EAD (WorkPermit)

Hi,

Over the last 2 months I have kept checking on my case status every day (hum, every hour?!), and this forum has really helped me keep ma sanity. So thanks to all for sharing your story.

Here is my timeline (L2 EAD (cat a18), Vermont Center):
9th Sept 2017: Application sent
13th Sept 2017: USCIS received date
Nov 17 2017 : called customer service for the first time, was told to wait
Dec 8 : called customer service, was told to raise an SR for out of normal processing time
Dec 11: raise the SR
Jan 3 2018: having received no response for my SR, called customer service. Told me to wait for response.
Jan 18: having still not received any response for my SR, called customer service again. Told me that an answer was sent on Dec 14th indicating that my case was being reviewed by an officer
Jan 24: called customer service, got an L2 officer, I asked if I should raise another SR for out of processing time, was told to wait
Jan 29: contacted congresswoman; letter from congresswoman to USCIS left the office on the 1st Feb
Feb 5: contacted Senator; letter to USCIS left the following day
Feb 11th: got offer from a company, with March 12th start date, opened a case with Ombudsman providing details above + offer letter + letter from Senator's office
Feb 13th: both Congresswoman and Senator's office for an answer from USCIS and forwarded it to me. Answer said that "[...] The VSC is currently processing Form I-765 cases received on or before November 8, 2017 and your constituent’s Form I-765 has been assigned to an officer for processing. Although USCIS strives to process Form I-765s and deliver EADs to eligible individuals in a timely manner, nothing on our website creates, nor may it be construed to create, a specific or implied time within which USCIS must process and adjudicate requests for EADs or deliver the EADs to applicants or requestors."
Feb 15th: called customer service again, indicated that I had to start on the 12th March latest. Officer was very helpful and raised another SR. He told me that the VSC was currently working on the Sept 7 to Sept 18th cases
Feb 16th: got answer from SR that my EAD had been approved !! "A review of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) records indicates your Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, was approved on February 15, 2018. As of the date of this letter, your Employment Authorization Document was in production at the Vermont Service Center. If you do not receive your card within 30 days, please contact the National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5383."

BTW on the online mycasestatus, it still shows "case was received" and not that it is approved. And I haven't got an answer from Ombudsman yet.

I hope I get my card before the 12th March now, but I am hugely relieved.
In the end I don't know if SRs, Congresswoman, Senator, Ombudsman + calls made any difference. And I guess I will never know... it is just so frustrating to wait with no timeline and doing nothing. And it seems just such a huge waste of energy for those offices, and such stress for us applicants and our families (and potential employers).

Good luck to all!