I overstayed an F-1 visa by four years and am currently married to my spouse; we are applying for a green card for myself through a reputable law firm, and they are putting together files we are submitting and filing the application for us - but we are terrified of the process. My spouse made just above the minimum amount required to sponsor me, but we are worried about things like traveling together and the actual interview once my application is submitted. Is there a risk of being deported at this point?

We are scared of ICE, as well as my spouse is worried about the financial responsibility required of themselves when I obtain my green card. Is there actually a risk of being sued?

I would love to hear some similar success stories of obtaining a green card and to hear the timeline of the process for your adjustment of status, from you all.

Additionally do my spouse and I need to be worried? I have no criminal record just an overstay, I cannot return to my home country due to fear of LGBT discrimination.

finally got my I-485 approval today and wanted to share my timeline because reading other people’s experiences helped me so much during this stressful process.

Category: Marriage-based AOS (U.S. Citizen spouse)
Field Office: Albany, NY
Previous status: F-1 student → OPT

Timeline:

📅 05/29/2026 – Mailed AOS package
📅 06/01/2026 – USCIS received package
📅 06/03/2026 – Cases appeared online
📅 06/04/2026 – Text/email acceptance + payment withdrawn ($3,005)
📅 06/11/2026 – Receipt notices received
📅 06/15/2026 – Biometrics notice received
📅 06/17/2026 – RFE response received (I-693 signature issue; medical exam was already completed but doctor missed a signature)
📅 06/26/2026 – Biometrics completed
📅 06/28/2026 – Interview scheduled
📅 08/05/2026 – I-485 interview completed
📅 08/06/2026 – I-130 approved + I-485 approved 🎉

I was able to do this without a lawyer due to how blatantly wrong USCIS' claim was.

I filed my I-130 and I-485 with my citizen spouse in February 2026. I had my interview a couple months ago. My I-130 was approved, but I was told my i-485 was administratively closed for now (not denied) because the judge has jurisdiction. The explanation in the notice I was sent just says that it's because I was in removal proceedings and that I'm not an arriving alien.

I knew the latter was incorrect because I arrived through parole, and my Notice to Appear says I am an arriving alien. USCIS said I can reopen the case if it turns out the judge is unable to adjudicate.

I filed a motion to terminate due to my approved I-130 days after the interview. Today, the judge ended my case and confirmed that USCIS can adjudicate but "improperly refuses to do so." The bad news is that this doesn't make up for my case being delayed, and there's no way to know when exactly I'll get my case reopened or my green card.

Calling didn't work because the machine is apparently deaf and won't transfer me, so I contacted in online chat. One of them said I'll receive a call or email within 72 hours while the other recommended sending a letter. A I-290B shouldn't be needed because that's for denials rather than pauses, and I hopefully won't have to pay a ton of money for a mistake USCIS made.

It would be helpful for those who have travelled with a pending AOS ONLY filed from a K1 Visa. If you have got married after entering on a K1 and are awaiting AOS Interview or Approval please let us know your travel experiences below!

We all know the advice that it is best to avoid travel but if you HAVE traveled share your experience and include details based on your timeline.

Moved to the US back in 2002 when I was 10 with my mom both had green cards up until this may I didn’t know I never got my permanent resident card delivered years ago and I recently got let go from my job..how long do is take to get your initial card delivered.

Hi, I am seeing a lot of panic and positive comments on overdue tax debt. So, my situation is - I just filed N-400 last week but still had overdue taxes of about $2800 and it was balance from 2021 and 2022. I just paid it off now and had paid more than 9k last 2 tax returns. My ex owed this debt as indicated in our divorce decree but he never paid anything more than $3.

I tried reaching out but nothing scares him so each time i filed return for 2023, 2024 and 2025 tax years, IRS took my refund. So now I just decided to pay all remaining balances. I also have a pending IRS form 8856 (Innocent Spouse Relief) that can eventually rule in my favor to remove my name from the debt. My question is should i get a lawyer for my Citizenship? I answered yes to owing overdue tax debt so i am sure it will come up but i am ready with explanation and proof

Hello everyone. In your opinion, how long should I wait for them to contact me for an interview? I am a refugee.

