Case Processing
Domestic Travel and ICE risk
Hello everyone! I hope everyone is holding up well during these tough times for immigrants, and I hope that only good days are ahead of us from now on.
I wanted to ask a question: Is it completely safe for someone with an approved asylum case to travel domestically by plane?
I don’t have a criminal record or anything like that in any country. I didn’t overstay my F-1 visa, but after my visa expired, I continued staying in the country and studying. Three years later, I applied for asylum due to changes in my home country that prevented me from going back.
My asylum was approved in April last year, and I applied for both a Refugee Travel Document (RTD) and a green card in June of the same year. Obviously, I haven’t heard anything back since then.
I was hoping to be able to travel domestically, but thanks to the current administration, I feel like that’s been taken away from us now as well.
I was wondering if approved asylees are safe to travel within the US, especially by plane. Has anyone with approved asylum traveled domestically recently? What has everyone’s experience been like? Thank you all and good luck with your cases.
The wait is over! 🎉
Just wanted to share my timeline here so it could be useful to someone.
My EAD/AP card was approved back in April, exactly 6 months after filing the I-485. I'm from ROW counties, not the one which were on hold for a while.
In July or around operator on Emma chat told me my interview was waived in May and transferred to Portland, ME in January. So, if you're concerned, ask Emma on USCIS website, but ask to speak with a real person during business hours. Since then, just a silent update on August and October (in JSON response), no RFE, no repeating fingerprints (original ones were in November a year ago). Yesterday I received an approval for I-485J, today is for I-485. Lawfully still shows I'm on 45/134 position so it wasn't super informative, at least for my combination of nationality and office. Because I worked all the time for the same employer, also helped (I didn't have to file another I-485J). The whole process took 3.5 years, PERM was 500 days, premium I-140 and it was approved before we filed I-485s and I-765. I was a single person in my application, no kids, no family. PD is January 2024.
EB2-1
Advanced degree or exceptional ability
Total Days: 392 days
Case
2025-10-14
2026-11-10
I-485
392 Days
National Benefits Center: I-485
I-485 approved 🤩🤩
We began the process with the PERM application, which took approximately 1 year and 2 months. We filed our I-140 in January using premium processing. Our priority date was 07/2024. The entire process took nearly 2 years and 4 months.
EB2-1
Advanced degree or exceptional ability
Total Days: 245 days
Case
2026-03-10
2026-11-10
I-485
245 Days
Nebraska Service Center: I-485
finally greened!
After a long journey filled with patience, uncertainty, stress, and countless prayers, I can finally say that the wait is over! What once felt so far away has finally become a reality.
This journey taught me so much about patience, faith, and trusting God’s timing. There were moments when it felt like it would never happen, but Alhamdulillah, everything happens at the right time.
Wishing everyone who is still waiting the very best. May you all receive your good news soon. Your turn is coming! Never lose hope. ❤️
PD: March 2022
RFE: September 2025
No interview
EB3-3
Unskilled worker (requiring less than 2 years of training or experience)
Total Days: 1385 days
Case
2023-01-27
2026-11-12
I-485
1385 Days
Texas Service Center: I-485
Citizens
hello all,
I am active duty military. We are about to move to Asia beginning of 2027, but my Spouse’s passport has expired and his country doesn’t have booklet to make passports and this has been going on for three years now. We asked the USCIS to expedite his N-400 process, but they keep telling him that his process time is within normal time. We just had a baby and I’m super nervous and stressed about this.
I need your help!
expedite via congress / pedir expedito por congreso
hola a todos,
pedimos por congreso, y después d un mes nos pidieron el documento d mi esposo k no es americano, la forma d autorizar que pueden ablar con el congreso, nos nos negaron nada , solo pidieron ese documento antes de segir. ustedes creen k sería otro mes asta escuchar d ellos sobre el expedito?
we did expedite request via congress, one month later they returned saying to please send authorization form from my hubby which is the one seeking status. they didn’t deny it they just asked for that document. do you guys think it will be another month before getting a response from them ?
thank you
gracias a todos
Que Dios nos bendiga y ayude a todos 🙏🏽
Question for the Community – Derivative Asylum for My Two Children
Question for the Community – Derivative Asylum for My Two Children
Hello everyone,
I would appreciate some guidance from anyone who has experienced a similar situation or has knowledge of this process.
My asylum was approved in 2024, and I am currently in the United States. I have two children who were included in my asylum case, but they are currently still in my home country, the same country I had to flee because of persecution.
My question is: Can I still file for derivative asylum (Form I-730) for my two children even though they are currently living in the country I fled due to persecution?
Has anyone successfully filed Form I-730 for their children under similar circumstances?
I would appreciate hearing about your experiences, any challenges you encountered, and advice on the process.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Filed mandamus and interviewed today
Newark FO, asylum-based I-485, interview done 11/10
Filed Aug 2024. Filed mandamus late Aug 2026, interview got scheduled Oct 19 (about 6 weeks after service). Interview today took ~2 hours, officer went line by line, no documents requested. Handed a "held for review" continuance notice at the end. Same afternoon the online status flipped to "Interview Cancelled and Notice Ordered" and the case step moved to "Decision." Interview was not actually cancelled, that's just how they close a continued interview in the system.
Anyone else at Newark get this combo? How long from "Decision" to approval for you?
Asylum
Based on grant of asylum more than 1 year ago
Total Days: 820 days
Case
2024-08-14
2026-11-12
I-485
820 Days
National Benefits Center: I-485
stem opt
Hi everyone, I applied for my STEM OPT extension on January 13, 2026, and my application is still pending with USCIS. My 180-day automatic EAD extension has expired, so I am currently unable to work.
I am concerned about my 150-day unemployment limit. I already reached 120 days.
Will unemployment days accrue after the 180-day extension expires while USCIS continues processing my application? If my application is denied, will those days be counted retroactively?
I also received a paid offer from an E-Verified employer. Would an approved unpaid leave arrangement help?
Would appreciate any guidance or similar experiences. Thank you!
Subject: I-485 (Asylum-based) Case Update – 740 Days
Hi everyone! I wanted to share my case update with the Lawfully community so others facing long delays know where things stand:
Bullet Case Type: I-485 (Asylum-based - asylum granted by an Immigration Judge over 1 year ago).
Bullet Total Days: Today marks 740 days (about 2 years) since filing.
Bullet Inquiries Made: Previously submitted a Congressional inquiry, followed by a Senatorial inquiry through Senator Chuck Schumer’s office.
Bullet USCIS Response: The Senator's office reported that the case is at the National Benefits Center (NBC) and being reviewed via the LETS system, but returned a standard "within normal processing times" response.
Has anyone else experienced this kind of response after a Senatorial inquiry? At 740 days, is it time to consider filing a Writ of Mandamus? Would appreciate any insights or shared experiences. Thank you!
#i485 #greencard #asylum #asylumbasedi485
any one travel from there home country to usa this days on adavance Parol my friends .. if yes share us here thank you 😇
if some who travel from home country to usa on travel on recent days .. on advance Parol ..
Wawa
who stuck in there home country for a year or more let us know thank you .. that’s will be help .
