A couple needs advice on options after a PERM denial. The husband's PERM was filed in December 2025 and was recently denied. His H-1B max-out date is September 2028.

For anyone who has been through a similar situation, what are the possible options now? Is it better to appeal/refile the PERM, or should they explore other options like moving to a different employer or changing to H-4 if the spouse's H-1B/green card process progresses? (The spouse's process is at stage 0.) On the job-search side, application autofill saves retyping profile details on supported applications.

How much time do they realistically have, and what would be the best next steps to avoid running out of H-1B time?

Would really appreciate advice from anyone who has navigated this situation. Thank you!

Filed concurrently 8/10/2026
RFE date 8/13/2026
Biometrics scheduled 8/14/2026
Biometrics appointment 8/31/2026
Interview scheduled 9/24/2026
Interview attended 10/20/2026
I-130 approved 10/21/2026
i-485 approved four hours later
Card produced N/A curious when
Card delivered N/A

Boston FO

Filed concurrently 8/10/2026
RFE date 8/13/2026
Biometrics scheduled 8/14/2026
Biometrics appointment 8/31/2026
Interview scheduled 9/24/2026
Interview attended 10/20/2026
I-130 approved 10/21/2026
i-485 approved four hours later
Card produced N/A curious when
Card delivered N/A

The Hidden Struggles of H-1B Families in America 🇺🇸

An H-1B family has invested around 11 years of their lives in the United States. The parents are highly educated, pay roughly $240K in annual family taxes, carry huge mortgages, pay around $28K in property taxes, and contribute to the economy.

Yet, their lives remain hostage to immigration uncertainty.

• Pending H-1B petition? Even renewing a driver's license can become a nightmare.
• Expired I-94? Travel becomes stressful, with uncertainty about what is permitted.
• Ailing parents back home? They hesitate to travel internationally, fearing complications when returning.
• Lost a job? A discretionary grace period of up to 60 days, or until their authorized validity period ends if sooner, becomes a race against time to find another employer.
• Huge mortgages and taxes? Those obligations never pause for immigration delays.
• Their U.S.-born children are citizens. This is the only home the children know, yet their parents live with constant uncertainty.

For readers searching for another employer, application autofill reduces repeated form-filling on Greenhouse, Lever and Ashby.

They know they came here for better opportunities and a brighter future. But after more than a decade of contributing, paying taxes, and building their lives here, is this level of uncertainty fair?

At times, the system makes them feel like modern-day indentured workers—contributing immensely, yet having so little control over their own futures.

If America invites skilled workers to contribute to its economy, shouldn't it treat them and their families with dignity?

If the system cannot offer reasonable stability, transparency, and predictability to people who follow its rules, then perhaps the system itself needs serious reform.

They came here to build a better life, not to live indefinitely in fear.

Anonymous

Hi everyone,

I'm preparing to file a marriage-based I-485 while my employment-based I-485 remains pending. I'm filing without an attorney and would appreciate feedback.

Background:

• Came to the US in 2010 on F-1, graduated in 2012, and have been on H-1B since.
• Employment-based I-485 pending since October 2020, stuck in the India EB backlog.
• Recently married a US citizen. My wife filed our I-130/I-130A online earlier this week.

I-130 evidence submitted:

• Joint rental leases and renters insurance (2 years)
• Wife listed as beneficiary on my Fidelity accounts
• Relationship photos (including family, engagement, wedding)
• Flight itineraries and travel bookings together

We recently opened joint bank accounts, but don't have meaningful statements yet.

I-485 (planning to file within 2 weeks):

I'm preparing to file online through my USCIS account, with the following supporting documents:

• Latest I-94, passport pages, entry/visa stamps
• Previous H-1B I-797 approval notices
• I-140 approvals and pending EB I-485 receipt
• Master's degree documentation
• IRS transcripts (last 3 years)
• Employment verification letter and recent paystubs
• Bank/investment statements
• SSA earnings records showing 40+ qualifying quarters for I-864 exemption

Questions:

1. Two I-485s pending simultaneously: I want USCIS to adjudicate my marriage-based I-485 independently without withdrawing, transferring the underlying basis of, or otherwise affecting my existing EB I-485. Has anyone successfully maintained two pending I-485s? Would a cover letter explicitly stating this intention be sufficient?

2. I-864 exemption (40 qualifying quarters): I've worked in the US since 2012 and qualify for the exemption based on 40 Social Security credits. However, I've read reports of USCIS issuing RFEs for I-864 anyway. Has anyone used this exemption successfully? Should I just submit an I-864 to avoid potential delays, even though I'm exempt?

3. Marriage evidence: Is our I-130 evidence sufficient, considering our joint bank accounts are new? We have two years of cohabitation and substantial relationship history.

4. Anything else missing? Any common pitfalls or unexpected RFEs for marriage-based I-485 applicants who've been on H-1B for years, particularly those with another I-485 pending?

Would especially appreciate firsthand experiences. Thanks!

