Employment Authorisation Document (USA)

[Beetle76]

Has anyone done an application for an EAD recently? How long did yours take to be processed?
Initially I was advised 6 weeks to 3 months but on tracking the application (As you do when you are not doing much) it’s now saying current estimate is 5.5 - 7.5 months.
Just wondering if anyone has recent personal experience of real processing times.

[ShyTown]

This isn’t that recently but hopefully it will help. I applied for mind first week of May 2018 and it came back early August. My tracking time showed something similar to yours, I forget exactly but it was at least 6 months so it was a pleasant surprise. A friend of ours did hers at the same time as me but she was in a different city so I think it was processed somewhere else but hers took 9 months. It’s massively unpredictable in my experience.

[Beetle76]

Thanks for the reply @ShyTown. It’s so frustrating as I just don’t know what to plan for. I guess I’ll need to plan to be doing nothing for another 2-6 months and anything less is a bonus.

[midwestfornow]

I got mine last year, it took just under 3 months. I had expected a much longer wait.
( In fact I am still not ready to work as I want licensing as well!)

[HoldMyLobster]

VisaJourney is a good site for comparing notes with people in a similar situation - they're quite obsessive there about tracking how long the various stages take.

I can't help much - mine was 20 years ago. I remember it was supposed to be 3 months, but it took longer. Then it came through very suddenly, and hey presto I had a job a week later.

[Beetle76]

So it really is a bit hit and miss. I’ll have a look at VisaJourney too, thanks @holdmylobster

[HoldMyLobster]

The other thing I do remember is that I didn't get much notice of the appointment to pick up my EAD - I got a letter giving me a date of less than 2 weeks ahead. I was actually outside the country at the time so I had to change my flight back to be there in time. It was worth it - that feeling of being able to work again was such a relief.

[midwestfornow]

My EAD was mailed to me.
First I got notification I had been approved and it was arriving and then a week or so later I got the card itself.

[ShyTown]

Mailed here too - returned from 2 weeks holiday and there it was waiting for me!

[Skala123]

A friend of mines recently took 7 months

[allfurcoatnoknickers]

I filed for mine in 2014. Applied in March, it came through in August. Had a lovely few months dissing around NYC and getting a great tan up on the roof deck

[SqueakyCyclops]

Hi OP. Found your thread by chance whilst looking for other people in a similar situation.

I applied for my EAD at the end of September and I'm still waiting. I recently expedited the request through my senator and it was denied saying I had not provided sufficient evidence of financial hardship. I have gone back on this as was never given an opportunity to provide this. (Currently waiting for a reply as it only happened this evening)

A bit of background... My husband got an L1 visa and I got an L2. He moved to the US for 3 months whilst I remained in the UK with the kids.

I moved to the US after 100 days of waiting for my EAD, thinking it couldn't take much longer. I was due to restart my job (I work for an American company and am taking my current UK role to the US) mid Jan.

I'm now on unpaid leave until my EAD is granted. I was told by USCIS it is down to the L1 holder to support me whilst my application is processed so they don't classify me as under financial hardship. I have worked for my employer for the past 15 years so I can't just walk away from my job. My choices are continue to take unpaid leave for an indefinite time, or return to the UK and leave my husband and kids here. I'm still waiting for a decision from my employer. Neither choice is great.

Sorry to be a doom monger but I wanted to give you an honest answer from someone in a similar position.

[Beetle76]

Gosh @SqueakyCyclops that’s quite a predicament to be in. Makes my situation look like a walk in the park. I applied before you so I’ll keep you posted.

[Beetle76]

Oh, @SqueakyCyclops which processing centre is doing your application? Mine is Vermont.

[SqueakyCyclops]

Vermont too. When did you apply for yours? I'm hoping I haven't gone to the bottom of the pile now my expedite request has been denied good luck with it, hope yours arrives soon. Where in the US are you moving to?

[HoldMyLobster]

That's so frustrating SqueakyCyclops. I hope your senator continues to help - they can get things done IME.

[Chemenger]

Mine took about 5 months, if I remember correctly it was processed in Texas.

[Chemenger]

I didn’t need to pick it up, it came through the mail.

[Beetle76]

Apparently I’ve forgotten the order that the months follow. Sorry! I’m over-tired and hadn’t woken up properly when I replied to your message. (I’m suitably caffeinated & awake now). I arrived at beginning of September. Only managed to get EAD application done in November. So behind you in the queue, not ahead. This is what being unemployed does to my brain!

I’m beginning to wonder if my EAD will come through before it’s time to go back again. (husbands job here is fixed term) I’m sure it will, but it’s looking likely whatever job I get here is going to have to be on a much shorter term than I anticipated.

Did you have a look at the visa journey forum that another poster mentioned? There was an example from Vermont which might give you hope. I’ve tried to attach screenshot. So maybe this means you’ve only got a month or so to go?

I’m in Connecticut, by the way.

[midwestfornow]

Mine was 3 months and was also processed in Texas I think. The wait times given online were much longer.

[midwestfornow]

I did have my snn before I applied.
I am doing a part time Uni course and some volunteering so my cv doesn't have a giant gap in it.

[SqueakyCyclops]

I'm hoping it's not long left now. They have told me that because I'm not behind on mortgage/rent, have no outstanding credit card debt or bailiffs knocking at the door that I'm not a financial priority, which I completely understand. Some of the stories on the expat forums are harsh so I should count myself lucky!

I just had an e mail back from the Senators office and they will send on any documents I can provide. I'm not holding out much hope as my job is part time (the reason I wasn't eligible for an L1 visa of my own ) but I have to do whatever I can to show willing to my employer. I can continue to take unpaid leave and am eligible for a sabbatical but I just want to get back to work!

Hopefully yours will be a bit quicker now that Christmas and Thanksgiving are out of the way!

[Beetle76]

@SqueakyCyclops I checked my application’s status today and it has changed to approved. Apparently I’ve been sent/posted an approval notice with instructions. Will see what that means when it arrives but I’m hoping it means that I’m almost there 🤞 Are you sorted yet?!?

[SqueakyCyclops]

Hi @Beetle76 sorry for the late reply, for some reason ths dropped off the threads I'm on link. That's great news! Mine got returned with a request for evidence. They want a copy of my I94. I couldn't include this at the time as I was still in the UK when I submitted my application. Annoyingly they are able to check this for themselves as they have all my passport info etc.

So now the office is closed until further notice due to coronavirus so I have no idea when it will be approved. Its lucky in a way as I have to go straight back to work once it's approved and my husband is wfh now. I'd have to juggle my hours around his and childcare. Luckily his work have agreed to pay my salary until all this is over, but I'm so desperate to get back to work!

[Beetle76]

@SqueakyCyclops that’s great news about getting your salary paid while all of this plays out.
My Social Security card arrived today so that’s me sorted from an admin perspective. I think they must be working behind the scenes, albeit at a much reduced capacity.
I hope you get sorted out soon.

[BritInUS1]

@SqueakyCyclops that’s interesting I didn’t realise you could apply for the EAD card while you were outside the US. Our lawyers told us you had to be on US soil for the application.