DV 2025 AOS (Adjustment of Status) Process Only

[Sm1smom]

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.

I have no idea what a “stage 4 email” is as I do not closely follow CP cases like I do with AOS.

 

[blackchemist]

You need to be patient for now.

I called USCIS and they said they accepted my package and they gave me a receipt number. If I enter this number on the case status online website it says "case was received and we sent you the receipt notice that describes how we will process your case". As I said I did not receive any text message and my cashier check has not been cashed out yet. Have you ever seen anything like this?

 

[wichy]

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.

Thank you mom and Susie so much for the information. It's a total surprise for me that my number becomes current.
My J-1 was subjected to home residency requirement under the Skills list.
Fortunately, they just updated the list and my country is no longer on the list. So, I think I'm good now.

I'd like to hear your thoughts on the processing time in the current situation. My FO is Charleston, SC and there is only one case on the spreadsheet. It took 3 months for that case while I have only 2 months.

 

[Sm1smom]

I called USCIS and they said they accepted my package and they gave me a receipt number. If I enter this number on the case status online website it says "case was received and we sent you the receipt notice that describes how we will process your case". As I said I did not receive any text message and my cashier check has not been cashed out yet. Have you ever seen anything like this?

I don’t recall.

 

[MrBobert]

I have no idea what a “stage 4 email” is as I do not closely follow CP cases like I do with AOS.

Basically they just said what they've always been saying to me for a while now:

Your case number is now current for interview processing. If you are scheduled for an interview date, you will receive notification via email to check https://dvprogram.state.gov. If you need to make changes to your DS-260 you should contact the consular section where you will be interviewed, or bring the information about your changes to your interview appointment. Because your case is ready to be scheduled, KCC can no longer unlock your application.

I guess I just don't worry about it and go ahead and file when we've got our medicals and package ready?

 

[Sm1smom]

Thank you mom and Susie so much for the information. It's a total surprise for me that my number becomes current.
My J-1 was subjected to home residency requirement under the Skills list.
Fortunately, they just updated the list and my country is no longer on the list. So, I think I'm good now.

I'd like to hear your thoughts on the processing time in the current situation. My FO is Charleston, SC and there is only one case on the spreadsheet. It took 3 months for that case while I have only 2 months.

The listed Charleston, SC case on the 2025 Timeline spreadsheet was received at the Lockbox on 10/13 and interviewed on 12/04 - that is under two months as a matter of fact. That would make the FO one of the fastest.

Having said that, it is important to note several factors influence the processing time for each application. Do take a look at the FAQ tab of the AOS process document.

 

[TheDoc]

Hi All - first off I just wanted to say thanks for this thread and all the resources you've made available here. It's all very much appreciated as we go through this process.

To my question - My partner was selected as the lottery winner and I was her dependent. I have been (and remain) employed and residing in the US for a number of years legally (H1B), whereas she isnt currently employed. We have joint savings accounts, joint tax returns, etc

I'm wondering if I need to sign a declaration of financial support or something similar since I am earning, or if my assets and employment can be used to overcome the public charge concerns as her spouse?

 

[Sm1smom]

Basically they just said what they've always been saying to me for a while now:

I guess I just don't worry about it and go ahead and file when we've got our medicals and package ready?

KCC is notorious for sending boilerplate responses when contacted regardless of the question being asked or the purpose for contacting them.

Yeah, you go ahead and file for now, you may or may not have an upcoming fight with KCC, we wouldn’t know for now. Remember I informed you earlier if your case file already got forwarded to your embassy, even if a consular interview has not yet been scheduled and you decide to switch from CP to KCC, you may be required to directly request the case file from the embassy to your FO in order for the AOS application to get adjudicated as KCC will no longer have anything to do with the case once the case file has been transferred. For now, there’s nothing for you to do outside of what you already did. Your IO will contact the KCC for your KCC case file, the response they receive at that point will determine if you need to coordinate things with the embassy or not.

 

[Sm1smom]

Hi All - first off I just wanted to say thanks for this thread and all the resources you've made available here. It's all very much appreciated as we go through this process.

To my question - My partner was selected as the lottery winner and I was her dependent. I have been (and remain) employed and residing in the US for a number of years legally (H1B), whereas she isnt currently employed. We have joint savings accounts, joint tax returns, etc

I'm wondering if I need to sign a declaration of financial support or something similar since I am earning, or if my assets and employment can be used to overcome the public charge concerns as her spouse?

Your income, financial documents, and assets will be treated as jointly earned, and will be used in determining if you’re both likely to become a public charge or not.

 

[TheDoc]

Your income, financial documents, and assets will be treated as jointly earned, and will be used in determining if you’re both likely to become a public charge or not.

