Filing i485 and EAD separately or together- which is faster for work authorization?

[Zedayn 485]

I would take the few extra minutes it takes to fill out the I-131 and send it in. It is no cost to you, and takes very little effort to add this to your I-485 submission. It is better to have the AP card and not need it, than to need the AP card and not have it.

[Darnell 8,478]

Filing i485 and EAD separately or together- which is faster for work authorization?

Together. <EOM>

[nobbie 105]

I did mine altogether and my receipt notice is dated 6 Nov, now my EAD and AP card is on it's way, should be here in the next day or two. I think it was 63 days from receipt date to approval and now just a few more to have it in my hand.

[Kisturia 7]

Another interesting aspect:

If your husband has a pending job offer, he can request an expedite for his EAD! As soon as he has a job offer, he should just call the service hotline (he must have filed his I-765 already though) and say that he wants to request an expedite due to SEVERE FINANCIAL LOSS. He should tell them he has a pending job offer and they will send him an email requesting evidence for this job offer. The potential employer gives him a letter stating that he will get the job as soon as he has his work permit. Your husband faxes it in and a day later they will - in all likelihood - put his status to card production.

I requested the expedite on Jan 2, got an email on Jan 3, faxed the letter from the employer on Jan 6 and on Jan 7 my status changed to card production. Now all I have to do is wait for my EAD/AP Combo Card to arrive in the mail

[Merrytooth 5,748]

Another interesting aspect:

If your husband has a pending job offer, he can request an expedite for his EAD! As soon as he has a job offer, he should just call the service hotline (he must have filed his I-765 already though) and say that he wants to request an expedite due to SEVERE FINANCIAL LOSS. He should tell them he has a pending job offer and they will send him an email requesting evidence for this job offer. The potential employer gives him a letter stating that he will get the job as soon as he has his work permit. Your husband faxes it in and a day later they will - in all likelihood - put his status to card production.

I requested the expedite on Jan 2, got an email on Jan 3, faxed the letter from the employer on Jan 6 and on Jan 7 my status changed to card production. Now all I have to do is wait for my EAD/AP Combo Card to arrive in the mail

That's great!

[dodgyJim73 6]

Thanks everyone, there's some really interesting information in this thread.

I've just received my K-1 and I'm flying out in 3 weeks so I'm starting to look at the required forms and best processes etc. for the AOS

Thumbs up to you all for the advice!

Edited January 9, 2014 by dodgyJim73

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

File them together. I do not understand why people would want to wait and mail them separately. File them together and you will get a biometrics appointment with 2 case numbers on it. The biometrics will be for the I-485 and I-765 at the same time. You will receive your EAD/AP in 2-3 months after filing. If you wait and file later, it delays your receiving of the EAD/AP, not speeds it up.

The poster that mentioned getting the expedited EAD is another route you can take. If your husband gets a job offer, he can request the EAD be expedited. Here is a post about how to do that, which unfortunately gets lost in the Progress Reports forum > http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/453753-how-to-request-to-expedite-your-ead-based-on-a-job-offer/

[California14 1]

Once the packet is received it is treated as three separate applications, pending the I-485 not having any serious issues. The EAD usually takes about 60-90 days to receive. There is no advantage to sending it after the NOA-1 for the I-485 since they will have to verify the I-485 does not have any major problems.

Hi.. i am confused about it. I am going to file I-485, AP and EAD. I have to prepare 3 applications with each requirements of only one copy for 3 applications?

For instance for I-485 it must be filing with i-94, i-797, copy passport etc. So do i need to put another copy of i-94, i-797, copy passport for EAD and AP?

[Zedayn 485]

Yes, you need copies for each application

[raven52 233]

FILE I-485

FILE EAD/AP ALSO, """""ALL AT ONE TIME"""" YOU WILL HAVE YOUR COMBO AP/EAD IN ABOUT 90 DAYS, IT COULD BE SLIGHTLY LONGER, OR MAYBE SHORTER. (1070.00 DOLLARS) SUGGEST YOU GET MONEY ORDER FROM USPS, OR CASHIER'S CHECK FROM YOUR BANK!

YOUR EAD/AP.,.,., WILL PROBABLY COME AS A COMBO CARD, AS BOTH WILL BE ON ONE CARD.

YOUR GC IS LIKELY IN THE 4-6 MONTH RANGE.,,., UNLESS PROBLEMS WITH YOUR PAPERWORK.

DO ALL YOUR PAPERWORK, AND THEN GO OVER IT 3 MORE TIMES, LINE BY LINE.,.,.,ONE MISTAKE WILL COSAT YOU WEEKS, OF PROCESSING!

GOOD LUCK!

[CaroSL 68]

Thank you for your quick responses. I think we will forget about paying the extra fee then since it doesn't seem to be worth it, and go with Billy's advice on filing it separate with the NOA1 (as long as you are sure there aren't any fees!)

You should really send EAD/AP application with the AOS package. You don't have to wait for the NOA1, and there are no extra fees. This way it is just one package to the USCIS, less chances of confusion, and you get your EAD/AP quicker. Also, ask for the AP, you never know if you are going to have to leave the country...

[CaroSL 68]

In addition to the guides (that are more up-to-date than this) I think this is a wonderful help for the AOS/EAD/AP package: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/235331-aos-ead-ap-from-k1-the-aussie-way-doc-list-included/

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

Hi.. i am confused about it. I am going to file I-485, AP and EAD. I have to prepare 3 applications with each requirements of only one copy for 3 applications?

For instance for I-485 it must be filing with i-94, i-797, copy passport etc. So do i need to put another copy of i-94, i-797, copy passport for EAD and AP?

You do not need the same of everything you need for the I-485. You need what is required for the I-764 and I-131, even if they are duplicates of what was needed for the I-485.

I-131 states you need an official ID The biometrics page of your passport works for this, Proof of current status. You can use a copy of your K-1 visa and entry stamp from your passport. Also, 2 passport photos See Pages 7-9 > http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-131instr.pdf

For the I-765, you are filing as an adjustment applicant, category (c )(9 ) and you need copy of passport biometrics page as ID and 2 passport photos. See Pages 6-7 > http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-765instr.pdf