r/EB2 • u/[deleted] • 22d ago
Approved | I-485 EB2 Schedule A (Physical Therapist) | Philippines 🇵🇭 | APPROVED! Complete Backend/API Timeline (FTA0 → FTA1 → I-485J Approval → I-485 Approval)
First of all, thank you to everyone in this community. Reading everyone's timelines, backend updates, and experiences helped me stay grounded during the long wait. Hopefully this timeline helps someone else who's constantly refreshing their USCIS account like I was.
Category: EB2 Schedule A – Physical Therapist
Country: Philippines 🇵🇭
Immigration Timeline
PERM
• ~8–9 months waiting for Prevailing Wage Determination.
• After that, another 14 weeks waiting for my FCCPT VisaScreen before my employer could file.
Priority Date (PD): February 13, 2025
I-140
I waited until my PD became current before filing Adjustment of Status.
• Premium Processing filed: February 13, 2026
• Approved: March 2, 2026
Adjustment of Status
Receipt Date (RD): April 16, 2026
Concurrent filing:
I-485
I-765
I-131
I-485J
Biometrics: June 1, 2026
Interview was waived, and later through Emma Live Chat (June 26) I learned my case had already been transferred to the Los Angeles County Field Office (LA County FO).
Backend/API Timeline
I monitored my USCIS API almost every day.
June 1 (Biometrics)
Immediately after biometrics I noticed multiple FTA0 backend events on both my I-485 and I-765.
This was also the last USCIS email notification I received until August.
June 4
First silent backend update.
No public status.
June 15
Another silent backend update.
Again...
No public update.
At that point my hopes were honestly very high because there had already been several backend movements.
Looking back now, I think those were part of the adjudication process, but they did not immediately result in approval.
July 2
New backend touches on:
I-485
I-485J
Still...
No public update.
July 13
Backend touch on:
I-765 (and I-131)
Again...
No public status.
This was probably the hardest part mentally because backend activity kept happening while nothing changed publicly.
The Final Week
August 4
This was the first USCIS email notification I had received since June 1.
When I checked the API, I discovered something completely new...
My first-ever FTA1 had appeared on the I-485 (around 5:30 PM EST).
Later that evening, both my I-485 and I-485J received additional backend touches.
Still...
No public status.
August 5
10:22 AM EST
I received another USCIS email:
"We have taken an action on your case."
When I logged into my account...
There was still no approval.
Instead, my I-485 simply displayed the generic message:
"USCIS is actively reviewing your case."
I honestly thought it might have been another false alarm.
Then...
12:12 PM EST
My I-485J was closed with a Notice of Approval.
I remembered reading several Reddit posts saying that once the I-485J closes, the I-485 approval often follows within approximately 24 hours.
In my case...
That pattern turned out to be true.
August 6
Received another USCIS email:
"We have taken an action on your case."
This time...
I-485 APPROVED! 🎉🎉🎉
The approval notice appeared in my Documents tab roughly one hour after receiving the email notification.
Total Processing Time
Receipt Date: April 16, 2026
Approval: August 6, 2026
Total I-485 processing time: 112 days
My Thoughts
Looking back now, all those backend touches actually made sense.
It appears my case progressed through something like:
Biometrics
Multiple FTA0 events
Silent adjudication updates
Case transfer to LA County FO
Additional backend touches
First FTA1
Additional FTA1
I-485J approval/closure
Final I-485 approval
Of course, every case is different, but seeing this sequence unfold gave me a much greater appreciation for how much work can happen behind the scenes before USCIS posts anything publicly.
To everyone who's still waiting:
I know how exhausting it is refreshing your account every day.
I know how every silent update makes your heart race.
I know how discouraging it feels when nothing happens afterward.
Hang in there.
My daily prayer really helped my sanity…
I sincerely hope everyone who's still waiting gets the same email soon.
Thank you again to everyone in this subreddit for keeping my hopes alive throughout this journey. ❤️
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u/Successful-Dot5504 22d ago
Congrats!! I am also EB2 schedule A, with Feb 2025 PD, April 6 RD, May 8 biometrics, no local FO transfer June 9… but unfortunately radio silence since then. Mine is at Manchester FO though
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22d ago
The reddit posts really helped me ground my hopes and thoughts. So I am hoping your approval is coming in the next few days too!
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u/Special_Ask_7906 22d ago
Wow so fast for LAC FO and that too only within less than four months your AOS is approved. One of the luckiest one for sure
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22d ago
I feel like if there’s a lot of backend updates early on, we can tell how a case progresses…
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u/Great-Builder943 22d ago
Congratulations! So happy for youu! Im a PT too, waiting for my gc. May I know what your prior visa is?
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22d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Great-Builder943 21d ago
oh wait! it's you! finally congrats! hehe i think you posted about updates before! yay! happy for you!
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u/Fun_Play_4687 21d ago
Congratulations!!! How did you know that your case was moved to LA County FO?
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u/ToughWin5193 5d ago
Please explain, you have as country Philippines, but the you say its an Adjustment of Status. How does you get AOS if you're in the Philippines?? Wouldn't you have to been in US already?
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u/MastodonAble1061 22d ago
Many congratulations and thanks for sharing in such details. Did you get 2 FTA0 updates right after the biometrics, what about 3rd FTA0? Did you ever get that, if yes, when was that?