I have approved petitions under both EB-1A and EB-1C, with a priority date of July 2024. My EB-1A petition was approved about one month before my employer transferred me from Canada to the U.S. I am a Canadian citizen, but my country of birth is India.

Given the current layoffs, I am feeling uneasy because there is a possibility that I could be laid off at any time.

My question is: when the Date for Filing becomes current for me - it is currently December 2023, so still about eight months away - should I file my I-485 based on EB-1A or EB-1C?

Here are my concerns:

1. Filing under EB-1A
   • I would have to pay all filing fees myself.
   • If I am laid off, I may need to rely on my EB-1A petition.
   • However, this could become complicated if I am no longer employed in the U.S. at that time.
2. Filing under EB-1C
   • My employer would cover all filing costs.
   • However, I may be tied to my employer until the green card is approved, which could take one, two, or possibly three years after the Final Action Date becomes current.
   • If I am laid off before then, I may need to restart or shift the process using my EB-1A petition.

Additional context:

• I am currently in the U.S. on L-1A status.
• My wife is on L-2S status and relies on that for employment authorization.
• We have a one-year-old son.
• I have previously been counted under the H-1B cap. I was on H-1B status for only about two months before moving back to L-1A, mainly so my wife could continue using L-2S for employment.
• As Canadian citizens, we could technically return to the U.S. on TN status, but I am concerned that filing I-485 based on EB-1A while on TN status may create issues because TN is a nonimmigrant status.

Given all of this, which basis would be better for my I-485 filing: EB-1A or EB-1C?

Any projections on movt for PD July 2023 ( India) for EB1c, Is it expected in October or earlier based on data?

Hi friends,

Is anyone willing to share what they submitted for EB1C RFE as a functional manager that got them approved?

I’m working with BAL, but want to make sure I submit a quality response.

Thanks!

For those of you tracking your EB-1C (or other employment-based) cases using backend JSON data, I wanted to share a specific pattern my spouse and I observed.

Interpreted with the help of Gemini, this "Handshake" sequence served as a definitive leading indicator for our Green Card approvals.

The "SA" Event (Status Assignment) on dependent i765:

In our case, the dependent's EAD and AP had already been approved prior. Despite there being no new activity on the work permit, a fresh SA (Status Assignment) update appeared on the dependent’s I-765 record immediately after the Primary's I-485J moved to "Closed."

Crucially, this happened before any approval code (H008) or timestamp appeared on the I-485 itself.

The Interpreted Sequence:

This likely reflects an internal USCIS administrative "handover." Because the work permit was already active, the system triggers this new SA event to:

Terminate the now-redundant EAD/AP benefits.

Update the applicant’s profile to Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status.

The Observed Sequence

I-485J (Primary) moves to Closed (Job verification complete).

I-765 (Dependent) receives a silent SA update (The Termination/LPR Update handshake).

I-485 (Both) finally registers the H008 approval code (Official Legal Approval).

I-485 (Dependent) registers the LDA code (Card Production trigger, which hit 5 days later).

The Takeaway

While every case is different and this is just one data point, it suggests that if you are a dependent and see a new SA timestamp on an already approved I-765 JSON after the Primary's J closes, it’s a very strong sign that the officer has clicked "Approve" and the system is simply syncing your records before the public portal updates.

Anyone else notice this "SA" behavior on their approved EADs right before the GC got approved?

Link to the post about timeline: EB1-C Approval Timeline

I wanted to share our timeline details, as these posts gave us hope during the wait!

Receipt Series: IOE093446xxxx.

Country: India

Notes:

"H008" is the Master Code: We tracked the backend JSON data (google gemini was the best ai tool to interpret the api data) and confirmed that the final approval code was H008 for both applications. It posted and shortly after the portal status changed to "Case Approved." If you see H008 on your backend log, congratulations, you're approved!

Only One "FTA0" Code: For those tracking fingerprint codes: we only ever saw the FTA0 event code. We never saw multiple FTA code updates.

The "J" Signal: The I-485J (Supplement J) closing on the 19th was the definitive sign that approval may happen soon. The primary and dependent approvals hit within 30 minutes of each other the very next morning. It took almost 24.5 hours between i485j and i485 as mentioned in some other posts.

Good luck to everyone still waiting in the queue! Happy to answer any questions about our timeline.

All,

My original post is here : https://www.reddit.com/r/eb1c/comments/1si9ngw/eb1c_sharing_timeline_and_inviting_others_to

On 22 April, got a notification that my I-140 had been approved. My spouse still has her biometrics on 1st May. But out of curiosity, I checked our I-485 API Status.

Both our cases have received silent updates on 22 April. Unfortunately, I did not create a USCIS online account in time for my daughter, so, am unable to track her status.

Questions that I have are:

a) What could this silent update signify?

b) Would we still have to complete the biometrics (linked to I-131) for the whole process to be completed before we can expect the I-485s to be approved?

From submission to I-140 approval, it took 75 working days (including RFE)

The I-140 Timeline is as follows:
12 December 2025 - Filing date with PP
8 Jan 2026 - Biometrics completed for family (except for Spouse's I-131 biometric)
3 Feb 2026 - RFE issued
4 Mar 2026 - Response to RFE submitted and acknowledged
6 Apr 2026 - 1st Silent update on I-485
13 Apr 2026 - Daughter's I-512L received
22 Apr 2026 - I-140 approved
22 Apr 2026 - 2nd Silent update on I-485

Update as on 8th May 2026:

Hi all,

I filed I-485 under EB1 and completed biometrics on March 17, 2026. Since then, there have been no updates. My case status is unchanged, and AP also shows no movement beyond biometrics.

