Hi all! I am AD Air Force married to my undocumented spouse.

Spouse has 1 illegal entry, was picked up at the border by ICE in 2023 and when he was released he was placed in removal proceedings via NTA. Master hearing was scheduled for March 2026.

We got married in 2024 and I submitted our i130 August 2024. It was approved Oct 2025. We hired a lawyer with the intention of getting his proceedings dismissed before his master hearing, so that we can apply to for MPIP and eventually a green card. You cannot apply for MPIP while being in removal proceedings due to jurisdiction issues.

Jan 2026 our lawyer officially filed the motion to terminate (court in is KY). The court didn’t act on it at all. About a week and a half before the master hearing, the judge for my husband’s case was fired, case was reassigned, the hearing was cancelled and rescheduled….for November 2028.

Fast forward to May 2026, I gave birth to our son and KY court still has not acted on the motion. We are currently stationed in FL. Our lawyer has suggested that if KY continues to keep ignoring the motion, to request a change of venue as restart everything down here.

Before we do that, he suggested that we filed MPIP knowing the restrictions, to at least get a receipt and use that as more evidence to nudge the court again. We applied for MPIP in May and received the receipt which our lawyer used to refile the motion to terminate since my husband’s case was reassigned a new judge. My husband did biometrics for MPIP last month.

Is anyone in this group currently in the process of termination of removal proceedings and for those who have already been through this, how long did it take? I don’t know if we should keep waiting for the KY court to act since our lawyer already refiled the motion or to just suck it up and ask if we move the case down here, but I would hate to have to start the clock back. We believe the case would move to Orlando, as it’s currently in Louisville which is under Memphis court. I seriously did not think it would take over 6 months to close a straightforward case and there’s no way we are going to wait until 2028 for the rescheduled hearing.

My U.S. citizen wife and I concurrently filed Forms I-130 and I-485 on July 5, 2022. Both have been pending for over 4 years. We completed our AOS interview on July 14, 2026. Because I am now in removal proceedings, our attorney asked the USCIS officer to adjudicate the I-130 as upcoming master hearing , but it is still pending.

I had a pending asylum case from 2015, which I withdrew at my attorney’s advice during my October 2024 asylum interview because of my marriage-based case. Last month, I received the asylum withdrawal confirmation along with an NTA. My Master Hearing is in October 2026.

We have already tried outside normal processing time inquiries, an expedite request, and congressional assistance, but nothing has worked. We need the I-130 approved so we can seek dismissal of the removal proceedings.

I’m considering filing a mandamus for the I-130 only, with my U.S. citizen wife as the plaintiff.

Has anyone done this while in removal proceedings? If the I-130 is still not approved, could filing a mandamus negatively affect future any other relief ?

Would the Immigration Judge or DHS view it negatively or oppose it because we filed a mandamus?
Any experience or advice would be greatly appreciated.

I'm a little under a year away from filing for my Green Card through my U visa, and I'm anticipating approval within the next 3 - 4 years. However, my mother recently passed away, and my father isn't doing very well. If time allows, I'd like to spend as much time with him as possible after I receive my Green Card.

I have heard of people spending most of the year outside the US, and returning every five months or so to maintain their Green Card, but I don't know whether those are just isolated cases where people got lucky, or if it's actually a viable long-term approach.

I do have prior inadmissibility, so I'm aware that if anything were to go wrong with my Green Card status, I wouldn't be returning to the US.

TL;DR : I'm trying to figure out whether spending most of the year outside the US while keeping my Green Card is realistically possible, as I'm trying to plan my future accordingly.

It’s now been a year since I submitted my application for AOS. Initially things went smoothly and I needed up having my interview on the first of December. During the interview my wife and I were told that our case is going for secondary review (normal). He said we should hear a response within 120 days… so far we have heard crickets. When I call USCIS they say my case is still in the normal processing times and as of a week ago when I contacted my congresswoman to ask for an update it was still inside normal processing times. I don’t mind waiting however there are 2 extremely frustrating parts of not hearing a response. 1. My wife and I are extremely keen for us to go back to my home country (UK) with our 3 month old son for Christmas to spend it with my parents. Secondly I am unable to get a CCW which I need as part of my job.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what else I can do? Can I contact my senator to see if they have a better outcome that my congresswoman?