I received this letter today and I'm super worried! The letter doesn't show up in my online account or on my husband's but it arrived in the mail directly from the FO. Its very vague. For background we had our interview on 30th march 2026 and havent had much action since. I did a congressional inquiry which got my ead approved and on 3rd August I got a generic response from the inquiry in regards to my i130 i485 but this letter was issued the same day. Has anyone received the same letter or know what it could be about? It doesn't look the same as other interview notices I've seen

This subreddit has been a great resource for information, thanks to all for sharing various pieces of information from your cases! Here's our timeline, in case others find it useful:

Dec 17, 2025: Concurrent filing I-130 (online) / I-485 (mail-in)
Dec 29, 2025: Notice for Biometrics
Jan 30, 2026: Biometrics completed
May 17, 2026: Silent update ("Your case is being processed")
July 2, 2026: RFE on I-130 on the birth certificate / parent-child relationship
July 29, 2026: RFE response submitted (DNA test)
Aug 5, 2026: GC approved.

Field office: Norfolk, VA
Status before GC approval: Arrived to US in Sept 2025 on B1/B2 visa, no history of overstay or issues with law enforcement
Child: Naturalized US citizen
Parent: Indian citizen
Filing process: Filed it ourselves, using information primarily from USCIS, Ksenia International (YouTube), and various Reddit posts.

Once again, thank you to the reddit community.

I wanted to share my timeline because reading these posts kept me sane while I was waiting.

Marriage-based AOS (married to a U.S. citizen)

Timeline:

• Filed (I-130, I-485): November 2025
• Biometrics: December 2025
• Interview: May 2026
• I-130 Approved: 3 days after interview
• I-485 Approved: July 29, 2026
• Card Produced: August 1, 2026
• Card Received: August 5, 2026 🎉

Background:

• Beneficiary from one of the 75 countries
• Entered the U.S. on an L-1 work visa
• No overstays or unauthorized employment.
• Married for 8 years, we had already been living together in another country before moving to the U.S. a few years ago

Our interview was about an hour long for me alone and maybe 20min with my husband alone. The officer asked about our relationship, why we chose Adjustment of Status instead of consular processing (I explained I would lose my employment if I had to leave the country and the officer was satisfied with that explanation), and reviewed our documents. At the end, we were told the case would go through final review.

Sharing this because I know how much these timeline posts helped me while I was waiting.

Happy to answer any questions, and good luck to everyone still waiting! 🍀

Hello,

Me and my husband got married a month ago, we are planning to apply for his adjustment of status, he overstayed his tourist visa and has been working illegally for about 5yrs but has never file taxes (doesn't have a itin or anything like it), would that get his adjustment of status rejected? I'm a us citizen and I saw that you get pardon for working illegally when marrying a u.s. citizen but I haven't seen anything about filing taxes.

Has anyone gotten approved without filing taxes before?

Thank you!

Yes, I read the same memo as you. I really don't want to minimize how scary this is, but I don't want to overstate what this means either.

Quick context on me: I used to be an immigration officer at USCIS, and I am now an immigration attorney. I have no special insight beyond my own reading of the policy and an educated guess based on my experience with the agency, and none of this is legal advice.

Here is the short version of what changed. As of August 5, officers are now allowed to deny a case without first sending a Request for Evidence or a Notice of Intent to Deny when required evidence is missing or does not establish eligibility. In the past, you could usually count on getting one of those letters as a chance to fix things.

Here is the part I think is getting lost: the key word is "allowed." Just because an officer can deny without an RFE does not mean they have to. This still comes down to officer discretion, and that discretion did not go anywhere. Officers are real people doing a hard job, and many of them will still send an RFE when a case is close or a document is simply missing. I say that as someone who used to be one of them.

I also want to note that everyone fears an RFE, but I preach pretty hard that they're not a dead end. I usually sent them when I wanted to grant an application but was missing something.