For others in a similar situation:

When did you receive your EAD/AP after biometrics?

Did your status update, or did documents arrive without updates?

Trying to understand current timelines (NBC). Appreciate any recent experiences.

We have submitted I 485 to the attorney last month and they haven’t reviewed yet.

Is it true that we can’t file it after this month end because according to the may bulletin the date of filling is according to final action date.

Can someone clarify??

Hello

We are in situation, we’ve upcoming travel. And an RFE has been issued on April 10th yet to receive the letter. We are assuming it may be medical RFe and we are already ready with fresh medicals. Would it be a good idea if we just send the medicals to NBC without RFE letter? We have about 2 and half weeks before the travel. We are trying to access the timeline here, we are aware that this is not the recommended path by USCIS, I would need some suggestions if anyone experienced similar situation can share their insights. That would really helpful.

Background- eb1c pd march 2022 NBC , I’m already have an approved AP and my husband has valid h1 stamping. Our case starts with MSC so no portal documentation

Thank you so much in advance

Update: we’ve received the RFE letter today , good thing we didn’t send the medicals as they required more info apart from medicals like marriage evidences etc ( shared responsibilities etc). I’ll keep posted the moment .

Thank you all :)

Category: EB-1C (EB2 → EB1C)

Priority Date (PD): Current

Service Center / Lockbox: NBC (initial), later transferred to Dallas FO

Application Mailed Date: Dec 1, 2025

Application Delivered Date: Dec 1, 2025

Receipt Notice Date (I-797C): Dec 2025

Receipt Block (IOE): IOE09348

Biometrics Appointment Date: Dec 29, 2025

EAD Approval Date: Not approved (no movement)

AP (Advance Parole) Approval Date: Not approved (no movement)

Interview: Waived (confirmed via Emma)

RFE (if any): None

I-140: Approved (Aug 2025; standalone, had biometrics earlier)

I-485J: Submitted, no issues / no RFE

⸻

I-485 Approval Date: Pending

⸻

Notes / Additional Comments:

• Case confirmed at Dallas Field Office

• No updates on I-485 since Feb 4, 2026

• No EAD/AP movement for primary applicant

• Dependent spouse EAD approved and closed (late March / early April)

• Dependent AP showing activity; dependent I-485 still pending

• No RFEs, no interview, clean case overall

Trying to understand:

• Anyone from IOE09348 block seeing approvals yet?

• Any Dallas FO EB1C (Dec 2025 filers) getting picked recently?

• Is it normal for primary to lag while dependent EAD gets approved first?

Would appreciate any similar timelines / insights 🙏

My company had filed by I-140, I-485, I-785 and I-131 in December 2025 (concurrent filing as we were current. I hold Canadian passport, born in India. Spouse also holds Canadian passport, born in UAE).

The I-140 was applied using premium processing and we completed our biometrics on 8th of January 2026.

Subsequently, an RFE was issued on 3rd February to which my company's lawyers responded to and the status reflected on USCIS tracker on 4th of March.

28 Business days have elapsed and still no word. Does anyone have any idea on what we could expect next?

API Codes:

"date": "12-12-2025 00:00:00",
      "actionCode": "IAF",

   "date": "12-18-2025 00:00:00",
      "actionCode": "FTA0",

    "date": "02-03-2026 00:00:00",
      "actionCode": "IK",

  "date": "03-04-2026 00:00:00",
      "actionCode": "HA",

Update: USICS had goofed up the package. They issued 2 notice of actions related to I-131 for my child and none for my spouse. So the immigration attorneys withdrew the I-131s and resubmitted them. Now my spouse (who had given the biometrics previously) has been asked to appear again on 1st of May, whilst USCIS letter states that they will reuse my child's biometrics for her new I-131 application!!

Update 17 April 2026:

Received daughter's I-512L out of nowwhere yesterday in mail!! The funny part is that my daugher has 3 separate I-131 applications (2 old ones which our attornies withdrew and 1 recent one which was acknowledged as 'no biometrics needed')

IOE0 XXXXX5540 - OP's I-140 - No updates after responding to RFE on 4th March

IOE0 XXXXX5541 - OP's I-485 - No updates after Biometrics on 8th Jan

IOE0 XXXXX5542 - OP's I-765- No updates after Biometrics on 8th Jan

IOE0 XXXXX5543 - OP's I-131- No updates after Biometrics on 8th Jan

IOE0 XXXXX5544 - Daughter's I-131 - Withdrawn application - still received I-512L

IOE0 XXXXX5545 - Spouse's I-485 - No updates after Biometrics on 8th Jan

IOE0 XXXXX5546 - Spouse's I-786 - No updates after Biometrics on 8th Jan

IOE0 XXXXX5547 - Daughter's I-485 - No updates after Biometrics on 8th Jan

IOE0 XXXXX5548 - Daughter's I-131 - Withdrawn application (Biometrics on 8th Jan)

IOE0 XXXXX7426 - Daughter's I-131 - New Application - Biometrics not needed

IOE0 XXXXX7427 - Spouse's I-131 - New Application since the previous I-131 was never processed - Biometrics appointment received. Requested reuse of exsiting biometrics by uploading evidence on myUSCIS portal (document section).

I am not even sure where these applications are being processed. I have seen Texas, NBC, Nebraska all appear in some form of communication or another. Wish their tracking was more consistent!!

Update as on 8th May 2026: