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DV 2025 AOS (Adjustment of Status) Process Only

I had a J-1 visa with the 2-year requirement to stay in my home country, but I've never done so. Now, I'm on F-1 visa and my case number is current in September.
Does the 2-year requirement still affect my AOS? What's the fastest way to waive the 2-year requirement?
This … is a question you should have asked months ago. Yes, it affects it. And the waiver normally takes months to process, from what I understand 4 months is considered “fast”. Your ISO can probably give you some info on the process and maybe they know some speedy way but… I fear you have probably left it too late to get this done before end September. Good luck.
 
Hi mom,

I really appreciate your support for us.
I had a J-1 visa with the 2-year requirement to stay in my home country, but I've never done so. Now, I'm on F-1 visa and my case number is current in September.
Does the 2-year requirement still affect my AOS? What's the fastest way to waive the 2-year requirement?

Thanks for your help in advance.
I assume you have to apply under no objection for DV. Not good news for you..

STEP 6 – Processing Times​

Processing times vary depending on the basis under which you request a waiver. The times listed below are estimates only. The processing time for your application begins when your file is complete. Your file is complete when we have your waiver application, processing fee, copies of DS-2019/IAP-66 forms (Step 2), and all required documents (Step 3).
No Objection Statement4 to 6 months
Interested U.S. Federal Government Agency2 to 3 months
Persecution2 to 3 months
Exceptional Hardship4 to 6 months
State Public Health Department (Conrad State 30 Program)3 to 4 months
Advisory Opinion1 to 2 months

 
I finished my interview today. But the officer did not give the decision right away. He said there is one pending background check and after it done, he will approve my green card. But on the USCIS portal, it only show like this "July 22, 2025 Interview Was Completed And My Case Must Be Reviewed'.
1. Does anyone have any idea of how long will it take to process?
 
I finished my interview today. But the officer did not give the decision right away. He said there is one pending background check and after it done, he will approve my green card. But on the USCIS portal, it only show like this "July 22, 2025 Interview Was Completed And My Case Must Be Reviewed'.
1. Does anyone have any idea of how long will it take to process?
No one knows. It is now a case of wait and see.
 
The same issue happened in our interview today. The dependent case has a pending background check, and the officer could not decide about the whole case.
I finished my interview today. But the officer did not give the decision right away. He said there is one pending background check and after it done, he will approve my green card. But on the USCIS portal, it only show like this "July 22, 2025 Interview Was Completed And My Case Must Be Reviewed'.
1. Does anyone have any idea of how long will it take to process?
 
The same issue happened in our interview today. The dependent case has a pending background check, and the officer could not decide about the whole case.
oh really!!
Yeah he said he is ready to approve my case but did not decided the decision because of pending background check. He also said he will approve right away as soon as background check done.
may I know what is your FO? Mine was SF
 
Hi Mom,
During the interview, the IO informed me that my background check has been cleared, but my dependent's background check is still pending. She mentioned that the case will be approved once that is completed. In the meantime, I need to apply for emergency advance parole. If the GC gets approved, am I required to return to the U.S. immediately? Would traveling outside the U.S. after the interview affect my AOS application?
 
I finished my interview today. But the officer did not give the decision right away. He said there is one pending background check and after it done, he will approve my green card. But on the USCIS portal, it only show like this "July 22, 2025 Interview Was Completed And My Case Must Be Reviewed'.
1. Does anyone have any idea of how long will it take to process?
I finished my interview today. But the officer did not give the decision right away. He said there is one pending background check and after it done, he will approve my green card. But on the USCIS portal, it only show like this "July 22, 2025 Interview Was Completed And My Case Must Be Reviewed'.
1. Does anyone have any idea of how long will it take to process?
How much time has passed since the biometrics appointment?
 
Hi Mom,
During the interview, the IO informed me that my background check has been cleared, but my dependent's background check is still pending. She mentioned that the case will be approved once that is completed. In the meantime, I need to apply for emergency advance parole. If the GC gets approved, am I required to return to the U.S. immediately? Would traveling outside the U.S. after the interview affect my AOS application?
1. No.
2. It shouldn’t, assuming you have an approved AP prior to departing from the US.

p.s. number your questions when you have more than one per post. Also add your case progress to the 2025 Timeline spreadsheet.
 
U.S. Representative


Attn: P. C


July 21, 2025


RE:

Thank you for your inquiry, dated July 8, 2025 on behalf of your constituent, XXXX, regarding their pending form I-485 Permanent Residence/Adjust Status (Diversity).


U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) records indicate that XXX's case is pending at the Chicago Field Office. USCIS is committed to adjudicating immigration benefits in a timely and efficient manner while also ensuring public safety, national security, and compliance with all relevant directives. While the processing steps for most applications or petitions are completed quickly, a small percentage of cases involve unresolved issues that may result in adjudication delays.


Please know that this application is in queue and has not been overlooked. The Chicago Field Office takes necessary steps to identify pending Form I-485 Applications filed by Diversity Visa (DV) applicants. DV cases filed within the fiscal year are timely adjudicated with the September 30, 2025 deadline in mind. USCIS anticipates that Mr. XX will receive a decision or other correspondence on their Form I-485 Permanent Residence/Adjust Status (Others) within the specified period.

Case status may continue to be monitored online at https://egov.uscis.gov/.

There is no further information we can provide to you or your constituent at this time. We hope this information is helpful. This closes your office inquiry with our office.

