Case Processing
EB3 current again - does 485 auto-switch?
PD: 11/2013. Did the EB3 downgrade and filed 485 concurrently. When EB3 retrogressed, filed TUB + Supplement J in 2021 to move the 485 to EB2, and that J was approved. EB2 later retrogressed as well. Now EB3 is current again while EB2 isn’t. Recent case update "fingerprints were reapplied" last month (second time). Do I need to file another TUB + Supplement J to switch the 485 back to EB3, or will USCIS consider it under EB3 automatically without any new filing?
My EB2 NIW Journey
Hi all! This group has been an inspiration for my 2+ years EB2 NIW Journey. As I am celebrating the approval today, I would like to thank everyone in this community for their continuous feedback and information sharing.
*Background:* PhD in Economics (2018), two Master's, Bachelors (all from the USA). At the time of I-140, I had 5 published papers as the main author with around 150 citations. 15 years of international experience. ROW, but from the recent 75-country list. Don’t want to disclose the lawyer’s details, but it’s a leading one (approve or refund). 2 recommendation letters (one from my major professor and co-author in PhD and one from another professor from an Ivy League institution, known but not a direct teacher).
*Timeline:*
- I-140 PD: late Jan 2024 (IOE093439****)
- I-140 premium processing: mid Aug 2025
- I-140 approval: mid Sep 2025 (30 days)
- I-485 filed: late Oct 25
- Biometrics: late Nov 25
- EA for derivatives: Received soon after the biometrics.
- 3rd FTA0: 3 Feb 2026
- Silent update: 03 & 04 Feb 2026
- Approval notice and H008 (for whole family): 05 Feb 2026
- AP and EAD not received for the primary applicant
I am not an expert on EB2-NIW, but I tried to share my experience above. Please do not request any private info. Regarding how to check API updates, check the Reddit group.
Thank you once again, and wish everyone a successful EB2-NIW journey. Best regards.
traveling with advance parole
I travelled to my country and I wanted to share my experience traveling with advance parole.
I stayed over a month and came back like a week ago.
I was very worried about the waiting time at inmigration ( i had a connection flight) since I’ve been reading they are taking hours to check your information, but it only took like 30 mins. They took me to the back, took my fingerprints and picture and let me go. No questions at all. So I guess that really depends on the officer you land with.
Overall very smooth experience for me.
aos I-485 fiance
hello, we had our interview last week on a fiance visa AOS, we filed for i-485.
we were told our case would be updated within 24 hours on the account and the officer approved us for a police said that he could not make the final decision as it would have to be his supervisor. A week later our account moved to "actively being reviewed by USCIS" when will I hear something? has anyone had the same thing
Interview Scheduled EB1-A
Hi everyone,
I just had my interview scheduled for adjustment of status, and wanted to hear from others who have already had their I-485 interview under EB-1A.
Please share questions asked, if your dependent was also interviewed, anything can help! Thank you so much!
My details:
PD: 03/20/2025
I-140 approved: 04/04/2025
I-485 RD: 04/25/2025
MSC259051XXXX (no access to API)
I’m ROW
EB1-1
Extraordinary ability
Total Days: 287 days
Case
2025-04-25
Today
I-485
287 Days
National Benefits Center: I-485
Removal of conditional green card need Help
Does anyone in Philadelphia know how to file a removal of conditional green card in Philadelphia if yes please I need help you can comment below and we can link up I’ll pay thank you…. I am filing by April 2026 thank you.
IR-1/CR-1
U.S. citizen filing for a spouse
Total Days: 405 days
Case
2023-06-23
2024-08-01
I-485
405 Days
I-601
38 Days
National Benefits Center: I-485, I-601
how much you paid your lawyer vawa?
I’m especially curious:
– How much did you pay your lawyer overall (including the VAWA filing)?
– Were you charged extra for responding to a Request for Evidence (RFE)?
– Where are you based (state/city), if you’re comfortable sharing?
For context:
I applied for VAWA back in 2021 and paid my original lawyer $8,000. Fast forward almost five year that lawyer has now resigned, and I’ve received an RFE.
I’m switching attorneys and having a new lawyer take over the case just to review the file and respond to the RFE. She’s still working on the retainer, but so far I’ve already paid about $1,700 just for her to review the paperwork without committing to it and not a deep dive.
She said once she goes page by page, her rate will be $600–700 per hour, and she estimates it could take around three hours. At this point, it feels like I’ll end up close to $10,000 total for the whole process.
Would really appreciate hearing others’ experiences what’s normal, what’s high, and whether RFEs usually mean extra legal fees like this.
