Community Post
i-485 Approved After Mandamus: My Full Timeline, Experience & Encouragement
Hi community. I recently had both of my pending applications approved. I had an asylum interview with USCIS and was approved 2 weeks later in Q1 of 2023.
My RTD ended up being approved entirely on its own — I received it on Nov 5 with a 1-year validity. I never did anything about expediting it.
For my green card, they got the application in early June-2024. The packet was complete, with a fee and medical papers. My case sat in “interview is ready to be scheduled” status since early April-2025 with absolutely no movement. My expedite request, Congresswoman inquiry, and Ombudsman inquiry were proven unsuccessful. Eventually I decided to file a writ of mandamus pro se (without an attorney). Honestly, it’s not as hard as lawyers try to make it seem, and many attorneys don’t specialize in mandamus anyway. Attorneys wanted at least $5K; I paid only the $405 filing fee + about $150 in postal costs (more on that adventure below).
I used this Reddit post (https://www.reddit.com/r/USCIS/s/zjYMKZ0oix, it’s called Step-by-Step Guide on How I Filed a Writ of Mandamus Without a Lawyer and How You Can Too) and ChatGPT for guidance. My defendants were Pam Bondi, Kristi Noem, and Joseph Edlow, and I also served the U.S. Attorney General in my state and USCIS as an agency. I filed on Oct 21, and the defendants were served the same day.
USPS then proceeded to lose 4 out of 5 of my certified letters — they delivered only the one addressed to my state’s Attorney General 😂 I was so pissed! I had to go back to the court, get duplicate summons, and then ask my friend again to re-serve everyone, it was done on Nov 1. My anxiety was through the roof. 4 out of 5 were delivered, and on Nov 7 my green card was approved without an interview — before service of process was even completed. The final letter was delivered the day after the approval. I will still complete service and then dismiss the case as moot after I get the card in hand.
I’m now waiting for the physical green card. It was approved 6 days ago, and I already received the approval notice.
A note of encouragement:
Never let your hope fade, and never be afraid to stand up for yourself. Fight for your own sunshine. US is a democratic country, and filing a mandamus is simply exercising the rights you already have, trying to get the service you paid $1440 for. Waiting for your green card to be approved for over 1,5 years is well beyond reasonable in any Universe.
‼️ If more and more people start choosing litigation instead of the unreasonable wait, USCIS will have to fix the backlog because they hate being sued.
You won’t get in trouble for the lawsuit. If you have decent English, you absolutely can file on your own. And the money you save on legal fees? Do yourself a favor and spend it on a trip abroad to celebrate getting “greened” and finally getting your wings back. ♥️✈️ Personally, I am going to Canada for Thanksgiving to celebrate my re-acquired freedom and give thanks to my own courage and luck that made it all possible.
Good luck!
P.S. Adding the short version of my timeline:
February-2023: asylum approved
June 3, 2024: USCIS received my i-485
April 9, 2025: status changed to “interview is ready to be scheduled”
May-September-2025: called USCIS, contacted Congresswoman, Ombudsman and submitted expedite request with no success
Oct 21, 2025: filed my mandamus lawsuit with a court and served the defendants
Nov 1, 2025: re-served the defendants
Nov 6, 2025: new card is being produced
Nov 7, 2025: case approved
Nov 14, 2015: card was mailed to me
