EAD (WorkPermit)

Good Morning Everyone,

First of all, I am a silent viewer on this site and finally decided to share my experience.
Please find below timeline and I hope that will help especially October and November fillers like me waiting for 8-9 months.

Married to LPR (lawful permanent resident) in January 2016
Filled for I-130 on April 25,2016
PD: November 3, 2017 ( applied for I-765, 131 and 485)
Biometric: December 5, 2017
1 SR : march10, 2018
Contacted Senator, congresswoman and filled for ombudsman: in March, 2018 - I haven’t find them useful. However, I will recommend them instead of sitting ideal and wait. All I am saying that I haven’t find magic right away!!
3-4 expedite SR in between : received standard response “we are still working on your case and we will make decision shortly.”
RFE : June 4, 2018 - requested to submit copy of original birth certificate in foreign language since I have submitted English translated notary copy.
RFE response received by USCIS: June 22, 2018
EAD and AP cases approved: July 5, 2018.....with God’s grace!!
Total wait time: 245 days

Just For information, I haven’t received approval notice or card or anything in mail yet. So far online status is updated and I am already happy.
Meantime my previous work visa expired and I was jobless for 4 months. Finally after long break, I can start working.

I hope rest of long awaiting ppl get their card soon!!

Good morning guys, On July 5, 2018, we approved your Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, Receipt Number YYYY YYYY ZZZ. We will mail your approval notice. Please follow the instructions in the notice. If you move, go to...................

PD is 7th Feb, 2918.

please dose anyone know how long it will take for me to have the EAD at hand?

Hello guys! Finally got some good news

I checked my status today and it changed to “We are producing your card and will mail it to you”

I’m from Dallas
EAD case was at NBC
PD: 02/21/2018
Married to USC
137 days today

I’ll update in the comments when I get my card.

Hi,

Hope explaining my experience helps some people. My case is married to USC but hopefully this information helps everyone.

My first piece of advice to anyone would be to not lose focus on your i485, that is the more key application. We all want a green card end of the day, not just EAD/AP. I previously wrote that I think USCIS is using more resources towards i485 than i765 these days and I think this continues to be correct. I think the timeline for those married to USC for EAD, has gone to 4.5 months and expect it could soon approach 5-8 months. Simply put USCIS has way too many applicaitons. Next, I think everyone needs to take notes/dates/facts of your communication with USCIS.

Why notes? I think USCIS is so overworked now that their initial reaction to any communication is scripted "leave us alone". I have seen better sucess by using facts/dates when I communicate with USCIS. You need to become your own lawyer and before you do an "SR" via internet/phone know what the facts/goals or your inquiry are. Simply 5-7 words, "where is my card" in the past is no longer applicable. Sening many "SR"s for i765 usually also does nothing, it is more worthwhile to figure out how your i485 is going along since that has an actual full procedure.

As an example, it appears most married to USC cases in 2018 take 45-60 days to go from PD to "Ready to schedule interview". If you feel your timeline is falling behind others then reach out on the i485 and try to get specific information, "I did my biometrics on XYZ date, its been 30 days since and USCIS has not communicated with me. I am wondering is my biometrics review complete yet?". That sort of questions more likely USCIS will answer, versus "you are in processing time".

Expedites. First understand as timelines have gotten worse everyone is trying to expeite. So simply a job offer letter is not going to do it always, try to have a story. Also send your w2s/tax transcripts/tax returns with the expedite, the last thing you want is an officier to look at your file then send a dreaded RFE for them. Expedites become much easier past 90 days, and 120 days. The ideal is to have the employer write a letter explaining loss to them. If you cannot do that then try to build your own story and cover letter.

Hope some of this helps, and here is my timeline.

