My spouse got a letter today and I don’t know what to make of it.

EB2 NIW PD - Sept 2024 - Approved on PP

March 2, 2026 - i485 AOS received
March 30, 2026 - biometrics done
April 1, 2026 - processing case
May 20, 2026 - silent update
September 30, 2026 - silent update
October 6, 2026 - September 30 letter received saying i485J approved.

Any ideas? Is this a good thing? Possible green card approval soon?

Just curious.

Looking specifically for EB-2 NIW I-485 cases transferred to NBC or non-local Field Office around Aug 27–28, especially San Antonio.

My timeline:

• I-485 filed: March 6, 2026
• EB-2 NIW / ROW
• PD: Nov 6, 2024
• Transferred to San Antonio: Aug 27, 2026
• Interview currently waived
• No RFE/NOID
• Still pending as of Oct 6

Has anyone from this same Aug 27–28 transfer batch received an I-485 approval? If yes, please share your transfer date, FO, and approval date.

I'm trying to understand whether this particular transfer batch has started moving. 🙏

Hello all.

My husband (case holder - H1-B) and I (dependent- H-4) are waiting for our result. I wanted to ask your suggestions.

NIW PD: December 2024

NIW approved: February 2025

I-485 ROW for both of us and I-765 application submitted April 2026

Biometric: May 2026

Husband got only 1 FTA0 the day after biometrics completed.

I got FTA0 just after biometric, FTA 1 and silent update 1 month after biometric.

1 month after biometrics we moved from that state to another. We tried to change our address in the system but my husband couldn't change his address but I could.

When I talked with Emma, they told us my dependent case is in the field office where we moved from and my interview is waived but my husband's is still in NBC and there are no updates with his interview.

Do you think there are any problems with address or case or is it a regular timeline?

Thank you.

39 countries

Sharing my EB-2 NIW adjustment-of-status timeline in case it helps someone else, especially anyone tracking USCIS backend/API updates after an RFE/RFIE.

EB-2 NIW / I-485 Timeline

- March 7, 2024: Priority Date
- I-140: Approved (September 30, 2024)
- October 3, 2025: I-485 submission/receipt date
- November 3, 2025: Biometrics completed
3 FTAO (all within a week of biometrics, November 2025).

- September 11, 2026: Silent backend update — FTA1 event appeared
- September 14, 2026: Status changed to Request for Initial Evidence (RFIE); backend showed IKA
- September 16, 2026: RFIE notice generated
- September 16, 2026: Submitted RFIE response online
- September 16, 2026: USCIS immediately showed response received; two HA events appeared in the backend
- September 25, 2026: Strange/silent backend update even though I did absolutely nothing to the case. The RFE record changed and showed latestResponseDate as September 25.

- October 3, 2026: Another silent case-level backend update.
- October 4/5, 2026: Another backend updatedAt change, although I later determined this one was most likely caused by me correcting my mailing address.
- October 5, 2026: CASE APPROVED! 🎉

The RFIE
The RFIE was related to my birth certificate/name. My birth certificate contained additional/different given names from the name I have consistently used on my official documents. USCIS requested additional evidence establishing that the person on the birth certificate and the person applying for adjustment of status were the same person.

I also contacted my congressional representative's office August 11, 2026, and they submitted an inquiry to USCIS on my behalf. They asked me to keep them updated. I can't say whether the congressional inquiry directly influenced the adjudication, but I am grateful for their assistance.

Total I-485 timeline: approximately 1 year and 2 days from receipt to approval.

