Eugenie C
Nov 14, 2025
i-485 Approved After Mandamus: My Full Timeline, Experience & Encouragement
Hi community. I recently had both of my pending applications approved. I had an asylum interview with USCIS and was approved 2 weeks later in Q1 of 2023.
My RTD ended up being approved entirely on its own — I received it on Nov 5 with a 1-year validity. I never did anything about expediting it.
For my green card, they got the application in early June-2024. The packet was complete, with a fee and medical papers. My case sat in “interview is ready to be scheduled” status since early April-2025 with absolutely no movement. My expedite request, Congresswoman inquiry, and Ombudsman inquiry were proven unsuccessful. Eventually I decided to file a writ of mandamus pro se (without an attorney). Honestly, it’s not as hard as lawyers try to make it seem, and many attorneys don’t specialize in mandamus anyway. Attorneys wanted at least $5K; I paid only the $405 filing fee + about $150 in postal costs (more on that adventure below).
I used this Reddit post (https://www.reddit.com/r/USCIS/s/zjYMKZ0oix, it’s called Step-by-Step Guide on How I Filed a Writ of Mandamus Without a Lawyer and How You Can Too) and ChatGPT for guidance. My defendants were Pam Bondi, Kristi Noem, and Joseph Edlow, and I also served the U.S. Attorney General in my state and USCIS as an agency. I filed on Oct 21, and the defendants were served the same day.
USPS then proceeded to lose 4 out of 5 of my certified letters — they delivered only the one addressed to my state’s Attorney General 😂 I was so pissed! I had to go back to the court, get duplicate summons, and then ask my friend again to re-serve everyone, it was done on Nov 1. My anxiety was through the roof. 4 out of 5 were delivered, and on Nov 7 my green card was approved without an interview — before service of process was even completed. The final letter was delivered the day after the approval. I will still complete service and then dismiss the case as moot after I get the card in hand.
I’m now waiting for the physical green card. It was approved 6 days ago, and I already received the approval notice.
A note of encouragement:
Never let your hope fade, and never be afraid to stand up for yourself. Fight for your own sunshine. US is a democratic country, and filing a mandamus is simply exercising the rights you already have, trying to get the service you paid $1440 for. Waiting for your green card to be approved for over 1,5 years is well beyond reasonable in any Universe.
‼️ If more and more people start choosing litigation instead of the unreasonable wait, USCIS will have to fix the backlog because they hate being sued.
You won’t get in trouble for the lawsuit. If you have decent English, you absolutely can file on your own. And the money you save on legal fees? Do yourself a favor and spend it on a trip abroad to celebrate getting “greened” and finally getting your wings back. ♥️✈️ Personally, I am going to Canada for Thanksgiving to celebrate my re-acquired freedom and give thanks to my own courage and luck that made it all possible.
Good luck!
P.S. Adding the short version of my timeline:
February-2023: asylum approved
June 3, 2024: USCIS received my i-485
April 9, 2025: status changed to “interview is ready to be scheduled”
May-September-2025: called USCIS, contacted Congresswoman, Ombudsman and submitted expedite request with no success
Oct 21, 2025: filed my mandamus lawsuit with a court and served the defendants
Nov 1, 2025: re-served the defendants
Nov 6, 2025: new card is being produced
Nov 7, 2025: case approved
Nov 14, 2015: card was mailed to me
Asylum
Based on grant of asylum more than 1 year ago
Total Days: 529 days
Case
2024-06-03
2025-11-14
I-485
529 Days
I-131
466 Days
National Benefits Center: I-485
Nebraska Service Center: I-131
Timeline Map
2024-06-03
I-485
Submission to USCIS
2024-06-11
I-485
D+8
Biometrics, i.e. fingerprint and photo
2024-07-19
I-131
D+46
Submission to USCIS
2024-08-01
I-131
D+59
Biometrics, i.e. fingerprint and photo
2025-04-09
I-485
D+310
Interview
2025-10-28
I-131
D+512
Decision (Approval or Denial)
2025-11-14
I-485
D+529
Decision (Approval or Denial)
This timeline was created with the Lawfully App. Download the Lawfully App now.
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Nov 14, 2025
can u help in filing our self?
Eugenie CNov 14, 2025
@ I am sorry, I don’t think I can.
I’m not an attorney, so I legally cannot prepare filings for anyone.
Mandamus is a time-consuming process, and I can’t commit to helping as a volunteer while working 60 hours per week.
On the other hand, I also can’t accept payment since that would be providing legal services without a license, and I might get sued for that.
I would recommend finding law schools in your area and researching if they have pro se legal clinics, they might be able to help. Also, trust me, the process is not rocket science, and you can do it on your own with ChatGPT, that Reddit post (it’s called Step-by-Step Guide on How I Filed a Writ of Mandamus Without a Lawyer and How You Can Too) and some perseverance and common sense. Good luck!
