Hi All,
I finally got my card two days go after 190 days!! I did everything possible based on recommendations from this forum but it still took that long. Only option i didnt try is the congressmen. So i dont think any of that really worked for me but there seems to be other people here that those methods worked for and they got their cards in 100-120 days. I just wasnt one of those lucky ones. But its something that is out of my control so I didnt lose hope. I even lost one job offer that was my top choice because of this delay, but what can I do? such is life. On to the next one! so dont lose hope no matter what happens. In the long term, when you look back, this would just be a small road bump.
here is my timeline:
situation: application for EAD through marriage to US citizen. also applied for travel document.
-9/29/2017 case received (National Benefit Center,MO)
-10/28/2017 request for initial evidence ( tax forms, even though i sent them the first time. i see a lot of people here had this experience of being asked for things they already submitted. This seems to be a corrupt way for them to buy more time i guess because the processing clock resets when this happens. Meaning the number of processing days are counted from the day you respond to this request.
-11/9/2017 response to initial evidence received ( so this is when the clock starts)
-Feb 2018: submitted so many different inquiries through the 1-800 call center. level one and 2.
-02/08/2018: submitted expedite request(based on financial loss) through 1-800 number
-02/12/2018: they emailed and asked for proof of job offer for expedite request. faxed it to them the same day. i never got a approval or denial for this expedite request after this!
-03/05/2018 - submitted ombudsman request
-03/21/2018 - got response from ombudsman that they contact USCIS
-04/02/2018 - status updated on
https://myaccount.uscis.dhs.gov/ to "we are producing your card". the other status check website still didnt have this update so dont use that website.
-04/08/2018 - card received in mailbox
Stay optimistic!