Ding Babb | Marriage-Based Green Card Approved in Just Two Months: A 2025 Success Story

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Many applicants have experienced noticeably stricter adjudication standards from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Marriage-based green card applications are no exception. Interview waivers have become less common, more cases are referred to in-person interviews, and a growing number of applicants face prolonged processing even after the interview.

Against this backdrop, we are pleased to share a recent marriage-based adjustment of status approval that was completed in approximately two months from filing to approval.

🌍Case Timeline🌍

• September 2, 2025 – USCIS received Forms I-130, I-485, I-765, and I-131

• October 6, 2025 – Biometrics appointment completed

• October 12, 2025 – Interview notice issued

• October 14, 2025 – Combo Card approved

• November 11, 2025 – Marriage-based green card interview completed; officer recommended approval

• November 12, 2025 – Forms I-130 and I-485 approved

• November 24, 2025 – Physical green card received in mail

Compared with many recently approved marriage-based cases, this application moved at an exceptionally fast pace.

🌍Case Overview🌍

Key Strengths

• The petitioner is a U.S. citizen, qualifying the beneficiary as an immediate relative

• The couple had been married for several years at the time of filing

• The petitioner met all Form I-864 Affidavit of Support financial requirements

Potential Risk Factors

• The beneficiary entered the U.S. on a B-2 visitor visa, has been out of status since the authorized stay expired

• The beneficiary had a prior arrest record

• Although married for many years, the couple don’t have children

🌍Key Takeaways🌍

With marriage-based interviews largely reinstated and enforcement standards heightened, fast approvals are no longer the norm—especially for cases involving prior status violations or arrest histories. Success in these cases depends on more than basic eligibility. Critical factors include:

• Credible and well-organized evidence of a bona fide marriage

• Proper preparation of Form I-864 and supporting financial documentation

• Clear identification and mitigation of inadmissibility or fraud-related concerns

• Strategic interview preparation, including how to respond to common “trick” or credibility-testing questions

We have seen cases with otherwise strong profiles experience lengthy delays or requests for evidence due to insufficient preparation for the interview stage.

🌍Guidance for Applicants Considering DIY Filings🌍

Applicants considering a do-it-yourself (DIY) approach to marriage-based green card applications in 2025 should be aware that current adjudication trends place greater emphasis on documentation quality, consistency, and interview performance.

Understanding USCIS expectations in advance—particularly for cases involving overstays, prior arrests, or other complexities—can be critical to avoiding delays or adverse outcomes.

Each case is fact-specific, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Applicants facing similar circumstances are encouraged to seek a professional evaluation before filing or attending an interview.