u/Critical-Customer520

I wanted to share our journey because I posted here several times throughout the process, and so many people gave us advice and encouragement.
My wife and I filed everything ourselves, without an attorney.
We originally sent our documents in December 2025, but our package was rejected three times because of payment issues. Eventually, we figured out exactly how the payment needed to be submitted, and our case was finally accepted in March 2026.
About two weeks later, I received my biometrics appointment. The appointment was scheduled for about two weeks later, but I didn’t want to wait, so I went to the ASC the very next day and asked if they could take my biometrics early. They accepted me and took them! So I was able to get that part done almost two weeks ahead of schedule.
After that, we received only one RFE. We needed to add a joint sponsor, so we prepared everything and sent the response right away.
Eventually, USCIS scheduled our interview. We prepared all of our documents again, printed everything, and brought everything we could possibly need.
The interview itself went well. The officer told me that the I-130 would be approved, but there was an issue with my I-485 related to an old visa application that had been denied. I won’t go into all the details of that situation here, but I was told that USCIS might issue a NOID.
About a week later, we received the NOID and instructions regarding Form I-601. Around the same time, we also received the approval notice for the I-130.
We still did not hire a lawyer.
My wife and I prepared everything ourselves — all the documents, evidence, explanations, and the entire I-601 package. We submitted it both online and by mail.
And today, only three weeks later, my I-485 was approved! 🎉🇺🇸
This has been quite a journey. I posted here many times during the process, and a lot of people helped me and gave me advice. I really appreciate everyone who took the time to respond.
I also want to say this to anyone who is considering doing the process themselves: don’t automatically assume you need a lawyer. Of course, every case is different, and some situations absolutely require professional legal help. But if you have a straightforward case and are willing to spend the time researching everything, it is possible to do a lot of this yourself.
We prepared and submitted everything ourselves, including the RFE response and, most importantly, the I-601.
A lot of people here told me that I might have to wait 2–5 years for the I-601 process.
In the end, I waited only three weeks.
Today was a huge day for our family. ❤️
Thank you so much to everyone who helped us along the way!
Now we just have to wait for the next step — the actual Green Card. 😁
I’m curious how long it usually takes after the I-485 approval for the physical card to arrive. 🙂

Hi everyone,
I’m looking for advice because I’m very worried about my case.
At our marriage-based adjustment of status interview, the officer told us that our marriage is genuine and that she intended to approve our I-130. However, she also said she would not be able to approve my I-485 and that I would likely receive a NOID and need to file Form I-601.
The issue goes back to a DS-160 visa application I submitted in 2018. At that time, I spoke almost no English and filled out the application using Google Translate. I had a girlfriend, but we were not living together and were never married.
When I tried to translate “relationship,” the translator suggested “common-law,” and I mistakenly selected that option without understanding what it meant. That visa was refused for unrelated reasons.
In 2023, I legally entered the U.S. on a different visa.
During the interview, the officer asked whether I had ever been in a relationship. I answered truthfully that I had a girlfriend many years ago. She then said that wasn’t true because my old visa application showed I had been in a common-law relationship.
At the time, I didn’t even realize she was referring to my refused 2018 DS-160. She never clarified which visa application she meant, so I was confused during the interview. Only afterward did I remember the mistake I had made years ago.
The day after the interview, my USCIS account changed to “USCIS is currently processing the case.”
My questions are:
Is it possible that another USCIS officer will review the case and make the final decision, or does the interviewing officer always make it?
Can a simple misunderstanding caused by poor English and an incorrect translation on a refused DS-160 really lead to an I-601 waiver?
Has anyone experienced something similar?
Is there anything I should do now while waiting for the NOID?
For additional context, my wife is a U.S. citizen, we have one child together, and we’re expecting our second child.
I’d really appreciate any advice or similar experiences.
Thank you

I'm new here. Can I ask what the approximate wait time is if I submitted my biometric data on April 2?

Maybe I missed the deadline for submitting the documents?