Sincerely,

Congressional Liaison - Chicago Field Office

U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services
Great Lakes District C34
101 W. Ida B. Wells Drive
Chicago, IL 60605


USCIS sent this reply to my congress person, Is this another standard response? Anything useful to take away from this?
 
U.S. Representative


Attn: P. C


July 21, 2025


RE:

Thank you for your inquiry, dated July 8, 2025 on behalf of your constituent, XXXX, regarding their pending form I-485 Permanent Residence/Adjust Status (Diversity).


U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) records indicate that XXX's case is pending at the Chicago Field Office. USCIS is committed to adjudicating immigration benefits in a timely and efficient manner while also ensuring public safety, national security, and compliance with all relevant directives. While the processing steps for most applications or petitions are completed quickly, a small percentage of cases involve unresolved issues that may result in adjudication delays.


Please know that this application is in queue and has not been overlooked. The Chicago Field Office takes necessary steps to identify pending Form I-485 Applications filed by Diversity Visa (DV) applicants. DV cases filed within the fiscal year are timely adjudicated with the September 30, 2025 deadline in mind. USCIS anticipates that Mr. XX will receive a decision or other correspondence on their Form I-485 Permanent Residence/Adjust Status (Others) within the specified period.

Case status may continue to be monitored online at https://egov.uscis.gov/.

There is no further information we can provide to you or your constituent at this time. We hope this information is helpful. This closes your office inquiry with our office.

Sincerely,

Congressional Liaison - Chicago Field Office

U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services
Great Lakes District C34
101 W. Ida B. Wells Drive
Chicago, IL 60605


USCIS sent this reply to my congress person, Is this another standard response? Anything useful to take away from this?
There’s no hidden meaning to be deciphered from the message outside of what it says. However, something useful to take from the response is that you basically wasted a resource you may need later on (if your application gets delayed longer than the normal processing time’ for your FO), because you were not willing to exercise the required patience.
 
There’s no hidden meaning to be deciphered from the message outside of what it says. However, something useful to take from the response is that you basically wasted a resource you may need later on (if your application gets delayed longer than the normal processing time’ for your FO), because you were not willing to exercise the required patience.
I made the inquiry in haste i accept it and before you suggested me to be patient. My reasoning was to bring the time sensitive nature in the notice of USCIS

Hypothetically if my case faces a delay til late august, i cannot reach my congress man again? I’ve seen people making 2nd congressional inquiries. Pardon my lack of awareness
 
1. There’s no one size fit all response for when to start getting worried about when payment has not been processed. You’ll need to be specific as to how long you’ve been waiting. Alternatively, take a look at the Timeline spreadsheet.
2. You’ll know when you get back your AOS package which may be within one to four weeks of when you sent it in.
It's been like 5 business days, nothing. They haven't cashed my cashier check out yet or I haven't received any text or email. I just know that it's been delivered because of the courier notification. What can I do? thanks
 
When notifying them by email that I'm changing from CP to AOS, they just reply with another stage 4 email. Is that normal? Will they just do the switch when they receive and process the administrative fee, which I sent and got delivered already (but not cashed)? My case shows At NVC in the CEAC status check and I've not been scheduled for an interview but I will be current in August.
 
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I made the inquiry in haste i accept it and before you suggested me to be patient. My reasoning was to bring the time sensitive nature in the notice of USCIS

Hypothetically if my case faces a delay til late august, i cannot reach my congress man again? I’ve seen people making 2nd congressional inquiries. Pardon my lack of awareness
You add asked for information on how to initiate a congressional inquiry on July 8th to which I informed you I didn’t think a congressional inquiry was necessary as at then because your case was still within the noted processing timeframe for your FO, and I couldn’t help but notice the email response from USCIS states an inquiry from your congressman/woman’s office was received on that same July 8th which doesn’t strike me as a coincidence. If you had already initiated the congressional inquiry before then, why waste my time asking for information on how to do so after the fact!

Yes, you can always request a 2nd or even a 3rd congressional inquiry/assistance for the same case if you need to, you just can’t be sure of their willingness to promptly act on their behalf if they get overwhelmed with follow-up requests.
 
General Case Follow-Up Awareness Message

It is important to understand lack of restraint with utilizing available follow-up resources could end up negatively impacting future applicants.

A couple of years back, applicants had the ability to make in-person visits to the FO without an appointment to get updates on their pending applications. This opportunity was abused by some who felt a need for daily visits to their FOs, thinking doing so would hasten their case adjudication. As such, drop in visits was no longer allowed.

Drop-in visits was subsequently replaced with self-scheduled INFOPASS appointments. Again this got abused with some applicants scheduling multiple back-to-back appointments in advance, making it difficulty for others to find the needed slot for a single appointment. That of course also got canceled and got replaced with frontline agents being the only one allowed to schedule INFOPASS appointments for applicants, and there are now strict requirements for doing so.

Saying all these to say everyone should try and exercise restraints as needed. Yes, everyone is focused on getting their application adjudicated as soon as possible, the truth is the application has to go through the applicable process. DV based AOS application process is already expedited (because of its FY sunset associated factor), compared to an employment or family based AOS application.
 
It's been like 5 business days, nothing. They haven't cashed my cashier check out yet or I haven't received any text or email. I just know that it's been delivered because of the courier notification. What can I do? thanks
You need to be patient for now.
 
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