I posted earlier about Robotics Warfare/CWT, but I don’t think I explained my situation clearly.

I’m a lawful permanent resident/green card holder. I’m currently a mid-level software engineer at a FAANG company, and I have a master’s degree in Robotics/AI. My background is robotics, software, autonomy, and artificial intelligence.

My main interest is Robotics Warfare because robotics is genuinely my passion, and I want to serve the country in a technical role where my background can be useful. I know I would be leaving a good civilian career, so I’m trying to understand the process clearly before making any decision.

Ideally, I would like to enter in a way where my existing education and experience are properly evaluated, and where I can contribute as a subject matter expert if the Navy determines that is appropriate.

I reached out respectfully through the proper channels and was told that my background aligns well with Robotics Warfare, and that TS/SCI is not a rating entry requirement. That confused me because I thought citizenship or clearance would automatically block me from getting a Robotics Warfare contract.

My recruiter said he will work with his leadership and the Robotics Warfare community manager to see if there is a proper path forward, especially since citizenship may be possible during boot camp.

I would also love to pursue the officer path if I qualify or once I become eligible. If anyone familiar with officer programs can guide me on that side as well, I would really appreciate it. I’m not asking for special treatment or trying to bypass the system. I’m trying to understand the realistic path forward before MEPS.

My questions are:

1. Can a green card holder contract for Robotics Warfare if TS/SCI is not a rating entry requirement?
2. If Robotics Warfare still requires citizenship before contract/signing, would naturalizing during boot camp help at all, or would it be too late for the initial contract?
3. If Robotics Warfare is not possible before naturalization, what should I ask for or avoid signing before MEPS?
4. Is CWT any different from Robotics Warfare regarding citizenship/clearance requirements?
5. Is it normal for a recruiter to coordinate with leadership and the community manager on a situation like this?
6. For someone with my background, is there an officer path I should be looking at once I qualify or become eligible?
7. Is there any accession path where my robotics/software background could be evaluated for subject matter expert-type placement or consideration?

Any guidance from classifiers, recruiters, or people familiar with Robotics Warfare/CWT accessions or officer programs would be appreciated. Thank you.

Hey everyone,

I’m a prospective Navy applicant and I’m currently being told I qualify for both CWT and RW. I’m trying to decide which rating makes more sense before signing.

For anyone with real experience or solid knowledge:

How do CWT and RW compare in terms of day-to-day work, quality of life, deployments, advancement, bonuses, and civilian opportunities after the Navy?

Also, since RW is newer, how defined is the actual job right now?

Any honest advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

Hey everyone,

I promised myself that if I ever got approved, I'd come back and post my timeline because reading everyone else's success stories kept me going during some pretty anxious days.

Today my I-485 was approved.

I still can't believe it.

Before anything else, I want to thank everyone in this community. Whether you answered one of my questions, shared your own timeline, or posted your approval story, it genuinely helped me through this process.

Timeline

Total time from USCIS receipt to I-485 approval: 3 months and 17 days.

• March 5, 2026 – Mailed the application package
• March 10, 2026 – USCIS received concurrent I-130, I-485, and I-765
• March 27, 2026 – Biometrics
• April 1, 2026 – Case Actively Reviewing
• May 5, 2026 – RFE issued
• May 11, 2026 – USCIS received RFE response
• May 14, 2026 – Interview scheduled
• June 23, 2026 – Interview at Seattle Field Office
• June 24, 2026 – I-130 approved, one day after the interview
• June 27, 2026 – I-485 approved, four days after the interview

About my case

• Marriage-based Adjustment of Status
• Seattle Field Office
• Concurrent filing
• Entered the U.S. on an F-1 visa
• F-1 → OPT → STEM OPT → H-1B → Marriage-based AOS
• Married to a U.S. citizen
• Married for less than one year at the time of approval
• No unlawful presence
• No unauthorized employment
• Had a lawyer review the package before submission

A tip if you're filing around tax season

We mailed our package on March 5, and USCIS received it on March 10.

At the time we submitted, our 2025 joint tax return wasn't available yet, so we included the latest tax documents that existed at the time. We also had a lawyer review the package before submitting.

By the time USCIS opened/reviewed the case, it was the new tax year, and they sent us an RFE requesting our 2025 jointly filed tax return. We had already filed our taxes by then, so we were able to respond right away.

If you're planning to file around March and your newest tax return will be available shortly, be mindful of this. Even if your package is complete based on what is available when you mail it, USCIS may still ask for the newer tax return by the time they review it. If your situation allows, it may be worth waiting until you can include the newest return with the initial package.

Interview

Our interview was very relaxed and lasted around 20–30 minutes.

After we were sworn in, the officer asked us how we met, how our relationship developed, when we got married, where we currently live, and a few questions about our daily life together.

The officer then went through our documents, updated a few items in the file, and reviewed our evidence.

Because we had been married for less than two years, the officer explained that if the green card was approved, it would be a conditional green card and that we would later need to file to remove conditions. At no point did the officer say we were approved or make it clear that we were getting the green card.

At the end of the interview, we were given a paper saying the case was being held for further review. So even though the interview felt positive, we still walked out knowing nothing was officially approved yet.

For anyone in the same situation: my I-130 was approved the next day, and my I-485 was approved four days after the interview. So a “held for review” paper does not automatically mean something is wrong.

One thing I'd highly recommend is organizing your photos instead of simply printing a stack of pictures. For context we had 5 years worth of pictures when we started dating.

We created photo pages where every picture included:

• The date
• The location
• The names of everyone in the photo
• Their relationship to us, such as family or friends
• A short caption describing the occasion

The officer commented that this organization was very helpful because it made it much easier to understand the context of each photo instead of guessing who everyone was or where the photo was taken. The officer also mentioned that well-organized evidence like this makes the file easier to review.

Besides the photo album, we brought:

• Joint lease
• Joint tax return
• Joint insurance
• Joint car loan/title
• Utility bills
• Bank statements
• Updated financial documents

Overall, the interview felt more like a conversation than an interrogation.

We walked out feeling optimistic, but I knew nothing was official until I saw "Case Approved."

To everyone still waiting

I know the waiting can be really stressful, especially after an interview or an RFE response when there is nothing else left to submit.

Hang in there. A quiet case does not always mean a bad case, and a “held for review” paper does not automatically mean something is wrong. Sometimes the approval just comes after a few more days of review.

I hope everyone waiting gets good news soon. This process can feel very lonely at times, but posts from this community helped me a lot, and I hope this timeline helps someone else too.

Best of luck to everyone still in the process.