Sm1smom
Super Moderator
I typically do not analyze VB progression, so I cannot answer your question.
DV 2025 AOS (Adjustment of Status) Process Only
- Thread starter Sm1smom
- Start date
Sm1smom
Super Moderator
We've had instances of people guesstimating dates when they can not remember their precise dates, so you can stop stressing over having perfect updates in place for future analysis.
SusieQQQ
Well-Known Member
You can check/decide for yourself looking at past years‘ visa bulletins.
So I have an appointment tomorrow with CS to complete my I-693. I plan to take the following with me:
- Form I-693 with Part 1 filled out (but not signed by me yet)
- All my vaccination records from my home country and USA (which includes latest COVID and seasonal flu shots taken last month)
- T Spot TB test result from my U.S. college completed in August 2023 (hoping CS will accept it and not do it over again)
- My passport
- Lots of money to pay the bill :-(
Am I missing anything?
- Form I-693 with Part 1 filled out (but not signed by me yet)
- All my vaccination records from my home country and USA (which includes latest COVID and seasonal flu shots taken last month)
- T Spot TB test result from my U.S. college completed in August 2023 (hoping CS will accept it and not do it over again)
- My passport
- Lots of money to pay the bill :-(
Am I missing anything?
zhamkhalilov
New Member
Hi everyone!
My DV Lottery case is current in January 2025, but I recently found out I’m subject to the two-year home residency requirement due to a government-funded J-1 exchange program (FLEX, 2018). I’ve started the waiver process and requested a No Objection Statement, but I’m concerned about time sensitivity due to DV deadlines. Has anyone dealt with a similar situation? Is expedited processing realistic for this type of case?
My DV Lottery case is current in January 2025, but I recently found out I’m subject to the two-year home residency requirement due to a government-funded J-1 exchange program (FLEX, 2018). I’ve started the waiver process and requested a No Objection Statement, but I’m concerned about time sensitivity due to DV deadlines. Has anyone dealt with a similar situation? Is expedited processing realistic for this type of case?
The TB is included in the blood sample not a skin test, they'll do it altogether with the other requested tests.
Fulbright by any chance? Good luck getting the State to waive that.
SusieQQQ
Well-Known Member
I believe they waived some for Syrians but in general yes if it’s Fulbright really difficult to get waived, others seem to have quite a high success rate.
zhamkhalilov
New Member
no, the exchange program is called FLEX, which is also funded by the DOS, but it is only for high school students, and I have fulfilled 8 months of the 2 year requirement, I got a strong NOS letter from my government and also a lot of letters of supports, including a letter from American Councils for International Education that oversees the FLEX Program, but I am more concerned about the timing of the waiver. It says it takes 4-6 months to process, my dv case number is current in Jan, if USCIS asks for RFE, I am afraid I won't be able to provide it on time, so I wanted to know if anyone had a situation where they were able to expedite the ds-3035. Any advice really
Thank you for the detailed response.
2. Yes, I was specifically wondering what you observed with USCIS over the years as they are a government entity.
3. Yes, I followed all instructions and have a POD showing the FO address and no signature. Got it in my records.
4. If I decide to send another one, is it advisable to send the exact same documents, or can I add some that became available in the meantime? As far as I am aware from the RFE notice, they will only consider the first package they open/receive and disregard the rest.
Also, how long would you suggest me to wait before becoming concerned, based on past year's experience during the holiday season?
Sm1smom
Super Moderator
Your best foot forward is to wait until you’ve received the approval before sending in your AOS package. If you take a look at the last one or two pages of the 2024 AOS only thread, you’ll see a post from a selectee in a similar situation. Their AOS application was denied due to the pending waiver approval which they eventually got after the FY was already over. The approval was of no use to the AOS application at that point.
zhamkhalilov
New Member
I see, but don't you think if I wait until May or even June, the visas might be exhausted by that time and there is almost no chance to secure the green card, or since it's AOS and not consular processing there is any difference? My case number is below 7K and will be current in January. I have asked my state's Congressman office to ask DOS for expedited review. So I guess instead of giving RFE, USCIS will outright deny the application for pending waiver then
Sm1smom
Super Moderator
2. All the responses I provide here are based on experiences and/or observations, so I’m not sure why you’ll be wondering if that specific response was based on observations over the years or not.
4. If you’re already aware only the first package would be considered, what is the point of your sending out a second package with additional documents in that case?
5. It isn’t unusual to wait a month or two (could be longer depending on the IO’s workload) before getting further updates. IO’s do not necessarily immediately jump back on the cases they issued a RFE for as soon as the response comes back to them.
Sm1smom
Super Moderator
Well, it’s your call at this point. I’m not aware of a single case with an approved expedited waiver. You can take a look at some of the past Timeline spreadsheets to see the outcome of cases filed as late as July - September as a matter of fact.
My post never said anything about USCIS outrightly denying a case with a pending waiver instead of issuing a RFE. The case I referenced was issued with a RFE, before it eventually got denied.
I should however point out that cases getting outrightly denied due to missing documents (without being given an opportunity to address the missing documents via issued RFE) could become the new norm under the incoming administration. This was sort of the case during the incoming administration’s first term in office back in 2016.
zhamkhalilov
New Member
Got it. Thank you so much!
Sm1smom
Super Moderator
UPDATED FORM I-485 PUBLISHED
USCIS has published a new edition of Form I-485, which included updated questions and instructions on Dec. 10, 2025.
Effective Feb 10, 2025, USCIS will only accept the 10/24/24 edition of Form I-485 and will reject any older editions of Form I-485 postmarked on or after Feb 10, 2025.
A quick glance seems to show a more simplified form. Highly recommend anyone who is yet to send in their AOS package as of today actually use the new form, in place of the old edition which is still acceptable until Feb. 9th. An updated pre-filled sample I-485 will be added to the AOS Process spreadsheet in due course.
USCIS has published a new edition of Form I-485, which included updated questions and instructions on Dec. 10, 2025.
Effective Feb 10, 2025, USCIS will only accept the 10/24/24 edition of Form I-485 and will reject any older editions of Form I-485 postmarked on or after Feb 10, 2025.
A quick glance seems to show a more simplified form. Highly recommend anyone who is yet to send in their AOS package as of today actually use the new form, in place of the old edition which is still acceptable until Feb. 9th. An updated pre-filled sample I-485 will be added to the AOS Process spreadsheet in due course.
Hi Mom and all,
Just to recap, we were asked to submit DS-260 in a phone call from a local FO because we got married after DV selection and didn't do it initially (which we did immediately).
In my last conversation with IO, they told me that our file "needs to be sent back as a married couple". I really just try to understand how to interpret this and what to expect. Can someone please help me understand this? Was the immigration officer talking about sending the case file back to NBC?
Just to recap, we were asked to submit DS-260 in a phone call from a local FO because we got married after DV selection and didn't do it initially (which we did immediately).
In my last conversation with IO, they told me that our file "needs to be sent back as a married couple". I really just try to understand how to interpret this and what to expect. Can someone please help me understand this? Was the immigration officer talking about sending the case file back to NBC?
Sm1smom
Super Moderator
Considering no one here was a part of the entire conversation between you and the IO, it is not possible for us to help you interpret what "file needs to be sent back as a married couple" is supposed to mean.
4. So in case the first one was misplaced, the second one would be the only one they look at.
So there is absolutely no harm in sending the package again?
Thanks. I was thinking may be something like this happened before. I'm not sure if I need to do something/anything.