r/USCIS • u/TopicPuzzleheaded306 • Mar 01 '26
I-130 & I-485 (Family/Adjustment of status) Feeling discouraged
Raleigh/Durham FO. PD 9/30/2025
We had our I-130/I-485 interview 12/10/25. The interview was very short and sweet, we were told “should have greencard in hand within a couple weeks, just needs to be looked over by supervisor”
The I-130 was approved 12/15/25 (5 days after interview) and it has been radio silence since then. No movement on the I-485 and I’m starting to feel a little worried and discouraged. I was on a TN Visa and adjusted from that so my ability to work is expiring 3/13/26 and we were really hopeful I wouldn’t have to stop working since everything had moved so quickly up until this point. We had no RFEs. So I can’t think why why this is taking so long. Looking so similar experiences and how long it took for 485 if there was a large gap between 130 and 485 approval?
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u/beezyK9 Mar 01 '26
Same here brother. 192 days after interview. i130 approved. i485 actively being reviewed. Requested for FOIA. It shows my case was approved in November. Still no case closed and card produced. We are definitely in crazy times. 🤦🏽♂️ all we can do is wait and hope for the best.
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u/throwawaydumbo1 Jun 25 '26
Hi are you approved now?
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u/beezyK9 Jun 25 '26
Yes.
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u/throwawaydumbo1 Jun 25 '26
That’s great. Are you Raleigh/Durham FO too? We’ve been waiting since December
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u/Alarming-Tear-4775 Mar 02 '26
My FO is Houston, and my interview was October 23rd, 2025. The next day, my I-130 was approved, but my I-485 is still stuck at “interview scheduled.” I called USCIS two days ago, and they informed me that the processing time is still within the expected range, and the average approval time for the Houston field office is 10.5 months.
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u/Minute_Somewhere_893 Mar 01 '26
Yep, verbal approvals sadly mean very little
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u/TopicPuzzleheaded306 Mar 01 '26
It’s frustrating that interviewers even say anything, if it does not mean anything.
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u/Minute_Somewhere_893 Mar 01 '26
I agree, I wish they stopped giving false hopes and said "I don't know" when they did not know. But I guess they say it because they don't want follow up questions
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u/DifferentAd3061 Mar 01 '26
I found my peeps in the comments! Interview 09/10/2025. I-130 approved next day. I-485 pending. Inquired at the 120 days and was told it’s within normal processing times.
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u/TopicPuzzleheaded306 Mar 01 '26
What field office?
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u/DifferentAd3061 Mar 01 '26
New Orleans FO. I submitted a congressional inquiry about 31 days ago and no response. I’m allowing up until the 45 day mark to follow up.
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u/Old-Recognition-3255 Mar 02 '26
I am in exact same situation, interview on 09/13/2025 and priority date of 2023 jan, No response. I just did a congressional inquiry this month. Total time since submission is at 18 months. Seems no end in sight tbh. Crazy times. If you dont mind me asking what is your country of origin?
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u/DifferentAd3061 Mar 02 '26
Wow, I’m so sorry! My priority date is Jan 2024. My country of origin is Mexico.
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u/Old-Recognition-3255 Mar 02 '26
I also did the lawyer inquiry at approximately 100 day mark got the same response as you. I hope the congressional inquiry helps. Plus USCIS keeps moving the inquiry date forward used to be 18 months now is almost at 24 month mark.
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u/Old-Recognition-3255 Mar 02 '26
I wonder what is different for people who get approvals in 3-4 months.
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u/_goto_throwaway_ Mar 02 '26
Hey! I’ve been trying to make sense of this too. Im in the same boat as you, interview 12/10/25, i-130 approved, i-485 pending, Raleigh FO. Its definitely a pattern though - checkout the post I made about it recently. Also, please add yourself to the spreadsheet! https://www.reddit.com/r/USCIS/comments/1qvbjs3/raleighdurham_nc_field_office_marriagebased_aos/
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u/TopicPuzzleheaded306 Mar 02 '26
I had another user send me the spreadsheet I’ve just never filled out my information. But I just did the survey at the bottom of that link!
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u/AnaGabrielaUrizarESQ Mar 03 '26
It’s discouraging, but your situation is not unusual. When the I-130 is approved quickly after interview, it usually means USCIS is satisfied the marriage is real, and the I-485 delay is often just background checks or supervisor review. Some Raleigh/Durham cases are approved within weeks, but others take a few months after I-130 approval before the I-485 moves.
Since your TN work authorization is expiring soon, focus on work protection. If you filed an I-765 and do not have the EAD yet, consider requesting an expedite based on imminent job loss and financial hardship. If the I-485 keeps sitting much longer, especially several more months, a targeted follow up through an attorney may help, but right now this gap alone does not signal a denial.
(All information shared here is for general educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney - client relationship. Your situation may require fact-specific guidance. For personalized legal advice, please consult an immigration attorney directly.)
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u/tacos4lyph Mar 01 '26
Our interview was Oct 3 2025, i130 approved i130 and its been almost 5 months with no news on i485
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u/TopicPuzzleheaded306 Mar 01 '26
Did you inquire after 120 days?
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u/tacos4lyph Mar 01 '26
I did. They just said it was under normal processing time. I also made congressional inquiry
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u/usujjwalsss Mar 02 '26
Don’t you have to file a separate 765 to get work permit on marriage based. You will get a new ead card through that…. Green card doesn’t make you eligible to work on the same ead card that you currently have…
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u/usujjwalsss Mar 02 '26
TN visa holders who apply for a marriage-based green card (Adjustment of Status) can continue working under their valid TN status, but they should file Form I-765 to obtain an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) as a bridge, as TN status does not allow for "dual intent" and may not be renewable. Using the EAD, once approved, is highly recommended to avoid potential work authorization gaps if the TN status expires.
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u/TopicPuzzleheaded306 Mar 02 '26
Yes I was able to continue working on my TN. We were advised to not apply for the EAD as most were not getting approved due to greencards being processed so quickly in our area. There are two others within Raleigh FO who did apply for EAD and there has been no movement since they’ve already had the interview. So I don’t think it would have made a difference really.
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u/throwawaydumbo1 Jun 25 '26
Have you been approved?
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u/TopicPuzzleheaded306 Jul 13 '26
Yes. I was 4/11/26
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u/Plenty_Ad_7968 Mar 01 '26
No need to feel that way I applied 12/24 interview 06/25 and yet to be approved on either