Case Processing
Filling to adjust status of asylum applicant
Got my green card this month of may 2025 after 42b Vawa cancellation of removal approved back in dec 2024.
Married last month with a Kazakhstan national, 30 years old, who entered with a tourist visa, extended this tourist visa and applied for asylum before expiration of the same to keep legal status.
1- Should I file for her adjustment of status sending forms i-485, i-130 and i864 all together at the same time?
2- We live in Vegas now, but we are about to move in two months or so to Portland OR. Is it wise to wait to apply with residency there since they have better processing times and are more lenient since it’s a democrat state?
3- I never filed for taxes before. To comply with documentation of i864, im thinking about filing for my first three consecutive years in the U.S. as 2017, 2018 and 2019 first and sending my paystubs of my entire year of 2024 and 2025. Would that be enough?
Any February 28 PD I-130 approvals at Texas Service Center?
Has anyone gotten approved today? I heard that February 26 PD cases at Texas Service Center were approved a few days ago, but February 28 cases are still quiet. I’m honestly so anxious, nervous, and feeling almost depressed from the waiting. Anyone with the same PD or any updates, please share!#TexasServiceCenter #I130 #Feb28PD
IR-1/CR-1
U.S. citizen filing for a spouse
Total Days: 450 days
Case
2024-02-28
2025-05-23
I-130
450 Days
Texas Service Center: I-130
Chicago Field Office
My I-485 case has been at the Chicago Field Office for some time, and recently my dependents cases were also transferred there. Could this be a positive sign? Has anyone else had their case processed at the Chicago Field Office, and if so, can you share your timeline or experience?
#Eb1a #aug2024
USCIS notification for a pending I-130
Hello all,filed for my spouse Jan last year.Case has been pending.Got a mail notification that “we have taken an action on your case”. Logged in to check only to see another update that care is actively reviewed.First case is being actively reviewed was Feb last year and then today.Any possibility they just dusted our file,about to get approved ? thanks
My Experience at the Asylum Interview (Affirmative)
When USCIS finally scheduled my interview, I felt a mix of relief and frustration. I had waited over eight years, and the only reason I finally got a date was because my lawyers sued them. That lawsuit was a first win — not the outcome, but the movement.
Leading up to the interview, I had several prep sessions with my attorney. It involved reviewing every detail of my testimony — the same testimony I submitted years ago — and reliving the very reasons I fled. I didn’t want to revisit it, but I had to. Then came the mock interview. My lawyer acted as the USCIS officer, and honestly, he was very convincing. It shook me, but it prepared me.
Interview Day:
I arrived at the USCIS building with my attorney. He handled the check-in process while I focused on staying grounded. Despite seeing signs for ICE, I never saw any agents, which brought a sense of reassurance.
The officer conducting my interview greeted us with warmth and professionalism. From the moment we sat down, she made it clear that she saw me — not just as a file, but as a person. She apologized for the long delay, explained the process, and reassured me I wouldn’t get a decision that day, but she would do her best to avoid further delays.
She took my biometrics (photo and fingerprints), then had me sign two forms, which my attorney reviewed first. She pointed to the huge file beside her and said,
“This is your file. I’ve read every single page. Because of the amount of information and what you’ve been through, I want to focus on [my strongest asylum ground].”
The interview began with “soft” questions — verifying identity, family details, addresses, when and why I filed, and travel history. Then came the “hard” questions — the core of my case. This is where I told my story.
And I cried. A lot.
The officer listened with empathy, never rushing me. At times, she had tears in her eyes too. She apologized for the things I endured. She felt it — not just as a government officer, but as a human being. I could tell she wasn’t just doing a job. She was witnessing a life.
At the end, she gave me the chance to add anything else. I did. Then my attorney gave his closing argument. She thanked us, reminded us a decision wouldn’t come that day, and emphasized that because we sued, she would prioritize my case.
Before leaving, I signed one last form confirming that I agreed to receive the decision by mail and to notify USCIS if I moved.
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Key Tips for Your Asylum Interview (Affirmative):
• Prepare.
Even if you know your story, re-read your testimony and documents. Review everything you and your attorney submitted.
Know your case — don’t memorize it.
• Be honest.
If you were charged with a crime — even if the charges were dropped — say yes. USCIS already knows. They’re not trying to punish you; they’re evaluating your character and credibility.
• Be yourself.
Don’t fake strength. Don’t perform. Just show up as you are. This is your one chance to tell your truth. If you need to cry, cry. If you need a moment, ask for it. The officers are trained to look for sincerity.
• Don’t just say “I don’t know.”
If you truly don’t know something, that’s okay — but don’t stop there.
Say something like, “I don’t know exactly, but I believe…” or “I’m not sure, but to the best of my memory…”
This shows effort, openness, and willingness to clarify. It keeps the conversation flowing and avoids dead silence, which can come across as evasive or unprepared.
• This is a conversation — not an interrogation.
Yes, it’s hard. Yes, it’s emotional. But it’s not a courtroom or a police station. The more you approach it as a conversation, the more natural and truthful your responses will be.
• Dress business casual.
It shows you respect yourself and the process. You’re not dressing to impress — you’re showing you take this seriously.
• It’s okay to laugh — even in heavy moments.
If humor is part of your coping, don’t suppress it. Jokes don’t mean you’re mocking the process. They can make the space more human. But don’t force it. Again — just be you.
• Don’t rely on your lawyer to speak for you.
During the interview, they’re mostly silent unless needed. You’re the one USCIS wants to hear from.
• Officers watch everything.
Not just your answers — but your body language, tone, and energy. Be consistent. Be present. Be real.
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Final Note:
My decision came two weeks after the interview.
A week later, I had my approval letter, I-94, and A05 EAD in hand.
I am now an asylee in the U.S.
I hope this helps. If there’s anything you’d like me to elaborate on, drop it in the comments. I’ll be happy to help.
Good luck.
#Asylum #AsylumInterview #AffirmativeAsylum