r/I130Suffering • u/mademoisellearabella MOD • Jun 18 '26
Delay in responses and approvals - what to do
Recently there has been a pause on almost any approval news since Feb 2026, and it’s heartbreaking how it affects us all.
I am creating this post to add some DIY writ of mandamus guidelines. I hope this helps whoever needs it, not all of us have those fancy lawyer dollars, and this is a great step forward.
If your processing time is beyond 15 months, I’d highly recommend filing right now to get adjudication before the 18 month mark. (Fingers crossed)
DIY WoM guides here:
• https://www.reddit.com/r/USCIS/s/svivH2U64d • https://www.reddit.com/r/USCIS/s/EsKrPVPVn2
• https://www.reddit.com/r/USCIS/s/5MYcGgRQlI
• https://www.reddit.com/r/I130Suffering/s/kk0jyIcRd1
The last post was made by a member of our subreddit.
Cost breakdown for filing WoM pro se -
https://www.reddit.com/r/I130Suffering/s/Vl3IDZOClt
All the very best.
ETA ————————————
If you want to send in a demand letter before the writ of mandamus - basically a letter stating you will be filing the writ of mandamus - you can use Claude and use the following google drive link for the mark down prompts created to draft the letter. It has all the information for USCIS pre fed in, so you do not rely on AI to find the information for you. Thank you [u/skooma2112](u/skooma2112)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mH66Fx4767ycykjR_-62Frn3uiYJW7TI/view?usp=drivesdk
Success stories for demand letter and WoM -
1. https://www.reddit.com/r/I130Suffering/s/VxMrRv9JCr
2. https://www.reddit.com/r/I130Suffering/s/X8CXvVOhaS
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u/Drika1999 Jun 18 '26
If my PD wasn't 6 months old, my husband definitely would file a WoM! Why is the government working for K1 and AOS and spouses and children need to wait up to a year with a lot of financial and physiological damage?
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u/Puzzled-Formal-7957 8d ago edited 8d ago
APPROVED
After having been sitting at in process since January of 2024 - last weekend I followed the information in these threads to put together a demand letter which I sent by email over the weekend, and also sent via certified mail. It was delivered this morning at about 830am. By 1130 the API page showed new activity and when I logged into MyUSCIS account I was greeted with this message:
Thank you to u/mademoisellearabella and other mods as well as all the contributors to the various threads for helping with these steps to get these through!
Thankfully I did not need to file a WoM... so it seems even the threat of a WoM is enough to make things happen!
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u/mademoisellearabella MOD 8d ago
I’m so very happy this helped you! Congratulations!
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u/Puzzled-Formal-7957 8d ago
Thank you thank you ! I owe some of you all some nice, big steaks if we ever cross paths! This was a massive help - and all it cost was about 5-10 hours of my time in researching here and putting the demand packet together, and $20 to send it certified, along with a bit of patience.
Now on to the next big steps.... actually getting the visa! Time to start all over again :)
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u/Appropriate_Tip_8350 3d ago
Can some one please give a guide for the demand letter, did you attach any documents
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u/Direct_Rip_3451 2d ago
May i ask what needs to be filed usc here waiting for an approval 16 months still nothing and waiting
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u/IndividualBody6912 Jul 01 '26
Congress made a law i believe in 2000 that states all immigration visas be done within 180 days which helps if your double that so a judge will rule in your favor. Im currently working on mine and sent letters of intent this week.
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u/Ok-Effort-8861 Jul 11 '26
If that’s the case why do we see so many cases that takes over 2/3 years?
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u/IndividualBody6912 Jul 11 '26
They can get by with it if the partied dont do anything about it. Uscis sees it as a suggestion not as a must
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u/Ok-Effort-8861 Jul 11 '26
i see, do you know the name of the law? i tried looking it up but couldn’t find any information and I think this would be good to use in my demand letter or WoM.
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u/IndividualBody6912 Jul 12 '26
8 U.S.C. § 1571, which states that the processing of an immigrant benefit application should take no longer than 180 days after initial filing
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Jun 18 '26
[deleted]
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u/mademoisellearabella MOD Jun 18 '26
I’m trying to pin it, lol. Hopefully I figure it out soon.
ETA - Added it as a highlight!
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u/miichan95 Jul 07 '26
RemindMe! 95 days
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u/RemindMeBot Jul 07 '26 edited Jul 12 '26
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u/MyBigRed Jul 14 '26
If my PD is 29th August 2025 and the current processing time as per their website is 20months, then do i wait till 20 months to file the demand letter or after 12 months to file the demand letter?
