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Case Stories
⏳ EB-3 to EB-2 Parallel I-485 Strategy - Pending
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⏳ **Case Status: Pending**
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Applicant filed I-485 under EB-3 in 2021 with original employer, then switched to a new employer and field as an ML engineer in 2022, filing a new I-485 under EB-2. The question concerns whether to withdraw the original EB-3 I-485 or maintain both applications concurrently.
This case involves maintaining parallel I-485 applications across two different employment-based categories. The applicant originally filed under EB-3 in 2021, then changed jobs and occupational fields (making AC21 portability risky due to the field change), and subsequently filed a new I-485 under EB-2 with a new employer. The core strategic question is whether withdrawing the older EB-3 I-485 has any adjudication impact on the newer EB-2 filing, or whether both can safely coexist.
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**[📎 View Original Post](https://www.reddit.com/r/greencard/comments/1taqh9s/maintaining_parallel_485_applications/)**
*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.*
Maintaining parallel I-485 applications is generally permitted by USCIS — each petition is adjudicated independently. However, withdrawing the older EB-3 I-485 can forfeit any accumulated benefits such as EAD/AP renewals tied to that application, and importantly, the 180-day AC21 portability clock. If the EB-3 I-485 has been pending over 180 days, it may still offer a fallback if the EB-2 petition encounters issues. Cases with field changes under AC21 face heightened scrutiny, as USCIS evaluates whether the new role is in the 'same or similar occupational classification.' ML engineering vs. the original EB-3 role may or may not qualify. Keeping the EB-3 application alive as a safety net is a strategy some attorneys recommend until the EB-2 path is more certain.