Case Processing

beesz h
Nov 26, 2025
Tips I’d give now that i’m finally done with my case
- Always do your own research. If you feel like your lawyer is missing something, check it. - Don’t be scared to reach out to them, you’re literally paying for their service. - And if you think they messed up, SAY something. Honestly, if I had spoken up sooner, my interview would’ve been scheduled way earlier. They told me I didn’t need to send a police certificate to the NVC… like, what?! - Be involved in your case. Don’t go crazy, but don’t be hands-off either. - Ask questions anywhere, in this app, Facebook, Reddit. There are tons of people going through the same thing. And honestly, the hardest tip: Be patient. Don’t forget to actually live your life during all of this. Your happiness doesn’t start when the green card arrives, it just continues. Don’t put your whole life on pause.
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J
Joseph Climber
Nov 26, 2025
Approved just in time for Thanksgiving!!
EB‑1C AOS Approval – 3× FTA0, LA FO → Buffalo FO, Tier‑2 + Senator, Both AOS Approved (Principal + Derivative) Posting my EB‑1C AOS timeline with the API “nerd” details (FTA0/H008, FO transfers, Tier‑2, Senator) in case it helps others who are stuck watching their cases not move. Profile * Category: EB‑1C, AOS in the U.S. * PD: Always current * Applicants: Me (principal) + spouse (derivative) * Start: NBC → Los Angeles FO (non‑local) → Buffalo FO (local) * End: Both I‑485s approved same day; my spouse’s about an hour after mine. 🗓️ Condensed Timeline (Only the Important Stuff) Filing & biometrics * 06/25/2025 – Filed: * I‑485 + I‑485J + I‑765 + I‑131 for me * I‑485 + I‑765 + I‑131 for spouse * 07/21/2025 – Biometrics (code 3): * I had my scheduled appt. * Spouse did a walk‑in the same day (her appt was 07/25). * API: * My I‑485 got two FTA0 events with eventDateTime = 07/21. * Spouse’s I‑485 got one FTA0 (created 07/26, backdated to 07/21). Transfer to LA FO + combo card * 08/26/2025 – Emma + later USCIS confirmed: * Case moved from NBC → Los Angeles Field Office (non‑local). * Interview marked “waived at this time.” * 09/05–09/06/2025 – My AP and EAD approved (combo card).
👉 No movement on I‑485 itself; EAD/AP timing turned out to be irrelevant to I‑485 approval. Long background‑check wait → 3rd FTA0 * From 07/21 → 10/27 (~98 days after biometrics) my I‑485 barely moved. * I asked Emma a lot; all I got was: * “We can’t see if background checks are complete.” * I requested Tier‑2 callbacks three times: * First two → generic emails. * Third → real Tier‑2 call. * 10/27/2025 – Key event: * About 10 minutes before the Tier‑2 officer called, my I‑485 API showed a new (3rd) FTA0 created 2025‑10‑27, with eventDateTime backdated to biometrics date 07/21. * After that, I treated the case as background checks complete / decision‑ready. * Tier‑2 still wouldn’t confirm, but from watching many cases, the 3rd FTA0 is a strong signal. Silent touches & Senator * 11/04/2025 – I had a different Emma chat: * Agent asked for my phone + email “to document the chat.” * I got a USCIS survey the next day (first time ever). * Right after that: * My I‑485, I‑485J, and spouse’s I‑485 all got “silent” updatedAt touches with no new events.
👉 Looked like the whole family bundle was opened/synced internally. * 11/12/2025 – I contacted my Senator. * USCIS Congressional Liaison reply: * Case at Los Angeles FO. * “Assigned to an officer pending adjudicative review.”
👉 First written confirmation that an officer actually had the file, not just NBC. Spouse EAD & move to local FO * 11/11/2025 – Spouse’s EAD approved (AP still pending).
Again, this did not correlate directly with I‑485 decision timing. I‑485J closure → both I‑485 approvals * 11/25/2025 – Big prep day: * I‑485J: API showed closed: true (J approved/accepted). * My I‑485 and spouse’s I‑485 both got fresh updatedAt timestamps.
👉 Classic “bundle synced + job offer confirmed” just before final decision. * Emma told me my case was transferred from LA FO → Buffalo FO, which is local for me. * Response when I asked if interview was required:
“Your case is being reviewed by an immigration officer at this time. As of right now nothing is needed from you.” * 👉 That sounded like final review, not an interview trigger. * 11/26/2025 – Final approvals: * I got an email: “We took an action on your case.” * myUSCIS: my I‑485 → “Case Approved.” * API: two H008 events (internal approval/card‑production code). * ~1 hour later – My wife’s I‑485 was also approved. * Same day, same overall sequence, just slightly behind mine. So in the end: * Principal and derivative both approved on 11/26/2025, about an hour apart. 🎉 🔍 What Actually Seemed to Matter (High Signal) 1. The 3rd FTA0 (10/27) * Showed up ~3 months after biometrics, minutes before a Tier‑2 call. * Very strong indicator that background/security checks were completed. * After that, everything else (J approval, FO move, H008) looked like pure adjudication flow. 2. Tier‑2 persistence * 3 attempts: * 2 useless, 1 real call. * I can’t prove the call caused the 3rd FTA0, but nothing happened for months, then: * 3rd FTA0 + Tier‑2 call the same day. * Lesson: Politely push until you get a genuine Tier‑2 callback, but don’t expect them to explicitly talk about checks. 3. Senator inquiry * Gave me concrete info: * Case was at LA FO, * Assigned to an officer. * USCIS said would process my case as soon as possible. 4. I‑485J closed → Final staging * Once the J flipped to closed: true: * Job offer / portability confirmed. * My I‑485 and spouse’s both got fresh touches. * Within a day: we both got approved. * For EB cases, J closure is basically the last checkbox. 5. FO transfer to local (Buffalo) ≠ bad * LA FO → Buffalo FO near the end. * Emma: case under officer review, nothing needed, no interview. * This was just localization + final review, not an interview trigger. 6. EAD/AP & myProgress are noise for I‑485 timing * My combo card approved months before I‑485. * Wife’s EAD approved ~2 weeks before final I‑485 approvals. * myProgress/processing‑times kept saying “11–12 months” even as the case was clearly in final staging.
👉 Helpful for broad expectations, not a predictor once you see things like 3rd FTA0 + J closure + FO officer review.
 If you’re EB‑1/EB‑2/EB‑3 AOS and seeing FTA0s, FO transfers, weird silence, etc., hopefully this helps you interpret the signals a bit better. Good luck everyone and happy Thanksgiving!!! #approved #happythanksgiving #eb1c #greencard #AOS #I-485 #EB

EB1-3

Multinational executive or manager

Total Days: 271 days
Case
2025-03-10
Today
I-140
37 Days
I-765
79 Days
I-485
162 Days
I-131
164 Days
I-485J
164 Days
Nebraska Service Center: I-140 null: I-765, I-485, I-131, I-485J
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