u/labnotebook

with the holiday travel season upon us and stamping dates unavailable I wonder what Stephen Miller has planned to inflict maximum pain this year.

Finally got the "Case Was Approved" update today and I'm honestly still in shock. This was a long, weird ride with a transfer, an interview with no on-the-spot approval, a scary NOID, and a second interview that got cancelled right before approval. Posting my full timeline in case it helps anyone else stuck in the black hole.

Receipt: LIN24*** (Nebraska Service Center, later transferred)

Timeline:

• Oct 28, 2023 – Fee accepted, Nebraska Service Center working on case
• Nov 30, 2023 – Biometrics taken
• Jun 3, 2024 – Case transferred to another USCIS office
• Jun 4, 2024 – Transfer to office with jurisdiction confirmed
• Aug 5, 2025 – "Ready to schedule interview" + interview scheduled (same day)
• Sep 4, 2025 – Filed an outside-normal-processing-time inquiry, assigned to an officer
• Sep 22, 2025 – Interview took place — but visas had run out (retrogression/no available numbers), so no on-the-spot approval 😞
• May 15, 2026 – "We are reviewing your Form I-485" — which turned out to be a nasty NOID (Notice of Intent to Deny). My company's lawyers handled the response, but it was genuinely terrifying to get
• Jul 12, 2026 – Medical RFE (I-693) — just because my previous medical had expired during the long wait, so I had to redo it 🙄
• Jul 27, 2026 – Interview cancelled, cancellation notice mailed
• Jul 31, 2026 – ✅ CASE APPROVED

A few takeaways: the interview itself went fine, but there were no visa numbers available that day so they couldn't approve on the spot — that was a gut punch after prepping so hard for it. The NOID was by far the scariest moment of the whole process — seeing that after 2+ years of waiting made my stomach drop. Huge thanks to my company's lawyers for putting together a strong response. The medical RFE was almost comical by comparison — my I-693 had literally expired because the case dragged on so long, so I just had to get a fresh one done. The second interview getting cancelled right before approval threw me off too, but turns out that can actually be a good sign (they waived it and approved on the merits once a visa number was available).

One thing I'm now fairly convinced of: they are absolutely using AI to comb through every piece of paperwork you've ever submitted to USCIS/DHS and cross-reference it against your current application. The NOID cited details and inconsistencies going back years — stuff from old filings I'd almost forgotten about. It felt way too thorough and fast to be a human manually digging through a paper file. So a word of warning: assume every I-129, I-94, prior application, and address history is being pulled up and scrutinized against each other. Keep your records consistent and be ready to explain any discrepancy, no matter how old.

Hang in there if you're still waiting. It moves, even when it feels like it never will — even after a NOID and a visa-less interview. Happy to answer questions!

My lease is up. The dealership I leased it from is 5 hours away.
I've tried 5 local dealerships to setup a return and they all refused to take my return saying their lot is full.

Anyone else in this situation?
I called Hyundai finance and they told me to keep trying and gave me a 10 day grace period.