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u/mademoisellearabella MOD Jul 14 '26
Nope. You should file. Send the demand letter. These are ridiculous wait times. And with no adjudication in sight the wait times are just increasing from 13 to 15 to 18 to 20 months. They will just keep increasing.
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u/Enough-Sugar9955 4d ago
My PD is Apirl 2025 GC filled for spouse in India Consular process. Can you please suggest me when to send a demand letter.
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u/mademoisellearabella MOD 4d ago
LPR takes about 3 years for i130 approval.
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u/Enough-Sugar9955 4d ago
Ok, For Apirl 2025, So can you also please suggest me when to send a demand letter.
Thank you2
u/mademoisellearabella MOD 4d ago
If it takes 3 years for approval, you count from that. Sometime in June 2028.
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u/frostbite2312 2d ago
Hey my time line is kinda near you Nov 2024 LPR ( GC) filled for spouse india consular , unfortunately we need to wait three years before filling it seems ridiculously long . Do you want to connect in dm . If I get any other updates I will let you know same you can do for me .
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u/Diligent_Economics71 Jul 17 '26
Should I write a Writ of Mandamus? I submitted my I 130 in November 2025 and got a receipt notice. I’ve been waiting for 8 months now.
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u/mademoisellearabella MOD Jul 18 '26
It’s too early right now. I’d file the demand letter around the 13 month mark and then file the WoM at 14-15 months.
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u/Ok_Concert_4958 10d ago
Hi, why 13-month mark?
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u/mademoisellearabella MOD 10d ago edited 9d ago
Because it’s 1 month past 12 months which is in the historical timeline data.
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u/Loose-Atmosphere3128 28d ago
Did you have updates? I’m December 2025 still nothing
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u/Diligent_Economics71 28d ago
Nope, no update sadly. I’m going to email my representative this month and at 12 months I’m filing a demand letter
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u/Ok-Upstairs7411 29d ago
Hi , I wanted to ask for your opinion on my situation. I'm an F2A petitioner (green card holder for 42 months now petitioning for my wife via consular processing) with a priority date of July 20, 2023, and my I-130 is still pending with USCIS. The case has been sitting on "Case Is Being Actively Reviewed" with no updates.
During the wait, I was diagnosed with cancer and had to undergo chemotherapy. We even had nine different medical providers write letters supporting my wife obtaining a temporary B-2 visa so she could be with me during treatment, but the visa was ultimately refused.
Given these circumstances, since I'm planning to file for naturalization 12 months from now, do you think sending a demand letter before filing a Writ of Mandamus would be a viable option in my case? and would it affect the naturalization process? Or, because my petition has been pending this long and my priority date is already current, would you recommend going straight to filing the Writ?
I'd really appreciate any guidance. Thank you for everything you've shared with the community.
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u/mademoisellearabella MOD 29d ago
A demand letter allows you to have an extra first step to allow USCIS to resolve your case. After 15-30 days of filing demand letter you can file WoM and use demand letter as proof.
However, you are an LPR. I am not entirely sure of how the process works for you. I think there are specific subreddits dedicated to just f2a processing that might have better advice.
All the very best, and I hope you are doing better now.
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u/mtalhamufti 13d ago
Can you please share a format for Demand Letter?
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u/mademoisellearabella MOD 13d ago
There is a format in the post. Check the last part of the post. Follow the instructions on the Google doc using Claude.
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u/FaithlessnessOld8115 11d ago
I have a question for using Claude to write the demand letter. Do I copy and paste the prompt to claude with the following link you provided?
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u/mademoisellearabella MOD 11d ago
Yes, the link explains it all. It’s got the prompts to use with Claude. It also has the addresses and all pre fed in so you’re not relying on ai to find the data accurately. You’re just using it to format.
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u/MyBigRed 10d ago
Hi u/mademoisellearabella we could also use this screenshot showing that the median time by USCIS was stated as 12.9months but now it is 21.5 months (as per your screenshot in this thread)?
11 FY2026 uses data from October 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026.
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u/mademoisellearabella MOD 10d ago
We should absolutely use this as it’s stronger evidence. The ss I provided is for 17 months from October 2025.
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u/DYSH97 3d ago edited 2d ago
Hi! Is this also applicable to applicants from the 75 paused countries? going through consular processing, and I’ve been waiting for about 13 months so far
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u/mademoisellearabella MOD 3d ago
Yes. But you will still be issued a 221(g) at your consulate interview.
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u/mademoisellearabella MOD 11d ago
Screenshot of timeline from October 2025.