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Case Stories
✅ EB-3 Skilled Worker Approved - India (Principal) + ROW Spouse, PD 2019
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✅ **Case Status: Approved**
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An Indian national with a 2019 priority date from a previously approved I-140 successfully adjusted status along with their ROW spouse. The PERM was filed in late 2023 and approved in early 2025, with a new EB-2 I-140 filed via premium processing in May 2025. Both principal and spouse received I-485 approval on March 18, 2026.
This case involves an Indian principal applicant who leveraged a 2019 priority date from a previously approved I-140, significantly accelerating eligibility. A new PERM was filed October 2023 and approved February 2025 (approx. 16 months). A new EB-2 I-140 was filed via premium processing and approved within 9 days. Both the principal and ROW spouse filed I-485/I-765/I-131 concurrently on May 20, 2025. The spouse's EAD was approved faster (approx. 4 weeks) compared to the principal (approx. 24 weeks). Multiple 'ghost' API updates were observed between August 2025 and March 2026 before the H008 approval code appeared on March 18, 2026. The spouse's I-131 advance parole was denied post-approval as expected, since adjustment of status rendered it moot. Total employment-based process end-to-end spanned over 3.5 years.
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**[📎 View Original Post](https://www.reddit.com/r/USCIS/comments/1sf9cqj/greened_indian_principal_row_spouse_75_countries/)**
*Source: Reddit I-485 EB*
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*This post was automatically curated from online sources to share real case experiences with the community.*
This case illustrates a key strategic advantage: retaining an older priority date from a prior I-140 can make an otherwise years-long Indian EB backlog manageable. The ~10-month I-485 adjudication window (May 2025 to March 2026) is consistent with current processing norms for current priority dates. ROW spouses of Indian EB applicants benefit from their own country's chargeability, which in this case allowed concurrent filing and approval. The pattern of multiple 'ghost' API updates followed by an FTA0 and then H008 is a commonly observed sequence before final approval — applicants seeing similar API activity in early 2026 may be close to a decision.