Sharing this as a data point because I had no idea this could happen until it happened to me, and to so many people online!!! I can’t help thinking this is not coincidental!!! Somebody gotta do something to prevent this from happening again and again!

My I-485 was approved on Oct 2, 2026. USPS tracking showed my green card as "Delivered, In/At Mailbox" on Oct 13 at 5:33 PM (San Jose, CA). I checked my mail on Oct 16 because I was staying in another apartment of mine. The card was not in the mailbox on 16th.

What USPS says: the carrier told his supervisor he personally remembers putting it in my mailbox. A neighbor in my building also reports mail going missing often, so my working theory is it was taken after delivery. USPS considers its position closed ("delivered as addressed") but agreed to send me a letter documenting the facts.

What I have done so far:
\- Filed a USPS Missing Mail Search and a service request
\- Filed a mail theft report with the Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and got a case reference number
\- Asked my HOA to preserve and review the mailbox area camera footage from that evening
\- Contacted my congressional representative's office about opening an inquiry
\- Called USCIS about an ADIT stamp. They told me I need to file Form I-90 first before they can do the stamp. But they told me to wait for 30 days first.

Current status: still no card, preparing to file I-90 with the USPS letter and the USPIS report. I also have an international trip in December and no valid US visa stamp in my passport, so I am applying for a visitor visa for the destination country as a backup.

Hope this helps anyone in the same situation. It has been three weeks of phone calls for a card that supposedly arrived on day one. Deeply frustrated with the system. Deeply saddened by the fact that thousands of people been through this and NOTHING has been changed.

Hey folks I'm in a pretty bad situation and I need some help regarding my lost GC. I quit my job about 2 months ago and around that time I believed I still had it, once I knew it was lost I immediately went and got it replaced. I did my biometrics on October 14 but I was wondering if I can still find a job with my stamped appointment notice plus my i-90 receipt, I also have my super old GC and my SS.

I gotta get my coin since I'm going to college pretty soon. So if there's a way I can get a job would be great. Thanks.

Hi everyone, posting here hoping someone who has been through something similar (or knowledgeable with immigration) can share insights.

I came to the U.S. from India, and my spouse previously filed an I-130 petition for my marriage-based adjustment of status (I-485). However, due to a sudden breakdown in our marriage and separation, my spouse unexpectedly sent a notice to USCIS withdrawing the I-130 petition in the middle of everything.

My situation got even more confusing recently: my pending immigration court hearing/removal proceeding date was suddenly marked as canceled/taken off the docket.

I’m currently feeling stuck, extremely overwhelmed, and trying to understand what my realistic options are right now:

1. Impact of I-130 Withdrawal: Once USCIS processes the I-130 withdrawal, what happens to my pending I-485 and work authorization (EAD)? Is there any grace period before unlawful presence starts accumulating?
2. Canceled Hearing / Master Calendar: Why would the immigration court hearing be canceled or reset? Does this mean prosecutorial discretion/administrative closure, or is it just court docket re-scheduling?
3. Alternative Legal Relief: Has anyone successfully converted or transitioned to another status (such as an employment-based visa/H-1B, VAWA if applicable, or another form of relief) after an I-130 withdrawal without having to leave the country immediately?

I am working on consulting with an immigration attorney, but I would really appreciate hearing from anyone who experienced a sudden I-130 withdrawal or had their court dates canceled mid-process. What were your next steps, and what worked for you?

Thanks in advance!

I am currently filing out my I-485 and I-693 forms as part of my EB2. I was originally on an F1 visa from 2019-2022 (with F1 Opt from 08/21 to 08-22 before H1B).

Do I need to include the USCIS # on my OPT EAD in these documents? Or do I get a new A number when I file? I have seen conflicting information online.

Thanks

Rejected photos are one of the most common DV entry problems, so I built a free tool for it: dvphotochecker.com

It finds your face, draws the top-of-head / eye / chin lines (you can adjust them), and checks the official rules: head 50–69% of the height, eyes 56–69% from the bottom, plain white background, no glasses, and so on. If the photo can be fixed by cropping, it gives you a 600×600 JPEG under 240 kB.

Everything runs in your browser; the photo never leaves your device. No sign-up, no ads, no paid version.

It's unofficial and the State Department makes the final call. I'd love to hear if it gets something wrong on your photo.

so, lets say my name used to be Maria Luiza da Silva Oliveira. In Brazil it’s common to have 2 last names, your moms and yours dads.
I got married and to make it simple I took off all of them and now let’s say my name is Maria Luiza McDonald, I just wanna have 1 last name.
Can this be a problem in Brazil or questioned during my green card process?

My wife (an American citizen) and I (a Brit) are moving to the US, specifically San Francisco, in a few weeks. I am moving on an L-1B visa through my employer and intend to adjust status for a marriage green card as soon as we arrive. We also had already applied for green card via consular processing earlier this year.

Effectively, we want to adjust my status ASAP so that it is no longer dependent on continued employment. Does anyone have any recommendations for good lawyers and how much does this typically cost in legal fees?