My Green Card Was Approved Today! August 18, 2026 — Timeline + Interview Experience(39 country ban+ Married to USC)
My green card was finally approved today, August 18! 🎉 I wanted to share my timeline and experience because I know how stressful this process can be, especially for those of us affected by the travel/immigration restrictions.
Timeline
- February 2: I-485 and I-130 submitted concurrently
- February 20: I-765 submitted electronically
- March 12: Biometrics appointment
- April 10: RFE issued (sponsor's tax documents + medical packet)
- May 11: RFE response received
- June 6: Ban lifted
- June 30: Interview scheduled
- August 3: I-485 interview
- August 4: I-130 approved
- August 18: I-485 APPROVED! 🎉
My background
For context, I came to the U.S. on an F-1 visa, graduated in May 2025, and started OPT in mid-June. I married my girlfriend of three years, who is a U.S. citizen, in September 2025.
Being from one of the 39 banned countries made this entire process an absolute rollercoaster. The ban was announced in December, and we filed our green card applications in February.
I was working for a Top 50 company, but unfortunately had to stop working on June 6 when my work authorization expired — which, coincidentally, was the exact same day the ban was lifted. Talk about timing. 😅
Thankfully, my company was incredibly supportive. They put me on unpaid leave and kept me on their books while I waited for my immigration situation to be resolved. I genuinely don't know what we would have done without that support.
The interview
Our interview was surprisingly smooth.
We waited about an hour and a half before being called in. A male officer greeted us with a smile, seemed very relaxed, and led us into his office.
He swore us in and then asked whether we had any documents we wanted to present.
We came prepared.
We brought:
- Valentine’s and birthday cards we'd given each other
- A Christmas gift my wife made for me — a photo album containing pictures of us, along with a picture of my childhood home in my home country because she knew I was feeling homesick
- A screenshot of a message from my mom
- Joint car insurance
- Electric bills showing our shared address
- Joint bank statements going back roughly two years
- Joint tax returns
- Pictures of us with our respective families and friends
- Pictures from our wedding
- The itinerary from a Disney trip we had taken with her family about a month earlier
- My RFE response documents
- Additional sponsor tax documents
- A payment receipt for a traffic ticket I had gotten late last year that wasn't disclosed on any of my forms
The officer actually commented on how well prepared we were.
At one point, he opened one of the Valentine’s cards, looked inside and said, "Why is this empty?" Then he grinned and told us he was just pulling our legs. 😂
The interview was incredibly casual.
He asked whether we ever fought. I said yes, and explained that we'd had some tiffs over how to play Baldur's Gate 3. My wife likes exploring at her own pace, while I prefer playing more linearly.
That somehow turned into a conversation about Baldur's Gate 3, and the officer ended up giving me tips for Divinity: Original Sin 2, which I was playing solo at the time.
At that point, it barely felt like an immigration interview. It was mostly just conversation and jokes.
He probably asked one or two more questions before wrapping everything up. He told us that everything looked good on his end and that we should expect an approval within the next month or two.
We were pretty crestfallen hearing that. At that point, I'd already been out of work for about two months, and it was really starting to take a toll on us financially.
The officer noticed how disappointed we were and said he would try to prioritize our case because he understood our situation and knew we were waiting on this.
He walked us out, and then came the waiting game.
The I-130 was approved the next day, August 4.
Then, after a silent update on August 17, my I-485 was approved today, August 18!
What this means to me
I'm still processing everything.
Honestly, I'm still trying to comprehend how much my quality of life is about to change.
I'm overjoyed that I can return to work and start providing for my family again. I'm also incredibly excited about finally being able to travel with my wife and pursue law school.
I'm still waiting for the physical green card to arrive, and I have to figure out what comes next. I guess I have about two years to breathe before I start stressing about removing conditions and eventually applying for the N-400. 😂
But for now, I can finally breathe.
I can finally move forward with my life without this crushing weight hanging over me.
To everyone still waiting
For everyone still waiting, I can understand at least to some extent how you feel.
Even though my case was approved relatively quickly, I was without any income for a period of time, and I know firsthand how much that can strain you and your family. I also recognize that my experience doesn't compare to what some people in this subreddit are going through.
I remember seeing people post "APPROVED" in all caps and wondering when it would finally be my turn — and whether it would ever be my turn.
Today, it was my turn.
Just know there is light at the end of the tunnel.
There are people like me in this thread rooting for you. ❤️
If anyone has questions about my timeline, the interview, the RFE, or anything else, feel free to ask. I'll do my best to answer!