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Case Stories
⏳ EB-3 Professional Pending - Non-Chargeability Country PD May 2023
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⏳ **Case Status: Pending**
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An EB-3 Professional applicant (not from one of the 75 oversubscribed countries) filed I-485 in October 2025 and received combo card approval in February 2026. However, the I-485 itself remains pending with the first Field Trip Action 1 (interview notice) issued in March 2026, leaving the case still under active review.
An EB-3 Professional single filer from a non-oversubscribed country (outside the 75 high-demand countries) with a Priority Date of May 2023. The I-485 was received in October 2025 shortly after the priority date became current in February 2026. The case was transferred to Hartford Field Office in December 2025. The applicant received their combo card (EAD/AP) approval in late February 2026 but received a 1st FTA1 (interview scheduled) on March 4, 2026, with the case status showing 'Actively Review.' The applicant notes their case is taking longer than others who applied under the October 2024 rule changes.
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**[📎 View Original Post](https://www.reddit.com/r/USCIS/comments/1rz2c16/3rd_fta0_1st_fta1_long_time_ago/)**
*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.*
This case highlights an important distinction: combo card (EAD/AP) approval does not mean I-485 approval. Cases transferred to a Field Office (FO) typically require an in-person interview before final adjudication, which adds processing time compared to Service Center approvals. FTA0 (Field Trip Action 0) represents interview scheduling attempts, while FTA1 indicates an interview has been formally scheduled. Three FTA0 notices before a successful FTA1 suggests scheduling delays at Hartford FO. Applicants transferred to a local or non-local FO after bio completion should expect an interview step and longer overall timelines — typically several months beyond the combo card approval. The 'Actively Review' status post-FTA1 is normal and indicates the officer is preparing for the interview.