Green card applicant denied interview, approved within 68 days despite being from ‘restricted’ country
one green card Applicants tell stories of success after their I-485 petitions were approved. The person said on Reddit that the result was completely unexpected as they had expected to receive an interview call.
What does Form I-485 do?
Form I-485, known as the Petition to Register for Permanent Residence or to Adjust Status, allows a U.S. individual to seek lawful permanent resident status, commonly referred to asgreen card‘.
If you file Forms I-130 and I-485 at the same time, both forms will usually be approved at the same time. In this case, your green card should arrive within two weeks. However, if you fall under the preference category, there is a waiting time to apply green card Terms range from 2 to 17 years, depending on your specific category.
Here’s what Reddit is saying about the green card approval timeline
While HT.com could not independently verify the authenticity of the Reddit post, the user further shared a timeline, which stated, “Receipt Notification – April 27, Biometric Program – May 7, Biometric Completed – May 28, Case Approval – July 2.”
The applicants further claimed that they were from one of the “restricted” countries but were residing permanently in the United States under a different visa category.
“I’m grateful for the information provided by posts from various Reddit subreddits that helped me manage my expectations and guide my journey. I eagerly await the GC in the mail! Thank you all,” the Reddit post further reads.
Also read: Green Card Alert: Applicants will see major changes in new immigration rules, wait times increased
Latest information on immigrant visa processing for nationalities considered to be high risk of dependency
On January 14, the city government Donald Trump The announcement of an indefinite suspension of visa processing for individuals from 75 countries is Trump’s latest move to advance immigration policy. Countries included in this list include Afghanistan, Brazil, Egypt, Iran, Russia, and Somalia.
Effective January 21, 2026, the U.S. Department of State has suspended the issuance of all visas to immigrant visa applicants from the following countries: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize , Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Myanmar, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala , Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Yemen.
Reddit user reactions
At the same time, the post attracted the attention of many netizens, who shared their experiences in applying for visas and green cards.
“I’ve been here waiting to renew my 10-year I90 since last August. Lucky you got it so quickly,” one person wrote.
“68 days is like lightning. I’ve seen cases drag on for as long as a year while people wait for interviews. Your previous visa status establishes enough paper trail to skip this step. Restricted countries make exemptions stand out and are often marked for in-person viewing. The 10-day turnaround from receipt to biometric is also quick. Card production can take a week or two, and then USPS adds a few days. Don’t expect this timeline to be repeated for others. Congrats, start renewing your license now,” another commented.
“Why do you think people here care about your 68-day approval when they’ve been waiting over 12 months? Is this to make them feel better?” commented a third Reddit user.
