Photos are showing up in imports but not longer directly in the

If they are in imports, they are in the library - are you showing all photos?

Is the date of the photos recent so they appear in the timeline where you are looking.

Right click one of them in imports, and select "show in all photos"

Have you tested, if the photos are just sorted in a different way from what you are expecting?

If you are seeing the photos in in Photos in "Library > Imports", ctrl-click one of the imported photos and use the command "Show in All Photos". Are the photos appearing in All Photos this way?

What exactly are you doing, when you import the photos from the iPhone?

Are you connecting the iPhone using the USB cable, then wait for it to appear in the sidebar of Photos under "Devices"? Then select photos and click the button "Import Selected"? The "Preparing to Import" may take a very long time, before you are seeing any photos to select, if you are having a large library on the iPhone.

Good news - thanks for letting us know. 🙂