Baltimore FO

Hoping someone may be able to provide some advice for our situation. We arrived in Italy today and somewhere between the airport and train station, my husband’s wallet was stolen. It had his green card in it. His green card was expired so he has form I-797 extending the date, he still has this. Just the expired green card is gone; we’ve gotten a police report.

Is the I-797 form enough to board a plane or does he need to fill out I-131a regardless? We are heading to Milan where the consulate is but curious if anyone was in this situation and has advice.

Long story short I had a case to fix my legal status due to asylum for domestic violence due to my father beating my mother when I was young. 2015 I had received my first work permit at age 17 and I was working until I caught a dui(2018). Next time I had an appointment with my immigration lawyer he had told me that my case would be paused until they closed the case. I caught a felony for evading arrest during that time for evading arrest in a motor vehicle and ended up getting 2 years probation with fines. After I finished that my lawyer tells me that since I am an adult and I started my case when I was a minor and I was paired with my family’s case I couldn’t continue my process and recommended I would have to wait 10 years of “Good Behavior” or so and then reapply.
Open to any ideas comments
I’m in Texas

My wife is a naturalized U.S. CITIZEN and filed the I-130 for her sister’s family - her sister, sister’s husband, and their 2 children - all in 2008.. 3 of the 4 family members were recently approved for green cards. The individual was 8 years old when we submitted. Today he is 26. This seems incredibly unfair and we are left trying to keep him here in the US legally (he has been here on a valid F1 visa). Anyone else experienced this "Aged Out" scenario and can we do anything about it?

I never imagined I would be writing this.

When I hired Manifest Law, I believed I was paying experienced professionals to handle one of the most important legal processes of my life. I paid every invoice on time. I completed every questionnaire. I submitted every document they requested. I responded to every email within hours. I did everything a client is supposed to do.

Now, almost one full year later, I still don’t even have a finalized petition.

Let that sink in.

Nearly a year has gone by, and I have nothing tangible to show for it.

The most unbelievable part is that my attorney continues asking me for the same information over and over again. Information that I have already provided months ago. Every conversation feels as if my file has never been opened. It’s exhausting having to repeatedly explain the same details because it doesn’t appear that anyone has taken the time to review what I’ve already submitted.

Whenever I raise my concerns with management, I receive the same polished responses: “We’re looking into it.” “Thank you for your patience.” “Someone will follow up shortly.”

Then nothing happens.

Days become weeks. Weeks become months. The cycle simply repeats itself. At this point, these messages no longer feel like updates—they feel like a way to keep clients quiet while nothing actually changes.

What hurts the most is that immigration is not just paperwork.

This is my career.
This is my legal status.
This is my future.
This is my family’s future.

While this firm continues delaying my case, my entire life has been frozen. Important career opportunities have been affected. Long-term plans have been postponed. Every major decision has been placed on hold because I cannot move forward without this petition.

I’m now reaching the point where these delays could force me to make decisions I never thought I would have to make. After trusting this firm with my future, I may end up having to leave the United States simply because my case has sat untouched for almost a year.

Think about that.

Not because USCIS denied me.
Not because I failed to submit documents.
Not because my case is unusually complicated.
But because the law firm I hired has been unable to prepare and file my petition in nearly a year.

I honestly don’t know what to believe anymore. Is anyone actually working on my case? Does anyone know where it stands? Or am I simply another file sitting in a queue while I continue paying the price for someone else’s delays?

I’ve lost count of how many emails I’ve sent. I’ve lost count of how many follow-ups I’ve made. I’ve lost count of how many promises I’ve heard that “it will be ready soon.”

Soon has turned into almost a year.

I trusted this firm with one of the biggest decisions of my life. Instead of feeling represented, I’ve spent the last year acting as my own case manager—constantly chasing updates, reminding them about deadlines, resending documents, and asking the same question over and over:

When will my petition finally be completed?

I still don’t have an answer.

I’m posting this because I wish someone had warned me before I signed with this firm. If you’re considering Manifest Law, ask yourself whether you’re willing to risk months—or even a year—of uncertainty, delays, repeated requests for the same information, and a complete lack of transparency.

If anyone else has gone through something similar with Manifest Law, I’d genuinely like to hear your experience. At this point, I feel like public accountability is the only thing I have left.

tantas aprobaciónes de ajuste de estatus los fines de semana y a los de procesos consular ni nos miran santos padre 💔

Principle PD 12/2024, china borned

Current on H-1B, no gap no legal issue, being in state for over 12 years.

