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If you recall, the immigration office had sent me beautiful employment authorization card which I received earlier this week.

After following the USCIS' SMS instructions, I found myself in front of this updated screen:

I140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker has been approved #GreenCardIt took me a few minutes and few times re-reading it to believe it was referring to the actual I140, which is the most important step in a green card process.

It is probably when I hold the paper in my hands that I will fully realize what is happening...

In case you are wondering what this all means: This completes another important step in your green card process (at this point, two out of three steps have been completed, and both filings that the company had to do on my behalf have been approved). The I-140 approval also sets the stage for the adjudication of the final step, the I-485 adjustment of status application that is currently pending with USCIS.
The I-485 adjudication usually takes 9-15 months but the USCIS could also review my case within the next couple of months.

Next is my biometrics appointment on the first week of May...

To be continued...

In the meantime, I want to thank everyone for your support through this nerve-wrecking process... THANK YOU!

Screenshot of my current Green Card process

Earlier today, as I was stepping out of my building, I noticed a letter lying on the floor instead of resting in my mailbox. So unlike any other morning, I opened my mailbox - something I never do since I am always rushing out - to place that lost envelop and found a few others in there. Among those letters, one looked rather different, i.e. important. I grabbed it with me, to read it on my way to work.

So here I was walking to the subway while opening that piece of mail. It felt like one of those junk mail containing a fake credit card banks want you to sign up for. But then I unfolded it...

First the USCIS logo from the immigration office starred at me, then that plastic card, shiny and covered with holographic signs. Along with a photo of me, my name and signature, it read in big letters: EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION CARD.

I could not believe this, I re-read it a zillion times, as well as the accompanying letter and all the possible small characters covering it...
"Your Application Has Been Approved"
or
"USCIS has a guide for new Permanent Residents called Welcome to the United States: A Guide for New Immigrants"
Tears started to pile up in my eyes, tears that I had stored for the past 7 years... And every time I re-read that letter, more were fighting to get on line.
Hopefully that professional I was meeting in half-hour would not notice...

While waiting for the train, I stared again at the letter and this time, the tears went down my cheeks until I turned to my neighbor - a complete stranger - and told her the news. I had to share this with someone, anyone (and since New York's subway still does not support cellphone calls on the subway... it had to be ANYone...).

PLEASE cross your fingers (and toes!) for me, as this is one more (but not last) step towards the green card...

Thank for your support. I will let you know as I know more...