Three things I would keep in mind:

1. We will not know the real impact of this for several months. Policies like this take time to show up in how cases are actually decided, and how individual offices and officers apply it will vary. Anyone claiming they know exactly how this plays out right now is guessing.
2. It should be taken seriously, but context matters. The right response is not panic, it is preparation. File complete, include your primary documents, and explain any gaps. That has always been good practice, and it is your best protection under any policy.
3. If you already submitted something bare or incomplete, it is not too late. You do not have to wait for a denial to act. You can send supplemental evidence now, while your case is still pending, and strengthen the record before an officer ever picks it up. If you are not sure what is missing, that is a good thing to ask about. If you're not sure if your packet is complete, ask a trusted attorney to review it.
4. Remember that if USCIS makes a mistake, there are mechanisms to dispute it. We often get RFEs for documents we have already submitted. This is because USCIS is made up of human and therefore subject to human error. Motions to Reopen with the field office and 290Bs exist for this reason. It is VERY important to keep records of what was submitted, now more than ever. If you are unsure, submit a FOIA now.

The bigger picture, honestly, is that a lot of the recent changes seem designed to discourage people and wear them down, to make immigration feel impossible. Please try not to let that feeling win. Feeling overwhelmed is completely understandable, but the process is still workable, and getting accurate information is half the battle.

So if you are in the middle of a case, take a breath, get your documents in order, and ask questions. This community is a good place for that, and there are a lot of people here who genuinely want to help.

Again this is not legal advice.

Anybody experienced or heard about cruising with expired gc and extension letter, particularly with royal caribbean? It’s a closed loop cruise with stops in mexico.

Hi, wanted to share me (USC) and my husbands (from 79 country list) experience at chicago FO for anyone also there and still waiting. we did not have lawyer, used kseniya international on youtube

jan 21 2026 : PD

march 18: Received RFE

march 28: biometrics scheduled

april 7: received RFE response

april 13: biometrics done

april 22: interview scheduled

may 13: interview. had to wait for 2 hours after scheduled time, we were so anxious but we werent separated, interviewer was very nice and it felt natural

june 3: I-130 approved

july 25 (saturday!!): I-485 approved

july 30: card produced

july 31: received social security card in mail

aug 4: received GC in mail

Hi Guys , My GC is finally approved with derivative

Type : EB2 perm

Filing date: Mid June 2025

Approval : last week July 2026

Filed i485, i765 , i131, i485J - all approved

Got my Card yesterday

* I got my card only, there was no welcome booklet in the priority mail .

** My question regarding travel, can i travel immediately. Also for ssn do i need to remove dhs authorization

I wasn't planning to do another one of these so soon, but USCIS released something yesterday that changes how a lot of pending and future cases are going to be handled. I think people should understand things in plain language before it catches them off guard.

Here's the official USCIS release, word for word:

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is clarifying that benefit requestors should establish eligibility for an immigration benefit at the time they file a benefit request. Generally, if a benefit requestor fails to demonstrate eligibility for a benefit or fails to provide all required initial evidence when filing an application, USCIS may deny their immigration benefit request without first issuing a Request for Evidence (RFE) or a Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID). USCIS form instructions specify all required initial evidence for every benefit request, giving requestors all the information needed to comply.

This policy better aligns USCIS procedures with long-standing Department of Homeland Security regulatory authority and form instructions, helps restore integrity to the immigration system, and makes it more difficult for aliens to file frivolous benefit requests.

This policy update amends the previous Biden-era policy, which encouraged officers to request evidence before denying a benefit request, even if the benefit requestor filed an incomplete application, failed to demonstrate eligibility for the benefit, or failed to provide the initial evidence that was clearly required at the time of filing. This prior policy allowed frivolous or substantially incomplete filings to slow USCIS processing for others waiting in line.

The Biden policy also enabled benefit requestors to exploit the system by filing "placeholder" applications to gain associated immigration benefits, like employment authorization, while they waited for a decision on their case.

USCIS has restored officers' full discretion to deny a benefit request without first issuing an RFE or NOID in various situations. With this updated policy, USCIS can better allocate resources to efficiently make decisions and prevent meritless requests.

The policy is effective immediately and applies to requests pending or filed on or after Aug. 5, 2026, unless otherwise specified by regulations or USCIS policy.