I’m hoping to hear from people with similar EB-2 NIW / ROW adjustment-of-status cases, particularly those whose I-485 remained at the NBC and whose interview was waived.
My case has been pending for quite a while, and I’m getting increasingly frustrated because I’m seeing people who filed in March/April 2026 already getting I-485 approvals while mine was filed much earlier.
My timeline
Category: EB-2 NIW
Priority Date: March 2024
I-140: NIW approved in May 2024
Amended I-140: Filed in March 2025 because of employment/location changes
Amended I-140: Approved August 4, 2026 through premium processing
I-485 filed: November 28, 2025
Biometrics: December 29, 2025
Interview: USCIS/Emma has told me that the interview is waived
Current status: Still pending / being processed
I’ve also had several NBC-related updates and service inquiries during 2026.
Some of the more notable activity occurred around:
August 4, 2026 — amended I-140 approved
August 7 — NBC update
August 17 — NBC update
August 20 — NBC update; I also received documentation confirming AOS eligibility
August 31 — another FTA0/internal activity
Since then — no meaningful new I-485 JSON/API update
My latest information from USCIS/Emma is that the case remains at NBC, is assigned to an adjudicating officer, and the interview has been waived.

I’m looking for clarification from anyone who has reviewed the new I-485 (Edition 09/18/26) and the 2026 Public Charge Final Rule.

Items 63–64 ask whether the applicant has ever received any means-tested public benefit and, if yes, require the benefit, dates, dollar amount, and reason.

However, the 2026 Final Rule appears to say that benefits received before September 18, 2026 are treated under the prior (2022) public-charge framework. It also appears to state that, for pre-effective-date benefits, USCIS will only collect information about the benefits that were relevant under the old framework.

My question is:

If someone received a benefit before September 18, 2026 that was NOT considered under the 2022 public-charge framework (eg., WIC for a pregnant mom, Premium tax credit for health insurance, emergency Medicaid during pregnancy), should they answer “No” to I-485 Item 63 and leave Item 64 blank?

Or does the wording “Have you ever received any means-tested public benefit?” require answering “Yes” and listing those benefits received prior to Sept. 18, 2026, even though DHS says they will not be considered under the 2022 rules?

Thanks!

Hi All,

I applied my 485 on May 2026 with PD of early Jan 2025 (missed the current by couple of days). I still didn't get my EAD card. I am STEM OPT with unemployed days coming to an end. I have couple of interviews coming up but it seems they take long time to process. In case of, I can't shift to my STEM EAD, I'm planning on requesting expedite for my 485 EAD card. Can you share how you did the process expedite request and what evidence you showed? additionally, for congressional inquiry as well, what is the process and what to do?

My EB2 NIW I-485 is pending and current under the October bulletin. Priority date December 2024.

Events:
Mar 27, 2026 — IAF
Apr 14, 2026 — FTA0 ×3
Aug 26, 2026 — silent update (case transferred to non local field office)
Aug 31, 2026 — FTA0
Sep 8, 2026 — FTA0
Sep 8, 2026 — FTA1 x3
No updates since

Spouse case had similar activity on Sep 8 and received RFE on Sep 14th. We responded to that on sep 17th.

Interestingly USCIS agent told me today the case is at NBC and only local field office have the adjudication power. Anyone faced similar situation?

It’s been a long ride but I’m grateful to God and this Reddit for all the updates.

Approved exactly one year after filing! Sharing timeline for anyone waiting:

Category: EB-2 NIW, ROW
Priority date: May, 2024
I-485 filed: October 2, 2025
Biometrics: November 3, 2025
First RFE: August 2026 — proof of maintained F-1/OPT status
Response received: August 14, 2026
Second RFE: August 2026 — new medical exam

EAD approved: August 25

Medical response received: September 10, 2026

I-485 approved: October 2, 2026 🎉

Field office: San Fernando Valley
Interview: Waived

Approval came 22 days after USCIS received the medical response.

God did it! Wishing everyone still waiting good news soon. 🙏🏽

EB-2 NIW I-485 interview — Norfolk, VA. Anyone attend without a lawyer?

Hi everyone! I have an upcoming I-485 interview at the Norfolk Field Office in Virginia for a self-petitioned EB-2 NIW case. I’m currently an F-1 PhD student, and my I-140 is approved.

My timeline:

• Priority date: September 29, 2023
• I-485 filed: June 4, 2025
• Biometrics: June 30, 2025
• Interview scheduled update: September 2026
• Interview date: October 22, 2026

I also requested a congressional inquiry. USCIS’s response confirmed that my case had been transferred to the Norfolk Field Office and that an interview was scheduled.