Thanks, that's good news. I'll come back and update on how the interview goes.

 

[Sm1smom]

Thanks, that's good news. I'll come back and update on how the interview goes.

If you could also add your case details to the Timeline Spreadsheet, that would be great.

 

[MIN A]

Hi all, I am doing the follow-to join process and would like to concurrently file it with the I-485, therefore I am filing form I-824.
1. Please help with any info on how to proceed with filing part 3
2. Could an I-134 sponsor who has another I-134 file for a different case with USCIS (family-based visa sponsoring) have any effect on either application?

thanks.

 

[dimariq]

Should I send second response to RFE?
My first response was delivered almost 3 months ago but still no status update and Emma chat agent says they don’t see any update either. This Friday is deadline for RFE response.
I created a request that my case is outside of normal processing time but still nobody contacted me.
What should I do?

 

[Sm1smom]

Hi all, I am doing the follow-to join process and would like to concurrently file it with the I-485, therefore I am filing form I-824.
1. Please help with any info on how to proceed with filing part 3
2. Could an I-134 sponsor who has another I-134 file for a different case with USCIS (family-based visa sponsoring) have any effect on either application?

thanks.

1. Q1a-1d will be NA if you’re filing the I-824 concurrently with your I-485.
2. Form I-134 is not filed with USCIS in support of family based sponsorship. You might want to get your sponsor to clarify exactly what it is they filed with USCIS.

 

[Sm1smom]

Should I send second response to RFE?
My first response was delivered almost 3 months ago but still no status update and Emma chat agent says they don’t see any update either. This Friday is deadline for RFE response.
I created a request that my case is outside of normal processing time but still nobody contacted me.
What should I do?

This forum thrives when everyone contributes whatever they can to help fellow and future AOSers. A request was made back in June for you to add your case details to the Timeline spreadsheet, you never bothered to do so. So don’t be surprised if your questions are not being answered since then.

 

[Harry13--]

1. How likely does the applicant have to fail the background check?
2. What if they fail the background check, can the result of i-485 change?
3. Do they also check the employment history during background check? I do not see that information on AOS process and document sheet.

 

[mura17]

Hello,
I have a question regarding the financial requirements.
1) How much money is generally considered sufficient to show for 1 person?

I’m currently on F-1 OPT. I was working for 5 months and saved some money, but I left that job a month ago. I’ve also transferred some funds to the US via SWIFT and I hold some stocks in a US brokerage account. Altogether, my available assets total around $30,000.
I plan to provide bank statements and brokerage account records as proof.

2) Would that be enough to meet the financial requirement?
4) In this case, do I still need a financial sponsor?
5) Do I need to provide my tax transcript for the past year ? ( I earned only $7,000 during the internship)

Thank you in advance!

 

[Sm1smom]

1. How likely does the applicant have to fail the background check?
2. What if they fail the background check, can the result of i-485 change?
3. Do they also check the employment history during background check? I do not see that information on AOS process and document sheet.

1. That is like asking ‘how long is a piece of string’. How likely depends on what each applicant’s background check reveals.
2. It means the I-485 cannot be approved.
3. The “Background Check” tab of the AOS process spreadsheet has information on what the background check involves.

 

[Sm1smom]

Hello,
I have a question regarding the financial requirements.
1) How much money is generally considered sufficient to show for 1 person?

I’m currently on F-1 OPT. I was working for 5 months and saved some money, but I left that job a month ago. I’ve also transferred some funds to the US via SWIFT and I hold some stocks in a US brokerage account. Altogether, my available assets total around $30,000.
I plan to provide bank statements and brokerage account records as proof.

2) Would that be enough to meet the financial requirement?
4) In this case, do I still need a financial sponsor?
5) Do I need to provide my tax transcript for the past year ? ( I earned only $7,000 during the internship)

Thank you in advance!

1. A “substantial” amount.
2-5. Having an I-134 with the applicable supporting documentation as a backup financial evidence is never a bad idea.

 

[blackchemist]

Hello,
I sent the AOS package last week to the Elgin lockbox but haven’t received any text message or email. I therefore called USCIS yesterday, and they provided me with a receipt number. When I enter this receipt number in the USCIS Check Case Status Online, it says:

On July 17, 2025, we received your Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, Receipt Number xxxxxxxxxxxxx, and sent you the receipt notice that describes how we will process your case. Please follow the instructions in the notice.

A receipt notice has been sent, but I haven’t received it yet (I guess it’ll take like 2-3 weeks). That said, does having a receipt number mean that my application has been accepted (I used early filing)? Or is a receipt number also issued when the application is rejected?
PS. (I’ve updated my case in the spreadsheet)