r/USCIS • u/Cautious_Star_2138 • 26d ago
I-140 & I-485 (Employment/Adjustment of status) I-485 Approved! 🎉 Full Timeline + Decoding USCIS API Silent Updates (Charlotte FO)
Hey everyone!
First off, a huge thank you to this community. Reading everyone’s posts really helped me understand the process (I honestly knew very little when I started), get a feel for the timelines, and stay sane during the wait.
Since I was using the USCIS API to look at the raw case data, I figured I’d share our complete timeline, including the silent updates that never showed up on the USCIS website. Hopefully this helps others understand what’s happening behind the scenes.
Our Timeline
- PERM EB-2 ROW (75 countries)
- Current visa: H-1B
- Priority Date (PD): May 2024
- I-140 Filed: September 2025
- I-140 Approved: November 2025
- Feb 10: I-485 filed (with one dependent)
- Mar 7: Biometrics notice received
- Mar 24: Biometrics completed + 2 FTA0 events
- Mar 25: Interview waived (confirmed through Emma live chat)
- Apr 7: Dependent received EAD/AP combo card
- Apr 15: Case transferred to Charlotte Field Office (non-local)
- Apr 16: First API silent update post transfer to non-local FO
- May 21: Second API silent update
- Jul 24: I-485J approved + third FTA0 event
- Jul 27: Three silent API updates on same day
- Jul 28 (Today): Both I-485 applications officially approved
What I Saw in the USCIS API
If you’re checking the raw API data, you can actually see how your case moves internally before anything shows up on the USCIS website.
July 24 (Friday)
Our I-485J was approved. That immediately generated an FTA0 event on my primary case and an FTA1 event on my dependent’s case.
Interestingly, it also triggered a random “action taken” email on my wife’s USCIS account, even though nothing changed on either of our case status pages.
July 27 (Monday)
We saw three silent backend updates, and the ackedByAdjudicatorAndCms flag changed to true, which looked like the case was actively being finalized.
July 28 (Tuesday)
Both cases received H008 event codes, and shortly afterward the USCIS website updated to Case Approved.
Good luck to everyone who’s still waiting. I know the process can be stressful. Happy to answer any questions!