u/DarkDextrous

EB2-NIW
Country: ROW
Block: IOE09373xxxxx
Lockbox: LCKBXPDF (submitted online)
FO: Queens FO
PD: Sept 2024 (current in FAD throughout the application stage)
Status: F1/F2 (PhD student + spouse)

I-485s
6/17 Filed online myself, no lawyer (primary: I-485 + derivative: I-485, I-765)
6/22 IAF
6/26 Biometric notice
7/17 Biometric completed, 2x FTA0
8/31 3rd FTA0 on primary only [probably a mass update]
9/25 SU Transfer to Queens (EMMA confirmed)
10/8 11:16am ET 4th FTA0 on primary + 3rd FTA0 on derivative (simultaneously)
10/8 11:16am, 11:45am, 1:16pm, 3:01pm ET SUs on both
10/9 I-485s approved: 11:56am ET primary, 1:28pm ET derivative

I-140
Sept 2024 Field for EB2-NIW through EP (normal processing)
3/3/26 Premium processing upgrade
4/30/26 Approved without RFE (43 business days), NSC
Reddit post to approval: https://www.reddit.com/r/EB2\_NIW/s/qfNpNhH6vq

Wishing all the best to everyone!

Hi everyone,

PD Sept 2024

PP 03/03/2026 (old fee)

Approval 04/30/2026 (43 days)

Center NSC

Country ROW (in 75 visa ban list)

Lawyer EP ($6k attorney fee with unlimited refile/refund)

Profile at filing:

2nd year PhD student of Information Science at an Ivy League Institution

PE AI/ML for Wireless Sensing in Healthcare & Agriculture

Papers 1 journal 2 conference

Citation 14

Letters 0

Profile at approval:

Couple more papers + preprints

Citation 45

Lawyer:

My team was super responsive. I think they did a wonderful job with the petition. Although they advised against PP, I went ahead and did it myself by signing a waiver.

Good luck to everyone!