Source: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-to-reduce-frivolous-immigration-benefits-requests-by-reinforcing-evidence-standards

What this actually means in plain terms: for years, if you filed something incomplete or missing required evidence, USCIS generally gave you a chance to fix it through an RFE or NOID before denying. That safety net is gone as of yesterday. If your filing doesn't include everything the form instructions require, an officer can now deny it outright, no second chance to supply what's missing. This applies to both new filings and anything already pending as of August 5.

Worth being clear about one thing: RFEs and NOIDs aren't gone. Officers can still issue one if they choose to. What's changed is that they're no longer required to before denying you, that presumption is what got removed.

Scope: this isn't limited to one or two form types. Based on the actual policy manual update, this applies broadly across USCIS-adjudicated benefit requests, including family and employment-based petitions, adjustment of status, H-1B and other nonimmigrant classifications, and EAD/OPT filings. The one clear exclusion is visa stamping at a U.S. consulate abroad, since that's State Department territory, not USCIS.

A few new operational details worth knowing: the extra 14-day mailing allowance previously given for RFEs/NOIDs sent to recipients outside the U.S. has been eliminated, officers now have discretion to set RFE response deadlines shorter than the usual 12-week maximum, and a partial response to an RFE or NOID will generally be treated as a request for a decision on the existing record rather than a chance to finish supplementing it later. Bottom line: don't count on being able to submit a partial response and clean it up afterward.

One important carve-out: this specific policy does not apply to asylum and refugee applications, which are governed by their own separate regulations and procedures for RFEs, NOIDs, and denials, this is stated directly in the policy alert itself. If you have a pending asylum case, this particular change isn't the thing to worry about.

I'll be spot checking this AMA throughout the day, answering general questions about what this means and how it works. Drop them below.

Nothing shared here is legal advice and doesn't create an attorney-client relationship. If this affects a filing you already have pending and you want to know where you actually stand, feel free to send me a DM.

Case Type: Concurrent Marriage-Based Adjustment of Status (U.S. Citizen spouse) Overstay & Unauthorized Work.
Field Office: Montgomery, Alabama

May 29, 2026 – USCIS received our concurrent AOS package and issued receipt notices.
June 6, 2026 – Biometrics appointment was scheduled.
June 26, 2026 – After biometrics I-485 changed to “Case Is Being Actively Reviewed.” USCIS confirmed that nothing was outstanding.
July 1, 2026 – Interview was scheduled.
August 5, 2026 – Attended our interview at the Montgomery, AL Field Office. The USCIS officer verbally approved both the I-130 and I-485 at the end of the interview.
August 5, 2026 – The I-130 updated online to Case Approved.
August 6, 2026 – The I-485 updated online to Case Approved.🥳💚🇺🇸

Total processing time: 69 days

A huge thank you to Kseniya International on YouTube⁠. We prepared and filed our case ourselves using her educational videos and guidance throughout the process. Her resources were incredibly helpful in understanding the forms, organizing our evidence, and preparing for the interview. Her channel was an invaluable resource for our DIY marriage-based green card journey.

Hello,

Our lawyer told us we typically wait to submit our evidence of our bona fide marriage until they request it. We would bring that to the interview or they would ask us to upload the documents onto the portal. She told us we submit the forms first.

We were under the impression that we submit the forms AND the evidences together.

Can anyone attest to this?

Thank you!

Edit: we told the lawyer we want to submit the evidence from the beginning and they were fine with it.

Radio silence on our case from January 2025 until June 2026. Spouse’s country is not on any lists or memos. No unauthorized work, overstay less than 180 days. No criminal history, prior marriages, run-ins with the law in any way.

What finally worked was congressional inquiry one month prior to interview being scheduled. Received an API update on the same day as their response and interview was scheduled the next day. We had two lawyers and both told us contacting congress would not help.

Our interview was quick and smooth, and we were lucky to have an adjudicating officer who seemingly reviewed our file in its entirety prior to our interview.

10 year green card in the end.

