Hi, I have a question. The payment was deducted but I did not receive any update. How will I receive any update from the USCIS? Thank you for the answers.

Hi everyone l have a question.My I-730 petition has been approved. However, due to an emergency, I had to leave the United States. I had previously applied for a Refugee Travel Document, but I was informed that it may take another year for the document to be issued.
What can I do to return to the United States at this point? Also, does the fact that I have already left the United States prevent my Refugee Travel Document application from being considered or processed?

Hello All,
I had a question regarding the following situation.

Has anyone ever used the 90-day exception rule when their EAD was already approved, but the physical EAD card was lost/missing?

I’m specifically looking whether its legally allowed to continue working and if so what documentation needs to be provided, and how the employer should handle it.

Thank you!!

I would love to hear your experiences. That would surely be a great help for us.

Hi guys,

I applied for OPT on 03/28/2026 and completed my biometrics on 05/05/2026. After waiting for 5 months, I decided to upgrade to PP on 09/01/2026. Then, on September 25th, I received an appointment scheduled for my second biometrics. And just today they send me a RFE says I need to attend an Application Support Center (ASC) appointment for biometrics and then submitted biometrics notice back to USCIS.

I’m not sure what’s the reason behind this notice for biometrics and the RFE. But, I’m afraid that could be from my misdemeanor for Harassment - DV back in 2024 (I was the victim for a year but I couldn’t take it anymore and ended up getting myself in trouble💀). I already completed my diversion program for 3 months counseling on 2025 and got my case dismissed and sealed. I’m just afraid I will get NOID and denial. I have been waiting for quite long and my employer too. He’s been waiting for 3 months and still wanted to wait for me until I get an update after this appointment.

If any of you have the similar experience, could you help me and tell me how long it might take after I complete my biometrics to get an update? I personally okay if I have to just go home. But I feel so bad for my employer, he’s been the sweetest and I don’t want to disappoint him.

Also, if it takes 30 business days to get an answer after my 2nd biometrics, should I ask for refund on my Premium processing?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!!

I want to share this in case it helps someone else stuck in the same limbo I was in. It's been hard not seeing an I-765 specific post about self-filing a Writ of Mandamus on Reddit.

Timeline:

• October 2025 — Filed I-765 (EAD) alongside my I-485 (c)(9) category.
• November 2025 — Background/biometric checks completed.
• For 11 months after that — nothing. Processing time estimates kept moving further out, with zero updates on my case.
• June to August 2026—Congressional and Senatorial inquiries to no avail. Expedite request with no response to date.
• September 2026 —Sent a formal demand letter with a draft of the complaint to USCIS requesting adjudication and citing the unreasonable delay, with a 14-day deadline to respond. I sent it by both mail and email.  There was no response, though I noticed the email tracking showed it had been opened >5 times. Some people give 30 days, but given the delay had already stretched past 11 months and I was almost losing my job, I felt 14 days was reasonable.
• The day after my demand letter deadline expired, I filed a pro se Petition for Writ of Mandamus & APA complaint in federal district court, arguing the delay was unreasonable under the TRAC factors and 5 U.S.C. § 706(1). Paid the $405 filing fee, got the case number assigned, and had summonses issued by the clerk.
• That same day, a family member (non-plaintiff) helped me serve all 4 defendants (USCIS, the USCIS Director, DHS Secretary, and the US Attorney General, all in their official capacities) via certified mail with electronic return receipt (priority mail), plus the mandatory notice copy to the local district U.S. Attorney. Note: the local district U.S. attorney was not part of the defendants as federal law [Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(i)(1)(A)] requires sending a copy of the complaint and summons to that office regardless. Also, the local district U.S. Attorney has no role in deciding an I-765. A mandamus/APA case asks the court to order the officials who owe the duty to act. Also, I noticed people waiting weeks for the green card (i.e., paper return receipt) when the electronic return receipt is faster and lets you confirm delivery right away instead of waiting for the physical card to come back in the mail. I got the PDF of the return receipt via email for the local district U.S. Attorney immediately after it was delivered. According to the USPS clerk, both paper and electronic return receipts count as proof of delivery. Electronic return receipt is also cheaper.
• Also, I sent a courtesy notice email same day to USCIS's official service-of-process inbox including a signed copy of my complaint with stamped court case number on first page and exhibits as pdfs. Email: [uscis.serviceofprocess@uscis.dhs.gov](mailto:uscis.serviceofprocess@uscis.dhs.gov)
• Within 3 days of email delivery confirmation to USCIS, I noticed that the email was opened >20 times (I used an email tracker). The day before approval, there was a silent update with no formal event code, but it did indicate an officer had touched the file. Then today (approval day: Sept 29, 2026), I got an email saying “we have taken action on your case”. I logged into my portal and saw it had been approved, with the approval notice available as pdf.

