How many times in the past few months HAVE i been getting calls from clients tired of waiting for their employment authorization cards (EAD)? If I could get a penny for each call, I could retire tomorrow. Seriously, USCIS caused major delays in the processing of such work permits, and by doing so caused hardship to all the pending immigrants wishing to start working.
Pursuant to 8 CFR § 274a.13, USCIS must adjudicate EAD applications within 90 days from the date of USCIS receipt of the application.
The CIS Ombudsman has been receiving numerous inquiries from customers about EAD applications pending more than 90 days. Click on this link and see what the USCIS can offer to make things right. I can only hope it will help.
Step 1: Call USCIS National Customer Service Center (NCSC) at 1-(800) 375-5283 and record the time/date of the call and the name/number of the customer service representative:
Explain to the customer service representative that your EAD has been pending more than 90 days and ask for a “service request.” You should receive a response to your service request within a week.
OR
Ask the customer service representative to request an interim card for you. You should receive an EAD or response within a week.
Step 2: If you choose to visit a local USCIS office, schedule an INFOPASS appointment to visit that office on www.infopass.uscis.gov. At the appointment, ask to apply for an interim EAD. Note that USCIS local offices no longer issue interim EADs. The local office can review your case and determine eligibility. The local office will forward your request to the USCIS service centers. You should receive an EAD or response within a week.
Step 3: If you have tried both Step 1 and Step 2 and have still not received your EAD or an interim card, please email our office at cisombudsman.publicaffairs@dhs.gov with the details of your efforts. Please include the date and time of your call to the NCSC and the name of the customer service representative. I