I-485 Approved! 🇺🇸 (EB-1A | Nigeria | One of the 39-country hold cases)
I wanted to share our timeline in hopes that it encourages someone who's still waiting. Reading success stories on Reddit gave me a lot of hope during the long wait, so I'm paying it forward.
Our entire family (myself, my wife, and our two sons) had our I-485 applications approved on July 3, 2026.
Timeline
Category: Employment-Based (EB-1A)
Country of Birth: Nigeria
I-485 Filed: July 22, 2025
EAD Approved: October 2025
Medical RFE: Polio/IPV-related - November 2025
RFE Response Received by USCIS: January 12, 2026
FO: Chicago (Moved from CA)
Shortly after responding to the RFE, our cases went completely silent. As many of you know, Nigeria was among the countries affected by the USCIS adjudication hold earlier this year, so there was a long period with no movement.
Then things suddenly picked up after Dorcas.
Silent Updates
June 16 – First silent update after months of inactivity
June 25 – Silent update
June 30 – Silent update
July 2 – Silent update
July 3 – Case Approved
All four I-485 applications were approved together.
The waiting was honestly the hardest part. There were days I questioned whether anything was happening at all. Seeing other people's approval posts kept me hopeful, so I hope this timeline does the same for someone else.
If your case has been quiet for months or years, don't lose hope. Sometimes things happen behind the scenes before you ever see a public status change.
Wishing everyone who's still waiting a smooth approval soon. Your turn will come. 🙏🇺🇸
Feel free to ask me any question if in similar situation.