Oliver FarmNov 14, 2025
@Eugenie C congratulations 🎉 and thank you for sharing your experience
Aya MusaNov 14, 2025
@Eugenie C Congratulations 🎉 I bet the process for getting green card approved is not easy and stressful. When did you file the mandamus for the green card and what was the reason for filing it if you don’t mind me asking?
hilal aydNov 14, 2025
congrats! we filed mandamus pro se too, but six weeks later court sent us a mail saying all courts have been paused because of government shutdown. Then a few days later Uscis updated our case as request to reschedule appointment has been received(although we never requested rescheduling). Now it has been one month after the update, we still haven’t heard anything from Uscis.
Oliver FarmNov 14, 2025
@hilal ayd when did you file your i485?
Eugenie CNov 14, 2025
@hilal ayd if I were you, I would contact the court first. No, federal courts are not completely paused during the shutdown. Try to check the docket and see when the answer is due for defendants. Check if the court issued any orders pausing civil deadlines due to a shutdown. The weird USCIS status update likely means your case has been touched and rewiewed. Fingers crossed for you. Have you served everyone properly and filed it with the court to start the clock?
Eugenie CNov 14, 2025
@Aya Musa thank you! I described it all in details in my post.
hilal aydNov 14, 2025
April 2024 @Oliver Farm
hilal aydNov 14, 2025
Yes we served all defendants properly and filed with the court afterwards. I don’t know maybe it is paused in our state, we are in GA. Like you said maybe it is a good idea to contact the court.
Eugenie CNov 14, 2025
@hilal ayd I am not surprised that the red state is not pro-plaintiff in your case… I am in a historically blue state, in one of the bluest of them all :) maybe it helped. Good luck!!
oak beaverNov 14, 2025
congrats 🎊🎈🍾
ADILET BNov 14, 2025
@Eugenie C congrats 🎊
question is after u submit writ of mandamus, how long did u wait to get answer or any moves from they side?
Eugenie CNov 14, 2025
@ADILET B it was in the post. I just added a short timeline in the bottom.
Ranjeet SinghNov 14, 2025
you are waiting 1 year after approval asylum
Eugenie CNov 14, 2025
@Ranjeet Singh added to the timeline for clarity.
A KNov 14, 2025
@Eugenie C congrats! which field office did you sue? I also submit wom on October 22 and USCIS was served on October 29 Chicago office and still silence no movement…
Qa khanNov 14, 2025
@A K you did it to early bro at least wait for 16 months
A KNov 14, 2025
@Qa khan nah, there no law that talks about the exact timeframe
Eugenie CNov 14, 2025
@A K I sued not the field office, but the Director of USCIS + served the USCIS as an agency in general. Field office had nothing to do with my application.
Qa khan is right… if you sue them too early (before your wait becomes “unreasonable”, which is normally around the posted processing time), and without making efforts to expedite your case before you sue, the chances for a Motion to Dismiss are high. However, fingers crossed for you, maybe I am mistaken. Please keep us posted! It would be fantastic if WOM works after just 1 year of waiting.
A KNov 14, 2025
@Eugenie C thank you! will do!
God Is GoodNov 14, 2025
@Eugenie C Después que te la aprobaron a los cuánto tiempo te llegó
Eugenie CNov 15, 2025
@God Is Good sorry, I don’t speak Spanish.
God Is GoodNov 15, 2025
@Eugenie C After your residency was approved, how long did it take for it to arrive?
Eugenie CNov 15, 2025
@God Is Good still waiting. Did not get an update that the card has been mailed. Getting anxious already 😂😂
Eugenie CNov 15, 2025
@God Is Good haha, just got an update that the card was mailed to me!
God Is GoodNov 15, 2025
@Eugenie C And when did they approve it?
Stacy sNov 18, 2025
congratulations! I saw your post in a Facebook group, waited for more clarified post there. And here I stumbled on your post! You encouraged me to file wom on 2 of my cases (730, waiting for almost 3 years), (485, waiting for more than 2 years). Since the beginning of summer I’ve done other steps before wom(congressman, ombudsman). it took a lot of time of waiting for all the responses. Now I’m waiting for responses from 2 of the senators in my state and if no luck - I’m filling wom.
my journey my journey Nov 18, 2025
congratulations
paramvir singhNov 19, 2025
@Eugenie C congratulations you received your card bz i don't received my card
Eugenie CNov 19, 2025
@paramvir singh received today!
Mohamed adamNov 20, 2025
can you help me please I would like to file write of mandamus without attorney. thank you and congratulations
Ruslan VakhitovNov 21, 2025
А все вижу, спасибо что поделилась. Можно какой-то контакт с тобой если будут вопросы?
zahid khanNov 22, 2025
waiting since May 2024 . my status got changed 3 days ago . showing that the case is ready to be scheduled for an interview.