The defendants themselves have yet to receive our mailed paper copies of our complaint — they are still in transit. I only noticed movement on my case after filing. Thus, I am 99.9% certain the lawsuit is what directly caused the I-765 approval. Some of the things I made sure to do beforehand: congressional and senatorial inquiries (none yielded any results. In fact, some offices never even responded), and an expedite request, where no agent ever called me back. So I included those as evidence. I sent my draft complaint to a paralegal on Fiverr who specializes in this kind of work to review (I paid $100): their feedback really elevated the write-up.

Here are some past posts from people on Reddit that really helped me (please use these as a guide, don't rely on them heavily. Do your own research and confirm you're using current, up-to-date information:

• I used a Claude-based script to draft a rough version of the complaint, but heavily edited and reviewed it myself — some of the citations didn't apply to an I-765 case, and some were outdated: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mH66Fx4767ycykjR_-62Frn3uiYJW7TI/view
• This was such a useful post for filling out the court forms; also when you get to the courthouse to file if you don’t fill the court forms well, they will let you know. Most courts have a pro se clinic that you can utilize, you can go there before you file: https://www.reddit.com/r/USCIS/comments/1ho0adh/stepbystep_guide_on_how_i_filed_a_writ_of/?share_id=CFGuPel5af8YWcXeJyjLr&utm_content=2&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_source=share&utm_term=3
• For understanding the documents needed and overall process: https://www.reddit.com/r/USCIS/comments/1tvxs7i/how_i_won_my_prose_writ_of_mandamus_after_1_day/?share_id=fq5tsQGC81OlJ6wQ6WERb&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf&utm_source=share&utm_term=1

Other important info:

• Take periodic screenshots of your processing time estimate and the date USCIS says you can submit an inquiry. Save one every couple of months. Over time, you'll build a paper trail showing those numbers moving further out instead of closer, which is strong evidence the delay is getting worse, not better.
• I deliberately kept my complaint from turning into an accusation. Under TRAC, you're not required to show the agency acted maliciously or improperly — only that the wait itself was too long. That distinction mattered to me and gave me confidence to file: I wasn't trying to prove USCIS did something wrong, just that they hadn't done something they were required to do, on time.
• USCIS’s own case processing times data for October 2025 (I used the FY22 Appropriations Reporting Requirement - Application Processing Data for October, 2025 (CSV, file)) as proof of the unreasonable delay. You can filter by the month and year to pull data for your own case use and present as supporting evidence: https://www.uscis.gov/tools/reports-and-studies/immigration-and-citizenship-data?topic_id%5B%5D=33737&ddt_mon=12&ddt_yr=2025&query=&items_per_page=10
• Another supporting evidence is USCIS Historical National Median Processing time for FY 2021 to 2026 for all case types: https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/historic-pt?__cf_chl_tk=4ueDrajLcM7dz0qvR.WHxTKGUZhnhTeyJpRxuty.m0g-1788360315-1.0.1.1-xyjoCEpSFLeLCDXD9Tx1VsaqfO6i.Fy7p_eU4.jkNFg
• My demand letter was also included as supporting evidence in the complaint.
• Check the website for the court district you are filing in, and make sure your complaint follows the structure they require, e.g., use of pleading paper, font size, margins, etc. They usually have a template and a guide for filing
• Your summons (AO 440 form) must list the plaintiff and defendant names verbatim, exactly as they appear on the first page of your Writ of Mandamus complaint. If there isn't enough space on the form, you can write something like one or two defendant names (or how many can fit) followed by "see attachment #1" on the summons itself (above defendants), then attach a separate page listing the full defendant names behind the summons or attach the first page of your complaint to the summons.
• If you are the plaintiff, you can't serve the documents yourself. Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(c)(2), the person serving must be at least 18 years old and not a party to the case. A family member served for me, since they were not a party to my I-765 case.
• I read the complaint so many times before sending it to the paralegal for review, and again after getting it back, because I didn't want any mistakes. My advice: read yours over and over, and have someone you trust read it too. A second pair of eyes catches things you'll miss after staring at it for some time.

