u/Last_Knowledge_1873

My interview was tough. My original entry visa application omitted some information but I corrected it during the 485 application.
I was told I might have to wait some weeks for a decision and the officer would try her best.
Anyone else been in that situation? If so, how long did it take for approval to come through?

Hello community!

I have been notified of an interview at my local FO in about one month. I’m very nervous.

What can I expect them to ask me during the interview?

How long after the interview will it take for approval and arrival of the greencard?

Filed both I140 and I485 concurrently on Feb 27 through BAL. My I140 was approved earlier this month after RFE and premium processing.

Thank you

I moved here about 1.5 years ago from Europe and I’ve been so unimpressed with American hairstylists over her in dc, well mainly Virginia where I live.

I can’t tell you the amount of money I’ve wasted because they’d do a weave that isn’t flat or doesn’t properly hide the tracks or too tight. I’m tired of it.

This weekend alone I’ve spent about $500 between top salons to sew in two curly hair bundles. The first was in MD Districts Heights and even though she knew I wanted to use two bundles as I have a sensitive scalp she doubled the bundle wefts at the bottom. The top looked flat and the sew in felt bumpy (I hate that!). So I go to my backup stylist in Columbia Pike to fix just the sew in not the cornrows…should be easy right?! Nope! She missed almost half of the top cornrow as in no weave sewed on that part - at the front!

Please can you all recommend black hairstylists that can do a great basic weave and good braids. Please add pricing too. Thanks!

I’m 34F and have been single for about five years. I struggled to find a man I genuinely wanted to build a family with, so earlier this year I decided to pursue SMBC rather than make motherhood dependent on finding a partner.

I started the fertility process, completed my testing, and planned to start IUI around Q4 2026. My fertility testing came back normal, which was reassuring, but I’m nervous about delaying. I know fertility can change, and I would be devastated if I waited and later struggled to conceive or needed significantly more treatment. I’m also genuinely ready for the lifestyle change and excited to become a mother.

Then I met someone. We’ve now been together for several months and are in a committed relationship. I love him and can genuinely see myself building a family with him.

We discussed my SMBC plans early in dating. Initially, he said he would be comfortable with me using donor sperm if we were dating and wanted a child. As we became more serious, his feelings changed. He said that if we were together and he loved me, he would want to be the child’s father and wouldn’t feel comfortable standing back while I used donor sperm.

I’ve also asked whether there is a middle ground: if he isn’t ready when my original timeline arrives, could he be comfortable with me proceeding with IUI while we remain together, with the possibility of having a second child together later if we’re still strong and he is ready? He says he doesn’t think he could do that because he would struggle emotionally with not being the biological father.

He wants children with me and wants to marry me, but he also wants to do things in what he considers the “right” order: marriage, establish our household, then children. He feels we are moving quickly and wants more time to live together and establish our finances before becoming parents. He also has significant financial responsibilities toward his family that he needs to work through.

He has suggested we start trying around June 2027 instead of Q4 2026.
Part of me thinks 6–8 months is a reasonable compromise. I don’t want to rush someone I love into parenthood, and I can see the value in having time to live together, marry and establish our life first.
But another part of me is struggling because the whole reason I pursued SMBC was to take control of my timeline. I worry that agreeing to one delay could eventually become another.

If the relationship doesn’t work out, I will continue with SMBC using donor sperm. I know I want to be a mother regardless.
So I’m trying to decide whether I’m being too protective of the timeline I created for myself, or whether this is an important boundary I shouldn’t compromise.

For those who have navigated SMBC, especially anyone who met a partner after starting the process:

Would you delay your timeline by 6–8 months for a partner you genuinely loved and wanted to build a family with?
How would you distinguish a reasonable delay from the beginning of an open-ended postponement?
Would marriage/living together first and agreeing on a specific date to start trying be a reasonable compromise?
How would you view the alternative of proceeding with IUI while remaining together if the partner isn’t ready?
What questions would you want answered before agreeing to delay?
Does being 34 change how you would approach this?

I’d particularly appreciate perspectives from women who transitioned from an SMBC plan into a relationship and had to reconsider their timeline.

“Form I-485, Application to RegisterPermanent Residence or Adjust Status, iscurrently being processed on NATIONALBENEFITS CENTER. Your interview waswaived. Form I-485, Application to RegisterPermanent Residence or Adjust Status, iscurrently complete and has no missinginformation or documentation. Your case isactively being reviewed.”

Does this mean I’ll get approval in the next few weeks or do I still have months to wait? I really need my EAD to work.

Thank you!

BAL submitted both the i140 and i485 concurrently on Feb 27 2026.

I140 was approved today after RFE response was submitted on June 29.

Now waiting for the i485. Anyone on the same timeline as me? From ROW.

Also does the i485 pause when they send RFE? I saw on the website that average processing time is 8 months. Does that mean I wait 10 months with RFE time?

Is it true that after you’re promoted, you can only be rated an HV1?
I thought that was only the case for the next quarter but not your end of year rating.
Can anyone confirm?
Thanks!

Hi friends,

Is anyone willing to share what they submitted for EB1C RFE as a functional manager that got them approved?

I’m working with BAL, but want to make sure I submit a quality response.

Thanks!