I-485 approved, but no green card after several months - USCIS now says “case is awaiting review”
Hello All,
I’m trying to understand whether anyone has experienced something similar with USCIS.
My spouse and I had our adjustment-of-status interview together several months ago.
Here’s the situation:
After the interview, my I-485 case status changed to “Case Was Reopened.”
The following day, I received an official I-797 approval notice stating that my I-485 was approved and that I had been granted lawful permanent resident status.
However, I never received the physical green card.
My online USCIS case status still says “Case Was Reopened” and never changed to “Case Approved.”
I contacted USCIS about the missing green card. The representative was able to see that my case had been approved.
I then submitted a case inquiry regarding the missing card.
USCIS has now responded with the following:
“Your case is awaiting review. You do not need to do anything at this time. When we make a decision or take further action on your case, we will mail a notice to you or your representative at the address you gave us.”
This is what I find confusing. I already have the I-797 approval notice, so I’m not sure what “awaiting review” means in this context.
There is also an additional complication: my spouse’s I-485 was part of the same adjustment-of-status process and we attended the interview together, but her online status still says “Interview Was Scheduled.” She has not received an approval notice either.
Our attorney previously suggested that the cases may have gotten stuck administratively after USCIS requested an I-485J that had already been provided, and that the field office may need to review the files.
Has anyone experienced something similar, particularly:
Receiving an I-485 approval notice while the online status still says “Case Was Reopened”?
Having USCIS subsequently say the case is “awaiting review” despite already receiving an approval notice?
Having the physical green card delayed for several months after receiving the approval notice?
If you experienced something similar, what ultimately happened, and what did you do that helped move the case forward?
Thanks in advance!