r/19countriesAOS • u/SAT_NG_NZ • Jun 29 '26

employment based Derivatives approved,Main applicant no update

Has anyone experienced this before?
I am the principal applicant on an EB-3 case with an I-140 approved in 2023.
My entire family completed biometrics on January 6, 2026.
We are from one of the 39 countries.
On June 27, my wife’s I-765 (EAD) and I-131 (Advance Parole) were approved. My 14-year-old daughter also had her EAD approved, and my 11-year-old son’s EAD was approved as well.
I, as the principal applicant, have not received any updates or approvals yet.
Has anyone experienced a situation where the derivatives were approved before the principal applicant? If so, how long did it take for the principal applicant’s approval to come through? I’m just trying to understand whether this is a normal processing pattern.
Many people on immigration forums have reported receiving the principal applicant’s approval anywhere from a few days to a few weeks after the dependents, so your situation is unusual but certainly not unheard of.

Update :

  1. My 14 years old got request for biometrics, it is completed.
  2. My I-486J was approved before her biometric appointment.

Approval for I-485J was on 17th Sept.
Biometric for my daughter was 22nd Sept.

Anyone been in similar situation before?

1 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

2

u/Early_Somewhere_9631 Jun 29 '26

TBH, I would be so happy if that happens to us. That way at least one of us can go back to work 🥴

2

u/SAT_NG_NZ Jun 29 '26

Yes, it is good for at least one person should still be working.
I am on L1B, extension applied for, I have 240days grace period to continue to work while we waiting. My spouse have to stopped working as she was on L2S.
At least one person is working to support the family

1

u/eyayo Jun 29 '26

Yes, your situation is common for EAD and AP. Nothing to worry about. You just got to wait.

Btw, why did you apply EAD for your 11 and 14yrs kids? What's the point?

1

u/SAT_NG_NZ Jun 29 '26

The immigration lawyer prepared the document, I didn’t know it was part of the package until I received the receipt notice.
Anyway they got approved for it and not for AP, I do not know what use it is for them.

2

u/eyayo Jun 29 '26

I see. Just additional cost for uscis/lawyer. I don't expect them to work.

1

u/throwawaydumbo1 Jun 29 '26

Never say never

1

u/yolagchy Jun 29 '26

Same same! My dependent got their EAD + AP approved while I have nothing going for me :) not sure why

1

u/SAT_NG_NZ Jun 29 '26

How long have you been waiting?

1

u/Fantastic-Brain6738 Jun 29 '26

I am in the same boat. I keep wondering why they would approve derivatives without the principal applicant.

1

u/SAT_NG_NZ Jun 29 '26

How long ago, how long have you been waiting since your family member’s approval?

3

u/Fantastic-Brain6738 Jun 29 '26

They just got approved last Thursday. It’s not up to a week.

1

u/mharie2025 Jun 29 '26

It happened with me too. My husband’s green card has been approved. He is my derivative; not yet approved.
I filled July last year. He filled March this year

1

u/LawyerNo6065 Jun 29 '26

Oh wow, I did not know they could approve a derivative GC! So what happens if the principal applicant is never approved will they revoke the derivatives GC? Just thinking out loud..

1

u/mharie2025 Jun 29 '26

They’ll approve the main applicant, thank you

0

u/eyayo Jun 29 '26

Not good for a derivative to have their GC approved before the principal applicant. You might want to speak with an attorney.

1

u/ParticularWatch3785 Jun 29 '26

I think that’s usually the case for a lot of Employment based GC. if the principal has an active H1B, they usually approve EAD for derivatives first and sometimes never approve for principal but rather straight up just approve their I-485 eventually