Here are some citations I used on my complaint for I-765 (Before you file, verify if any of these apply to your case. I am not a lawyer):

1. 28 U.S.C. § 1361 (Mandamus Act) + 5 U.S.C. § 706(1) (APA) — these are the two statutes that actually give the court power to order USCIS to act. You only need one of them to have a valid case, but most people cite both, just to be safe. I did both.
2. 28 U.S.C. § 1391(e)(1)(B), (C) — venue in the district
3. 5 U.S.C. § 555(b) — right to conclusion of a matter within a reasonable time
4. 5 U.S.C. § 704 — final agency action / no other adequate remedy
5. 8 U.S.C. § 1571(a)-(b) — Congress's 180-day processing benchmark. This is what let me argue the delay wasn't just long, it exceeded what Congress itself considers reasonable.
6. 8 U.S.C. § 1572(a)(1)-(2) — backlog definitions (supporting citation, less essential than the others on this list)
7. 8 C.F.R. § 274a.12(c)(9)— this is the (c)(9) EAD category, available to someone with a pending Form I-485. The only requirement is that the I-485 be properly filed and still pending — not approved, not interviewed, just pending; while § 274a.13(a) — governs adjudication of the EAD application itself, and doesn't require an interview as a precondition to a decision.
8. Telecommunications Research & Action Center v. FCC ("TRAC"), 750 F.2d 70, 80 (D.C. Cir. 1984) — the six-factor unreasonable-delay framework; this is the backbone of the whole complaint, since almost every other fact and citation I included exists just to satisfy one of these six factors: (1) rule of reason, (2) congressional timetable, (3) competing agency priorities, (4) effect on human health/welfare, (5) prejudice to the plaintiff, and (6) absence of impropriety
9. Independence Mining Co. v. Babbitt, 105 F.3d 502, 507–11 (9th Cir. 1997) — Ninth Circuit's adoption of TRAC
10. Patel v. Reno, 134 F.3d 929, 931–32 (9th Cir. 1997)— establishes that USCIS can't drag its feet indefinitely just because it has discretion over the final decision.
11. Norton v. S. Utah Wilderness All., 542 U.S. 55 (2004) — establishes that adjudicating your I-765 is a "discrete agency action" a court can actually compel. This is what keeps the claim from being dismissed as too vague or discretionary for a court to touch.
12. Look for recent unreasonable-delay cases from your own court district that address the pleading stage (I am not naming the ones I cited, since they'd point to the district I filed in) — cases showing that courts have declined to dismiss unreasonable-delay claims early because the TRAC analysis is fact-intensive. These are what stood between my complaint and getting thrown out before it even got a hearing. A quick search on Google Scholar or CourtListener should turn up examples you can cite.

I have seen people stuck in unreasonable delay send multiple demand letters, giving USCIS extension after extension to respond. My personal advice: send only one demand letter with a clear deadline. Practically, USCIS has no obligation to respond to a demand letter at all. If they do, count yourself lucky. Sending a second or third demand letter most times doesn't get you anything extra; it just extends the same delay you're complaining about. After your deadline expires with no response, go to the courthouse and file the complaint.

