I-485 Approved in FOIA Response but USCIS Status Still Shows “Case Is Being Actively Reviewed” – No Approval Notice or Green Card Received Yet
Hello everyone,
I wanted to share my current I-485 situation and see if anyone has experienced something similar or can provide guidance.
My employment-based I-485 (EB2-NIW, category E26) was filed on June 4, 2025, with a priority date of August 16, 2023. My I-140 was approved, and both the Final Action Date and Filing Date have remained current since June 2025.
Timeline:
• I-485 filed: June 4, 2025
• Biometrics completed: June 2025
• Interview completed: March 2, 2026
• During the interview, the officer verbally informed us that the case looked approved and that we should receive the approval soon.
Since there was no update afterward, I submitted a FOIA request to USCIS on April 30, 2026.
Today, I received the FOIA documents, and surprisingly they show:
• My I-485 was officially approved on March 18, 2026
• Green card production initiated on May 6, 2026
• Class of admission listed as E26
• Card validity through May 6, 2036
However, my USCIS online account still shows:
“Case Is Being Actively Reviewed”
There is:
• No approval notice in the Documents tab
• No online approval update
• No tracking number
• No physical green card received yet
At this point, I am confused because the FOIA documents clearly indicate approval and card production, but the USCIS case status has never changed.
Has anyone experienced this type of delayed system update before?
What would be the best next step:
• Contact USCIS through Emma/live agent?
• Submit an e-request?
• Contact the local field office?
• Wait longer for card delivery?
Any advice or shared experiences would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!