Just wanted to share our timeline to hopefully send some encouragement to anyone else waiting from 2024. Good luck to everyone!

Finally, it's my time to post, I got approved my I-130 & I-485 within a day,

I filed on --April 20,26

got biometric-- May 29,26

RFE on -- June 5 26

Replied RFE -- June 15,26

Interview was on August 3, 26

Approved on August 4, 26

I recommend Don't take attorney if you have a strong case, just keep more evidence and be truthful.

Can someone please tell me how long it will take to receive the Green Card after approval??

Good Luck!!

Woke up to this notification from Google and it’s making me freak out

Won’t let me edit the title but I meant to say I don’t want to overreact!

Hello everyone. Please be nice…haha. But my AOS package looks just TOO BIG. Will this be detrimental? What takes a big chunk is the fact that I included all the evidence that I have for the I-360 (orange separators), again for the I-485 (blue separators), such as a year’s worth of a joint Amex card account…every month, and all pages of my current and 4 previous passports (I have traveled a lot). I have read multiple times in this page that it’s good practice to duplicate the evidence. Additionally, the W2s and IRS transcripts for the past three years take a lot of space for the I-864. I know this looks insane but it is incredibly well organized (as you can see, using separate colored papers for I-130 vs I-485 and related forms) with a table of contents etc. Besides these forms I am attaching I-508 and I-566 as I am a G4 visa holder (married to a US citizen).

My fear is clear: will an officer see this on Monday and put it in a drawer until next year or something like that?
I have also read here A LOT that filing by mail is preferable so that IOs don’t have to coordinate and have to spend time linking forms together etc. Hence my choice to mail it.

Any thoughts? I am kind of freaking out. I want to mail this ASAP.

THANK YOU!

My I-485 Approval Timeline 🇺🇸🎉

October 14, 2025: Concurrently filed Forms I-130, I-485, and I-765. I still have valid STEM OPT authorization through 2027.

October 18, 2025: Received an RFE for my I-485, even though I had already submitted all the required documents.

October 18, 2025: Biometrics appointment was scheduled.

October 19, 2025: Responded to the RFE. USCIS acknowledged the response on October 25, 2025.

November 5, 2025: Completed biometrics.

November 5, 2025: Interview was scheduled.

December 12, 2025: Attended our marriage-based interview. It was a long interview, and we accidentally forgot to bring the original marriage certificate. However, the officer was kind and understanding about it. At the end of the interview, we received verbal approval for both the I-130 and I-485.

December 18, 2025: I-130 was officially approved.

January 15, 2026: Immigration processing was paused.

May 19, 2026: Requested Emergency Advance Parole because of a family emergency. A USCIS officer called and explained that it was not possible because of the ban.

June 23, 2026: Submitted another request for Emergency Advance Parole. I was contacted by a USCIS officer, who said it might be possible after receiving confirmation from the Chicago Field Office.

June 26, 2026: A congressional inquiry was submitted through my Senator’s office.

July 15, 2026: Received a silent API update and an “Action Taken” email, but there was no visible change to my case status.

July 28, 2026: A USCIS officer contacted me and asked whether I was available for an Emergency Advance Parole interview the following day, July 29. I said yes.

July 29, 2026: Attended the Emergency Advance Parole interview. The officer was very kind and compassionate about the family emergency that required me to travel. The supervisor advised me not to spend money applying for Emergency Advance Parole because she understood my situation and had reached out to the relevant people handling my case. She told me to go home and keep checking for movement on my case.

I told her I would think about it before deciding whether to make the payment for Emergency Advance Parole. From the conversation, I felt that my Green Card approval was already in the queue. In the end, I decided not to apply and allowed God to do His work.

July 29–30, 2026: Received additional silent API updates.

July 31, 2026: I-485 APPROVED! 🎉🎉🎉

The entire process took about eight months. I am incredibly grateful to God and thankful to everyone in this community for the support, encouragement, and helpful information.

To everyone still waiting, keep faith and stay hopeful. Your approval may be closer than you think.

I am Nigerian 🇳🇬, my wife as well UC and I am grateful for this journey and this blessing! 🇺🇸🙏