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Case Stories
⏳ EB-3 Derivative Beneficiary Pending - Spouse I-485 Delayed After Primary Approval
E
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⏳ **Case Status: Pending**
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Primary EB-3 applicant received I-485 approval while derivative spouse's application remains pending at the same field office. Both applications showed API updates on the same day as primary approval, but spouse's case has not progressed further. Couple has upcoming international travel creating urgency around the pending I-131 advance parole.
A concurrent I-485, I-131, and I-765 filing for an EB-based petition resulted in the primary applicant's I-485 being approved while the derivative spouse's I-485 remains pending. Both cases are at the same field office and showed simultaneous API updates on the primary approval date (3/13), but the spouse's case has not advanced since. The pending I-131 (advance parole) for the derivative applicant raises travel concerns given upcoming international plans in mid-April.
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**[📎 View Original Post](https://www.reddit.com/r/USCIS/comments/1s3qa53/advice_needed_spouses_i485_pending_after_primary/)**
*Source: Reddit EB-3 search*
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*This post was automatically curated from online sources to share real case experiences with the community.*
Derivative beneficiary I-485 cases frequently lag behind the primary applicant by days to several weeks even when filed concurrently and assigned to the same field office. The simultaneous API update on the primary approval date is a common pattern — it often indicates the derivative case was flagged for review but not yet adjudicated. If the spouse's I-131 advance parole has not been approved, international travel before I-485 approval would abandon the pending application. Cases in this situation should consider submitting an InfoPass inquiry or calling the USCIS contact center if the gap exceeds 30 days, as field offices can sometimes link and expedite derivative cases. Historical data suggests derivative spouse approvals follow within 2–6 weeks in most concurrent EB-3 filings.