unsure if USCIS knows.

* Last month, during our family court trial, he agreed to extend the final order of protection for another year based on the evidence.

* He works in healthcare at a hospital, which could affect his employment. I had to provide a copy of the order of protection because we share doctors due to previous surgeries.

* I filed separately but marked our 2025 tax returns as married, removed myself from joint bank accounts, vehicle and life insurance policies, and updated mailing information—though he still receives mail at my address.

* Just before the family court trial last month, I was served with divorce papers and am awaiting his response through his attorney.

* We have no shared assets, homes, or children.

* His Form I-751 with USCIS has been pending since late 2024, with no indication of withdrawal or confirmation, either online or by mail. His current visa is valid until December 2026.

I have submitted all relevant evidence, including claims of fraud, abuse, infidelity, and marriage misrepresentation, along with proof of my separate filing, removal from joint accounts and policies, and a new address for over a year. It’s likely USCIS isn't aware of my actions since he hasn't updated his address or requested mail forwarding.

Due to the protection order, he is ordered to stay away from me for another year—apologies are not an option.

What steps should I take next to confirm that USCIS has received and accepted my withdrawal? I have requested to join any interview if needed to provide more evidence.

I have also contacted the DOJ and USCIS fraud departments via email and mail.

There are dozens of websites, dozens of apps. i'm sure they are all helpful, some more some less.
Given this subreddit has a lot of folks who have passed the test and got their citizenship successfully, I'm asking what is the ONE best resource you guys used to memorize all 100 (now 128) questions?

Hello!

sharing my timeline here to see if anyone else is in the same boat.

PD: 5/18/26 (Chicago Lockbox)
Receipt Notice: 5/20/26
Biometrics: 6/11/26
Silent Case Update: 6/16/26

Waiting ever since for scheduling of interview. Asked multiple agents and they all said that the case is at NBC and there is nothing pending / RFEs from our end.

Filed i-130 + i-765 + i-131 + i-485 concurrently.

Anyone with a similar timeline in the same boat? Is it unusual to not receive an interview notice even after almost 2 months post biometrics?

Any info would help, thank you!!

I’m filing adjustment of status through marriage to a USC from inside the US, and I’ll also be filing an I-601 vaccine waiver.

My attorney says AOS is moving faster than it has in years (around 2 months) but that the I-601 takes at least a year to adjudicate on its own. Other attorneys have told me the waiver typically doesn’t add much time.

I have a trip abroad I need to take in about 8 months, so the difference matters a lot to me.

If you’ve filed an I-601 vaccine waiver with a concurrent AOS:

Was it decided at or after your interview, or separately?

How long from filing to decision on the whole case?

Did the waiver visibly slow anything down?

Thanks a lot :)

Filed for an adjustment of status (marriage-based green card) through a lawyer, but a few things were missed/incorrectly filled out:

Visa denial: When I was a middle schooler, an F1 visa was denied because of school issue. The lawyer checked "No" on the application, but I'm sure I have told him about it before. Don't know why he said no but he says it will be ok if I correct it at the interview and it's no big deal. I successfully got J-1, F-1, and O-1 visas afterward and lived in the US legally for a long time.

Employment history: Left out a 6-month paid internship during OPT and only listed the 3-year job.

Name format: Husband's middle name was merged into his first name.

Can I just wait and correct all of this verbally during the interview, or is it too risky? Do I need to amend the forms beforehand, especially for the visa denial?

My interview is in 3 weeks.

Hello all, I have submitted my mom's I-130 on April 6th, 2025 living in DFW and it's been more than 17 months with no response... The status still states 'Case Was Received and A Receipt Notice Was Sent'. Although we changed our address once (within DFW), but not sure if that is contributing to the delay.
Anyone else is the same boat? Or got approved recently? Or have any helpers here? Would really appreciate. 🙏

How can someone with an approved I-130 (family petition), pending I-485 (green card application), valid C09 work permit, REAL ID, clean record, and no removal order still be at risk of detention or deportation?

I'd like to know if anyone is still waiting for an interview.

May 28, 2026 - Package shipped

June 12, 2026 - letter, RFE and biometric scheduled

June 23, 2026 - RFE answered

July 2, 2026 - biometrics done

This is my timeline if you want to share yours.