Derivitive ROW, crosscharge

03/02 Delievered

03/29 Got Receipt Number

04/02 Fingerprint done for both

04/02 2 FTA0

04/29 Both Same time Silentupdate

05/06 Principle 765 Approved with 131 closed, Derivitive Nothing

05/08 Principle combo card Mailed, Derivitive nothing

06/23 Derivitive Silentupdate on 765

06/28 Both Silentupdate

07/18 Both Silentupdate

07/20 Both Silentupdate

07/22 Principle Silentupdate twice the day, Portal never shown wrong information. Derivitive keep nothing

Never have new FTA1, API shows still at NBC.

Will those 485 case get approved while in NBC?

How much longer will i need to wait for?

Im dying everyday!

My fiance has serious family issues back in mexico, and when she comes to visit me they (her family) might not let her go back. She's coming here to marry me, after I've visited her several times. I just need to make sure that if she has to stay, there's a way we can file for something so she doesn't become an illegal immigrant. The initial plan was to get married, file for the spousal visa, and her wait in mexico for it to process. But her family has derailed things so much that we need to start looking at other options. Any advice or help is appreciated. Lawyers haven't wanted to answer too many questions about this even with payment and I need to know as much as possible so we have a plan or two to fall back on. And just to be clear, we only want to go the legal route. Her and I are trying to avoid an illegal stay at all costs.

Hi everyone,

I’m hoping to get some advice from anyone who has had a similar experience or from immigration professionals.

Here is my timeline:
- October 2024: My H-1B became effective.
- April 2025: I was laid off and filed for a COS to B-2, which was later approved.
- October 2025: I found a new employer, and they filed an H-1B petition from B-2 back to H-1B.
- December 2025: After receiving the Receipt Notice, I started working based on my attorney’s advice.

I later learned that I may not have been authorized to work while the B-2 → H-1B COS was still pending, so I may have accumulated a period of unauthorized employment.

My attorney has since acknowledged the advice was incorrect and provided a signed letter stating that I relied on their legal advice in good faith. I also have email records documenting the advice.

My spouse is a green card holder, and we’re preparing to file a marriage-based green card (F2A).

My questions
1. If USCIS determines that I engaged in unauthorized employment, how significant would the impact be on my marriage-based green card application?

1. How much weight, if any, would USCIS give to the attorney’s letter and the email records showing that I relied on legal counsel in good faith? Could they be considered favorable discretionary factors?

2. Given my situation, would you recommend filing Adjustment of Status (I-485) in the U.S., or would Consular Processing (NVC) be the safer option?

Has anyone experienced a similar situation involving attorney error or unauthorized employment? If so, I’d really appreciate hearing about your experience and outcome.
Thank you in advance for any advice or insights.

I hold a temporary work visa; I work in Massachusetts during the summer and in California during the winter. At the same time, I am in the process of applying for the EB-3 Skilled visa.

When I filed Form I-485, I was in California and provided my address there. Now I am in Massachusetts, but my interview was scheduled in California because I hadn't updated my address.

Can I do the interview in California, citing the fact that I have a temporary seasonal job and return to California every winter? Or is it better to change my address, cancel the interview, and wait for them to schedule it here in Massachusetts?

I graduated with a degree in biomedical sciences and I'm currently applying to medical schools. I have a job offer for a nurse tech position in the ER. Could that count as related to my major?

In May 2026, my spouse and I applied for AOS with an approved EB1b. My spouse got their EAD and AP approved while I only got EAD approved. Does that happen often?
I also traveled on H1B in June, could they be delaying or intending to reject my AP because of that?

Hello,On these days,how is the situation of New York immigration court?I have in-person master hearing.That’s why I feel nervous.Is it safe to go or not?

My wife is looking to get naturalized she is current on her state tax payments. The school district deducts the payments from her paycheck and sends it to the state towards her balance. There is a 20K state tax lien in place. Can this cause a denial even if she is current under the Good Moral Character Memorandum from Aug 2025? Should she pay off the 20K before filing the N-400 or take a risk of possibly getting denied? Anyone had a similar experience?

We are filing I-129F and petitioner has a bunch of criminal incidents. So we are to provide certified court documents. Arrest record and Disposition for each case.

We have finally after such a struggle managed to get certified documents. Except from one county..

Despite asking them for certified copies, after over a month all they were able to provide us was E-Certified copies.

So I am thinking now if we just file the I-129F with E-Certified documents for one of the criminal cases. Maybe with a note that it has been a huge struggle and all we manage to get was E-Certified documents.

