I-485 status message

“Case Remains Pending” on Your I-485: What It Means

On an I-485, USCIS shows Case Remains Pending[1]

USCIS explains this message in its employment-based adjustment of status FAQs, so it applies to employment-based I-485 cases that wait for a visa number.[1]

Sources for this meaning

What it means

In the I-485 stages (Decision): USCIS orders and sends the decision notice. For an approved case, a welcome notice may follow.[2]

USCIS describes this message as meaning that an officer reviewed the application and determined that it could not be approved on that date because the Department of State could not allocate a visa number.[1]

What usually happens next

When a visa number is available, USCIS resumes processing the I-485 toward a decision.[1]

For how long cases usually take, see USCIS processing times. We do not state a timeline on this page.

What to do

Keep your address current with USCIS and USPS and watch for notices from USCIS.[3]

Related event codes

USCIS has not published a table that links status messages to event codes, so no event code is linked to this message.[4]

Forms it commonly appears for

This page covers the I-485. Read the general page for this message or follow the whole case on the I-485 Tracker.

Questions about this message

Which I-485 cases see “Case Remains Pending”?

USCIS explains the message in its employment-based adjustment of status FAQs, where it is tied to waiting for a visa number from the Department of State.

Source[1]

Is an I-485 that remains pending denied?

No. USCIS describes it as an officer finding that the case could not be approved on that date because no visa number could be allocated.

Source[1]

Sources

USCIS publishes no list of its status messages, so the titles come from the sources below. Checked . USCIS can change the wording without notice.

  1. [1]Employment-Based Adjustment of Status FAQsUSCIS
  2. [2]NIEM 5.0 BenefitDocumentStatusCategoryCodeSimpleTypeNIEM
  3. [3]How to Track Delivery of Your Notice or Secure Identity Document (or Card)USCIS
  4. [4]Checking Your Case Status OnlineUSCIS

Not legal advice. CaseTicker is not affiliated with USCIS. A code is a short system label, not a decision: your notices from USCIS are what count. For a Request for Evidence, a deadline or a denial, talk to a licensed immigration attorney or accredited representative. Read the disclaimer. CaseTicker is not affiliated with USCIS. Not legal advice.

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