Jan 2018: In the USA on work visa.
2/20: PD for i485 receivd and i765.
3/7: Get NOA1s. Get notice for biometrics on 3/21.
3/15: Last day on payroll of previous job and start unemployment period.
3/21: Biometrics completed no issue.
4/8: Email that biometrics review is complete and still working on case.
4/18: No longer can check i485 status. "user-defined" error.
4/28: Infopass. Officer says case has moved to "ready to schedule interview". Case is still at NBC. Says you will get interview letter in 30-45 days.
5/31: Infopass. Officer says prior office made mistake, yes its at that stage. But our field office is massively backed up and could be months. Says there is a chance you could get EAD before GC still but its all a random process by us somewhat. Case is still at NBC.
06/10: i485 case status no longer even on USCIS site case missing.
06/12: SR. Where is case?. Case now at field office. But in usual timeline/processing.
06/14: Speak to congressman. Says eveyone expediting now and takes 4-6 weeks for USCIS to get back to them. Drop off 15 page package to congressman to send EAD expedite. Had cover letter/job description/interview-timeline etc...
06/18: Speak to senator, says expedites only for anyone with "family death". 2-3 weeks for us to review. 4-6 weeks for USCIS to act. Send 20 page package by email to senator. This one had a cover letter for senator why to take my case, then a cover letter for USCIS. More information about everything.
06/20: Worried about congressman timelines. Get petitioner to call USCIS, explain to T2 officer timeline, "ready to schedule interview, so all background checks complete?". Explain unemployed since when, explain been waiting patiently for 120 days. Get T2 officer to push an expedite. This was 1 hour discussion petitioner had with T1/T2 officers. Get ref ID for expedite.
06/25: See three updates for expedite has reached officer on USCIS site with same ref ID. Call and told somethign was mailed to fax evidence wait for mail.
06/26: Senator mail. Explains accepted case, assigned to XYZ. USCIS should get back to us in 2-3 weeks.
06/28: Congressman says no word yet, if no word will call for sure next week.
07/02: Get mail, as expected they want evidence fax to NBC #. Even though NBC has my evidence 2-3 times. Trying fax all day does not work super annoyed. Call senator and seems they can fax the evidence for me. 1 hour later check, DHS site "June 29th update we are producing your card".. JOYFUL days. Call senators office and thanked them but said fax will not be nesscary.
07/05: Approval notice in mail.
07/06: Congressman, they did email June 29th case is going to be worked on. But I checked seems your card is sent to USPS.
07/07: EAD card received in mailbox.
Aug 2018: New job will start.

My case is at the field office since June 1st by looks of it. Not sure when interview will be but hopefully by end of 2018. I plan an inofpass soon to see if the officer will accept all our current bonafide marriage evidence. Hopefully that makes them pick the case for an interview.

Hey All,

As of today the WhatsApp group which we previously informed to send phone numbers via email to (shadz **** **** *), is no longer accepting requests from persons with PD later than February 15,2018 since the group was intended to be small, to focus and support members through this long process.

NB. Anybody with priority dates before February 15,2018 are still welcome

Omg!!! They changed the processing time from 4months tp 4.5months to 6.5months.. The lord is our strength

hey guys,
looks like they just change the receipt date . it was jan 15, now it is jan 1st. I'm so depressed.

Hello,
Filed June 14th 2017
Bio metrics July 2017
Many SRs
Anyone else waiting this long? Its been 13 months for me.

Good morning all,

Nov 1, 2017 filer, PD - Feb 2016. Waiting for EAD/AP - 247 Days

During my call to USCIS and L2 officer on June 11, the officer said that the case is still open and has not yet been assigned to an officer. But when I called yesterday, July 5, the L2 officer said that it being reviewed by an officer and I will hear something soon. Just to be sure, I asked him again if it is assigned to an officer and he said yes.

For those of you who heard that their case was assigned to an officer, how long did it take for you to hear a decision on your EAD/AP?

Thanks and Fingers Crossed I hear something soon.

Hi there,

I have been silently reading this forum for a while now and decided to activate an account today. We have been waiting since January 26th and have heard nothing since Biometrics in February. We received a courtesy letter in the mail last week letting us know we did not submit the medical with the AOS package and that we will need to do that at a later time. This was disappointing because I really thought that was the EAD approval notice :(. This is so frustrating, waiting for 161 days now. My husband hasn't worked for 6 months now and things are getting tough, financially, emotionally and mentally. Looking forward to anyone with an experience filing around this time. Thanks!