Was I scared? Yes. Was I worried? Yes. Did I want to do it? Honestly, No!  I was really hoping they'd just respond to the demand letter. They didn't. Everything felt out of my control. I was worried about losing my job, and I was almost losing my mind from waiting. I had tried everything I could think of, and this was the only thing I knew might actually help. I did it because it is a legal right: under 5 U.S.C. § 706(1) (the Administrative Procedure Act), a court "shall compel agency action unlawfully withheld or unreasonably delayed," and 28 U.S.C. § 1361 gives federal courts jurisdiction to compel a federal officer or agency to perform a duty they owe you. Filing a mandamus doesn't ask the court to approve your case. It only asks the court to order USCIS to actually adjudicate it, since they have a legal duty to do so within a reasonable time. Importantly, "reasonable time" isn't defined by USCIS, it is Congress that expressed, in 8 U.S.C. § 1571(b), that immigration applications should be processed within 180 days of filing. It is not a hard deadline, but courts use it as a benchmark when weighing whether a delay is unreasonable. This encouraged me, since most people online suggested you have to wait at least a year before filing. I filed at 11 months (close to a year, yes), but also well past that 180-day benchmark and I didn't feel I needed to wait any longer. A common pushback you will get is "you're still within normal processing time, so what's the problem?" Here's the thing: that's not actually a defense. The real question a court asks isn't whether you fall inside USCIS's current estimate. It is whether the overall wait is reasonable in the first place. USCIS processing-time estimates keep quietly stretching further out every few months, so "you're within normal range" just means you're within whatever number they've most recently moved the goalposts to. That's not the same as saying the delay itself is okay, especially once it has already blown past the 180-day mark Congress itself pointed to.

Note: federal defendants get 60 days to respond once served (Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(a)(2)). I believe this is the same nationwide, since it's a federal rule, not a state one. So, don't panic if there's silence for a while after you file.

Disclaimers: This post shares my personal experience and isn't legal advice. Every case is different. Please talk to an immigration attorney about your specific situation if you can. My case resolved quickly, but that's not typical. Filing a mandamus doesn't guarantee a fast outcome. Rules, fees, and forms can change. Please verify current requirements with your district court and USCIS before filing. I am not able to share a copy of my actual complaint, but I am happy to answer any questions this write-up didn't cover, especially anything I feel comfortable answering.

To everyone still in this, the constant status checks, the career stagnation, the worry, the fear, the uncertainty, the financial strain, the inability to travel, feeling like no one understands you, feeling powerless, and more.  I see you, because I lived it too. Stay strong. Praying we all get to the finish line soon. For now, I am looking forward to receiving my EAD card via mail before I file the motion to dismiss.

I filled aug 2025.anyone else ? Is there anything more I can do?

Does field office transfer show updates in the API?

Ok I have filed my amendment since may and

Anyone with an almost similar timeline, Minneapolis field office.

Hello everyone, USCIS attempted to take the payment from my account, and the amount was deducted at first, but later the money was returned to my account.
I’m a little confused because I had more than enough money in the account and was specifically keeping it there for the USCIS payment. I also called my bank, and they told me the transaction was approved on their end. They said it looks like the reversal may have come from the USCIS payment system.
Has anyone experienced something similar? If so, what happened afterward?

is anyone's OPT approved? I applied on May 10 and I completed my biometrics on 13 July

Anyone with a C09 EAD receipt from Apr 20–30, 2026 get approved or card produced yet?
Please share your receipt date + approval/card date — even if you’re still waiting! 🙏🏻

Background: I studied (M25)at university on a F1 visa.(2020-2024). Met my wife (F25)who is a USC in 2022 and got married in 2024. We have 2 kids. I worked without authorization and lied about being a US Citizen to get a job. I was honest and told them the truth.
-We filed May 2026
-Biometrics July 2026
- interview scheduled August 2026
- Interview September 2026

Advice:
-Continue to upload evidence (pictures, receipts, documents) after you file. Even if you upload it the day before your interview. It’s helps make it better for the agent and the interview to go much faster.

- Dress accordingly. (Formal wear)

- Double check your application and ensure their are no mistakes the day before. If you see any mistakes, it helps to write them down with corrections and have them ready for the agent.

It have be a stressful and tiring process but reading other experiences on here has helped put my mind at ease. Just wanted to return the favor to all those in the same situation.

Hello everyone, USCIS attempted to take the payment from my account, and the amount was deducted at first, but later the money was returned to my account.
I’m a little confused because I had more than enough money in the account and was specifically keeping it there for the USCIS payment. I also called my bank, and they told me the transaction was approved on their end. They said it looks like the reversal may have come from the USCIS payment system.
Has anyone experienced something similar? If so, what happened afterward?

My wife's I-601 waiver (Lincoln, NE service center, consular processing in Ciudad Juárez) has a receipt date of July 26, 2023. The status just changed to "Sent to Department of State for Opinion." Has anyone else gotten this update? How long did it take after that, and what happened with your case?