Sophie May M.
Jan 20, 2026
I-730 timeline (with mandamus)
Mandamus was filed in November of 2025 and today we got an approval. Beneficiary is inside the US
Total Days: 539 days
Case
2024-07-30
2026-01-20
I-730
539 Days
Texas Service Center: I-730
Timeline Map
2024-07-30
I-730
Submission to USCIS
2025-08-07
I-730
Added
D+373
Expedite Request Received
2026-01-16
I-730
D+535
Interview
2026-01-20
I-730
D+539
Decision (Approval or Denial)
This timeline was created with the Lawfully App. Download the Lawfully App now.
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Joe ZJan 20, 2026
congrats
Sophie May M.Jan 20, 2026
thank you!
Tarek HussenJan 20, 2026
any herds question in interviews
Sophie May M.Jan 20, 2026
No hard or tricky questions. We went over the form and she had some questions about evidence we brought
Shokhida khJan 20, 2026
Hello, congratulations! Did you file the mandamus yourself, or did an attorney prepare it? And what was the cost?
Exile USAJan 20, 2026
It seems you filed Mandamus 1 year 3 months later. I wonder what seems to be the minimum period before filing. Any opinion?
Sophie May M.Jan 20, 2026
@Shokhida kh thank you! we used an attorney - Jeelani Law Firm. It costs around 5k but I paid an extra 1k to guarantee the successful outcome, ie, if mandamus didn’t work, they would return money to me
Sophie May M.Jan 20, 2026
@Exile USA the attorney explained that you need to wait twice the historic(!) processing time for the last year. It was 7.4 months*2 for me so we waited 14 months before applying. it took a bit longer due to government shutdown. google „historic processing times” for the form you are interested in (you can’t just find this info on their site without googling). This is not the same as the expected processing times they list on their website.
Sophie May M.Jan 20, 2026
my journey my journey Jan 20, 2026
congratulations 🎉
i am currently in the Mandamus procedure now but we did it ourselves and we are currently battling in court with DOJ as they filed a motion ti dismiss the case. its been 3 months since the Mandamus yet no response, just a very recent API update so we are hoping they are working on it.
my journey my journey Jan 20, 2026
@Sophie May M. how long did it take for them to schedule your interview?
Sophie May M.Jan 20, 2026
@my journey my journey I hope your mandamus doesn’t get dismissed! our mandamus was filed around 11/12 and interview was scheduled on 12/11. so it took a month
my journey my journey Jan 20, 2026
wow that was pretty fast. hopefully mine isn’t dismissed 🤞
my journey my journey Jan 20, 2026
@Sophie May M.
did you receive your interview notice by mail, email or from the USCIS account?
Sophie May M.Jan 20, 2026
@my journey my journey we received it by mail
my journey my journey Jan 20, 2026
Great thank you. congratulations once again
Exile USAJan 20, 2026
@Sophie thank you for your inputs. My i-730 is pending interview at USCIS field office (abroad). It's been 7 months now since receipt notice. It seems that historical processing time has slipped to about 11 months now from 7.4 in FY2024. Hopefully, we will get our interview soon, fingers crossed! Congratulations to you after a long wait and so much emotional and financial investment!
Exile USAJan 20, 2026
@My Journey. You need to file a response to DOJ's "Motion to Dismiss" in court within 30 days. If you don't do anything Judge may dismiss your complaint. If you file a motion against their motion, DOJ might just give up, resulting in your favor.
Sophie May M.Jan 21, 2026
@Exile USA I wish your interview gets scheduled soon, good luck!
my journey my journey Jan 21, 2026
@Exile USA
we did file an opposition to the motion to dismiss and now we are waiting for the judge to decide. after we filed the opposition to the motion to Dismis, the DOJ filed another document supporting their motion to dismiss so now we dont know if to add any more documents or just wait and see 🤷🏼♀️
Exile USAJan 21, 2026
@my journey. It's great you filed the opposition. DOJ is just trying delay tactics by filing motion after motion. They know if there is an actual bench trial, judge will rule against them. Explore the option of filing a motion for summary judgement. All the best!
my journey my journey Jan 21, 2026
@Exile USA
thank you so much. I wish you all the best too.
Mi ImJan 21, 2026
i mandamus only applicable for the beneficiary inside the US? my wife is not from the 75country we call a lawyer but and they said I730 is dead at the moment they ask me to apply I-130 im thinking to push i730
Sophie May M.Jan 21, 2026
@Mi Im no, mandamus should work no matter where beneficiary is
Sophia SFeb 9, 2026
Congratulations! So you submitted the I730 in New York?
Sophie May M.Feb 10, 2026
@Sophia S thank you! no, Chicago