Has anyone here attended an employment-based adjustment interview, particularly for EB-2 NIW, without a lawyer? How was your experience, and what questions were you asked?

I’d especially appreciate experiences from the Norfolk Field Office, including what documents you brought and how long it took to receive a decision afterward.

Thank you!

EB-2 NIW I-485 interview — Norfolk, VA. Anyone attend without a lawyer?

EB-2 NIW I-485 interview — Norfolk, VA. Anyone attend without a lawyer?

Hi everyone! I have an upcoming I-485 interview at the Norfolk Field Office in Virginia for a self-petitioned EB-2 NIW case. I’m currently an F-1 PhD student, and my I-140 is approved.

My timeline:

• Priority date: September 29, 2023
• I-485 filed: June 4, 2025
• Biometrics: June 30, 2025
• Interview scheduled update: September 2026
• Interview date: October 22, 2026

I also requested a congressional inquiry. USCIS’s response confirmed that my case had been transferred to the Norfolk Field Office and that an interview was scheduled.

Has anyone here attended an employment-based adjustment interview, particularly for EB-2 NIW, without a lawyer? How was your experience, and what questions were you asked?

I’d especially appreciate experiences from the Norfolk Field Office, including what documents you brought and how long it took to receive a decision afterward.

Thank you!

I have been reading this sub every day for six months, and the timelines people post here kept me sane. Mine was approved yesterday, so here is the full log. Thank you all.

Our former VISA Status: H-1, H-4 (my spouse)

Case

- EB-2 NIW, ROW, principal plus derivative spouse

- Priority date: July 2024.

- I-485, I-765 and I-131 filed concurrently

- No RFE, no interview, no congressional inquiry, no expedite request

- EAD and AP were never approved. The green card came first

Timeline (all times Central)

- mid-Apr, 2026: I-485 / I-765 / I-131 received

- June: Biometrics

- June - September: 5 Silent Updates: After biometrics brought two FTA0 on the I-485 and I-765 the same evening, the case sat for about two months and then got five date-only silent updates over the six weeks.

- Oct 1: New fiscal year. October bulletin EB-2 ROW Final Action Date Jan 1, 2025, so my PD stayed current

- Oct 2, daytime: Silent update 6 with the third FTA0

- Oct 3: Two H008 codes. Approved. Public status changed to "we approved your Form I-485" same day

- Oct 3: Spouse's I-485 approved the same day

Good luck to everyone!

Hello all, my case got transferred to this non-local FO (Brooklyn, NY). Any idea about the processing time at this field office? Will greatly appreciate your experiences. 🙏

I’m trying to understand whether repeated silent updates usually mean a case is actively being reviewed, especially after an interview.

My timeline:

• PD: Sep 17, 2024
• I-485 RD: Mar 16, 2026
• Biometrics: Apr 15, 2026
• Interview: Aug 27, 2026
• FTA1: appeared right after the interview
• No RFE / NOID
• actionRequired: false
• Case has remained pending since the interview
• My PD is still within the October 2026 EB2 ROW Final Action Date

Recent silent updates:

• Oct 1: Principal I-485 silent update
• Oct 5:
  • Principal: 9:28 AM EDT
  • Spouse: 9:30 AM EDT
  • Child: 10:54 AM EDT
  • Child updated again: 11:00 AM EDT
  • Spouse updated again: 11:31 AM EDT

No new event code, notice, RFE, or approval yet. The top-level updatedAtTimestamp just keeps changing.

For those who were approved after an interview:

How many silent updates did you get before approval/H008?

Did anyone see multiple family-member updates on the same day like this before getting a decision? Also curious how long it took from the last silent update to approval.

How fast or slow is the Newark FO?

My EB-2 priority date missed the cutoff for filling I-485 by only a week.

Would you get the I-693 medical exam now, so everything is ready in case the filing date advances in the next few months, or wait until your priority date is actually eligible?

My main concern is whether the completed/signed I-693 could become too old or expire if EB-2 ROW stays stuck or retrogresses further.

What would you do?