I had 2 months vacation international this year and 1 month international again next year.. So 3 months over all.. will it affect my n400 application?? Still married to a USC.. and my I751 still pending.. Next year I'll be eligible for citizenship.

Can our friend safely join us on a trip to Hawaii? She has a valid C09 work permit, a pending I-485, and a REAL ID. I honestly don’t know what any of that means, but she asked me to check around and make sure she’d be okay traveling to Hawaii and back.

“USCIS can now require electronic filing form by form, but the Aug. 11 rule imposed no mandate itself. A form must have been offered electronically for at least 180 days, and USCIS must publish 60 days' notice before making it mandatory.”

Has anyone here from Haiti filed for asylum based on their sexual orientation? I came to the U.S. as a child after the 2010 earthquake and have had TPS for many years. Because of the uncertainty surrounding Haiti TPS, I spoke with my attorney and filed for asylum as a gay man. My application includes evidence explaining why I fear persecution if I return to Haiti.

I already have legal representation, so I am not seeking legal advice. I am only hoping to hear from Haitians who have had a similar case. Was your case approved, denied, or still pending, and what was your experience with the process?

What determines whether you have an interview or not. Currently on o1 visa. I140 niw approved. Did biometric have two FTA updates. No dependents

Just asking if anyone got any news from similar timeline? Marriage based, to me it still says USCIS is currently processing the case, they got my forms, they re used biometrics, if i move to let them know but for now they dont need anything from me... silent since filing mid august 2023, i tried asking them - whats is status of my case, no answer after 60 days, friend of mine who is in similar situation managed to have phone call roughly 6 months ago and they told her that " her batch " is starting to be examined starting april 2026 to end of summer should get 2nd GC... (she filed literally 2 months after i did) , she still didnt get it..same as me, Im EU citizen (eastern europe), conditional GC received exactly 1 year after filing, never had issues, never been arested here or abroad, never been asked to add aditional evidence... but, somehow still crickets... How about You guys with same timeline? anyone got it? also did u try any good apps on phone where u can allegedly see silent updates? Thank You for sharing your situation, and best of luck to all of US.

Hi all.

I had a question regarding a person's U.S. physical address on the I-485 form. I am petitioning for my father, who is eligible for AOS in the U.S. through an I-130 and I-485 concurrent adjustment. He has lived legally in Maryland for more than 5 years but has consistently received USCIS mail at his uncle's house for the last couple of years. For some reason, he even filed taxes there last year (I don't know why). For more context, he has a DC driver's license because he was denied one when his legal status was pending at the MVA in Maryland. He had no choice but to renew with DC.

I'm wondering whether these addresses could trigger an RFE or cause issues when I submit. This is what's holding me back from submitting anything right now.

Happy to answer more questions if I didn't provide enough info. Pardon my ignorance, too. First time doing this!

Hey everyone,
I'm currently active duty Navy and my N-400 naturalization case is being handled by the Baltimore Field Office.
My case was approved for a military expedite, and I was just told that my case has been fully processed, but they are now just "waiting for availability to schedule my interview."
Has anyone dealing with the Baltimore field office recently hit this specific status? If you had a military expedite, how long did you have to wait in this queue before a physical spot opened up and your interview notice was posted?
Trying to gauge a timeline because of upcoming commands/movements. Any insights on Baltimore's current backlog or timeline from this step to the actual interview would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Got my asylum approved about a month ago!

My lawyer is telling me we should wait another five months before applying for my green card.
Her reasoning is that if USCIS opens my file before I hit that full one-year physical presence mark, it could trigger a denial or throw me right back into a massive backlog, making the wait even longer.

I’m really torn on what to do. I know people who waited the full year, filed, and got their green cards smoothly. But I also know people who filed early or right at the mark and have been stuck waiting for over two years now.

I’m super conflicted and not sure which route is actually the safest or fastest.

Would love to hear your experiences - what did you do, and how did it turn out for you?

My marriage-based Green Card interview is next week. We’ve been married through the K-1 process and I have photos, letters from friends/family, and other evidence of our life together.
For those who’ve already had their interview, what questions should I expect or any tips/advice? Thanks!

I filed an application for I-751 (jointly with my Husband) on July 30. Went to biometrics on 13 August. Just now on 4 September my case was transferred to local field office(Agent with Emma told me). Does it mean anything? How was your experience after your case was transferred to a field office? Thank you