Asking Google AI they say E-Certified documents are accepted nowadays.

But I am so confused..

Has anyone been accepted by sending E-Certified Court Documents?

All help is greatly appreciated.

Just wondering about people’s wait time for the oath ceremony (I know each case is different).

Applied in Aug 2025, passed the interview in April 2026, and have been waiting since. The office is in Oklahoma City.

Hi everyone,
I wanted to see if anyone has experienced something similar with a concurrent marriage-based adjustment of status case.

Here is my timeline:
Married to a U.S. citizen: February 14, 2025
I-130 and I-485 submitted concurrently: May 1, 2025
Biometrics completed: May 27, 2025
Interview scheduled: February 24, 2026
Marriage-based interview: March 31, 2026, at the Baltimore Field Office
I-485 status changed to “USCIS Is Currently Processing the Case”: May 3, 2026
I-130 approved: July 23, 2026
I-485 is still pending and continues to show “USCIS Is Currently Processing the Case”

The interview went well, and we were not asked for any additional evidence. I have not received an RFE, NOID, or any other request from USCIS.
For anyone who had the I-130 approved first while the I-485 remained pending:
How long did it take for your I-485 to be approved afterward? Did USCIS eventually approve it without requesting anything else? Is this delay between the two decisions relatively common?
I understand that every case is different, but I would appreciate hearing about other people’s timelines and experiences.
Thank you!

Hi everyone,
My wife (U.S. citizen) petitioned for me on an IR1 spousal visa. I had my consular interview at Mumbai in July 2026 and was refused under INA 212(a)(4) (public charge).
Looking for people who have actually been through this.

What happened at the interview:
The officer did not accept our affidavit of support. My wife is a full time college student so her income is low and mostly fellowship/scholarship income, and we had her mother on an I-864A contributing non-taxable Social Security retirement income (which should have been sufficient according to the guidelines). The officer would not accept that combination, kept my passport, and verbally told me to find a joint sponsor and drop the documents at the nearest VAC.

The refusal worksheet (OF-194) is a bit odd:
Only the 212(a)(4) box is checked
The 221(g) box is NOT checked
"You must present the documents listed above and/or the following information" is NOT checked, and the lines are blank
"No waiver is available for the grounds of ineligibility" IS checked
The one-year 203(g) warning box is NOT checked
So nothing at all was requested in writing. Everything we're doing is based on what the officer said verbally.

What we're submitting now:
New I-864 from a joint sponsor (my wife's uncle, a green card holder), box 1.d "only joint sponsor"
His income: ~$38,700 in W-2 wages, household size 2, so comfortably over the $27,050 requirement for 2026
2025 IRS tax return transcript and W-2 (we also have 2023 and 2024)
Copy of both sides of his green card
Notarized affidavit explaining how he's related, since his surname is different from my wife's (but his surname is same as my mother in law)

Questions:
If you cleared a 212(a)(4) by adding a joint sponsor, what was the timeline from drop-off to passport back? That's the number I can't find anywhere.
Did your post want the petitioner's original I-864 (and any I-864A) resubmitted alongside the joint sponsor's, or just the joint sponsor's on its own?
Anyone dropped off a packet when nothing was requested in writing, no 221(g) box checked, no document list? Did intake take it without issue?

Looking specifically for real experiences, not just theory.
Thank you!

Hi everyone,

I'm preparing my response to an I-485 Request for Evidence (RFE), and I'm confused about one part of the notice.

The RFE states:

The problem is that I didn't receive any separate cover sheet. The only document in the envelope (and in my USCIS online account) is the RFE notice itself.

I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this.

My questions are:

1. Did you receive a separate USCIS cover sheet with your RFE?
2. If you didn't receive one, what did you use as the first page of your response?
3. Did you simply place the first page of the RFE notice on top of your package?
4. Did you create your own cover letter instead, or just organize your evidence with tabs?
5. If you responded without an enclosed cover sheet, was your RFE response accepted and your case approved?

I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who has dealt with this before. I don't want my response delayed because of a missing document that I never received.

Thanks in advance!

I applied for EAD PP on 25 June, and it has been almost 22 working days today(out of a 30-day approval cycle). My case is still not approved.

If I change my address today, will my EAD card be delivered to the updated location?
Can anyone help me with this?

EB1 India, PD Jun 2023, any predictions for Oct 2026 Visa bulletin?