⏳ EB-3 I-485 Pending - IMG Physician EAD Delay Threatening Residency Match

⏳ **Case Status: Pending** --- An internationally trained physician matched into a U.S. anesthesiology residency program faces losing their position due to a prolonged EAD delay after filing I-485/I-765 in December 2025. Despite two expedite requests and congressional contact, work authorization remains pending as a November 2026 employment deadline approaches. The case highlights the severe real-world consequences of USCIS processing backlogs for medical professionals. An IMG physician filed I-485/I-765 in December 2025 and completed biometrics in January 2026. After a first expedite request was denied in March 2026, a second request in July 2026 was acknowledged as meeting minimum expedite criteria, yet the I-765 remained pending. By September 2026, the matched residency program issued a letter citing a November 1, 2026 deadline for clinical employment to begin. Without an EAD by that date, the program may initiate the NRMP release process, effectively canceling the match. The applicant has escalated to congressional representatives and the DHS CIS Ombudsman. The case is still pending with no resolution. --- **[📎 View Original Post](https://www.reddit.com/r/USCIS/comments/1wod2pj/img_physician_who_matched_into_a_highly_ranked_us/)** *Source: Reddit I-485 EB* --- *This post was automatically curated from online sources to share real case experiences with the community.*