How long are AP and EAD good for?

[Melyssa 0]

I thought EAD and AP were good for until you get your green card, but I keep reading on here that people who didn't get their green card for quite awhile had to keep reapplying. SO what I want to know is... how long are they good for? Also, what happens when the first EAD expires? Can you keep working? I'm so confused... because it seems like that would be disruptive to being able to keep a long term job! And the same thing with travel, sort of... I can leave the country for 3 months but then I have to reapply all over again, and wait again? How does this work?

...Of course, I'm hoping I get my green card by the time EAD/AP expire so that we won't have to worry about this...unless our case takes awhile and results in a 10 year green card ;-)

[Reba 2]

They have a one year validity and if you do not get your green card within that time frame, then you will have to renew your EAD in order to continue to work. As they take 3 months to process, you would need to send in the renwal app with enough time so that you can continue working. AP may or may not be granted for renwal, I dunno.

[Krikit 1,164]

long term job! And the same thing with travel, sort of... I can leave the country for 3 months but then I have to reapply all over again, and wait again? How does this work?

The AP is issued for a term of one year. You can leave the country for as long as you like while your AP is valid, just as long as you're back before it expires. You reapply if you haven't received your GC. You're probably getting the 3 month timeframe because that's the guideline for the amount of time it takes to process and receive it. Some have received it within a couple of weeks.... some take up to 3 months.

[Melyssa 0]

Thanks!

I got the 3 month time frame because it seemed like someone had applied for EAD 5 times or something after getting their green card after 2 years... But, I probably just misunderstood or read something wrong.

Good to know the EAD is good for a year. Thanks again!

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Question about the AP...is it issued for one year always? I made the mistake of specifying a date range (around Easter this year) because I missed the fact that I could just put for multiple visits.

I'm kind of stressed by the fact that Easter could come and go and I might not have any AP yet....would it eventually come and I could still use it or would it be useless since I had specified dates....sigh.............

[Krikit 1,164]

Question about the AP...is it issued for one year always? I made the mistake of specifying a date range (around Easter this year) because I missed the fact that I could just put for multiple visits.

I'm kind of stressed by the fact that Easter could come and go and I might not have any AP yet....would it eventually come and I could still use it or would it be useless since I had specified dates....sigh.............

Yes, always one year. Not to worry.