AP approval letter but no combo card yet

[curious-intellect 0]

Hey all,

My EAD/AP combo card online status is stuck in card production stage (while my AP online status says case approved). I'm supposed to travel internationally in November (which I explained in the expedite request that was approved). I have the expedite approval letter for the AP but not the actual card yet. I have a service request to check on the status as well (but it's pending a response). I've also booked an InfoPass appointment closer to the travel date. When I called USCIS for tracking information, they mentioned they were having technical problems and asked me to call back. My experiences with USCIS have been great so far, so I'm thinking if I don't get the card soon, the InfoPass appointment is going to be my only hope. Can you share some tips or your experiences in this regard?

[curious-intellect 0]

[update: When I called back as they asked me to, the new agent told me that technical issues did not apply in this case and that they would have to escalate my case to a tier 2 officer who would be able to see and provide me with any applicable tracking information. The agent said because of heavy call volume, he could not escalate the issue right away though and suggested I call back on Monday.]

[Ejoriah 4]

How long has it been since approval?

[curious-intellect 0]

How long has it been since approval?

Two weeks and a few days since the expedite approval. Did your online status change from card production to anything related to tracking before you received your combo card? And congrats on your case approval!

Edited October 24, 2016 by curious-intellect

[curious-intellect 0]

Monday update: I was told by the phone agent that there has been a production delay for the EAD/AP combo cards and that they haven't been on schedule for producing/sending those from the last two weeks or so. I'm waiting for a call from the tier 2 officer in a few hours now to see if they could provide more case-specific information due to the urgency of the situation.

Edited October 24, 2016 by curious-intellect

[Ejoriah 4]

Hi,

As you can see from my timeline it took around 11 days from expedite approval to having the card in hand. My online status did not update with tracking information until after I received the card.

I see you have an Infopass appointment closer to your day of travel. They should be able to stamp your passport with a temporary AP or something like that. When I went for my expedite request the person at the Infopass told me to come back closer to my travel date if I didn't get the AP in the mail in time, and they would stamp my passport.

[curious-intellect 0]

Hi,

As you can see from my timeline it took around 11 days from expedite approval to having the card in hand. My online status did not update with tracking information until after I received the card.

I see you have an Infopass appointment closer to your day of travel. They should be able to stamp your passport with a temporary AP or something like that. When I went for my expedite request the person at the Infopass told me to come back closer to my travel date if I didn't get the AP in the mail in time, and they would stamp my passport.

Thanks! That's helpful information. I haven't been able to talk to a tier 2 officer yet, but I did get an update online on my case yesterday that my card was mailed to me. However, there is no tracking information available online. The customer service agent does not have the tracking information either, and when they escalated my call to a tier 2 officer for the tracking number, the system said I'd receive a call in a few hours, but that didn't happen (I'm guessing it's because it was after business hours). I also rescheduled my InfoPass appointment a little more closer to the travel date so as to allow enough time to wait for the card delivery in the meanwhile, given the recent mailing status. Can you let me know if your EAD/AP combo card was delivered via USPS Priority or First Class Mail? Also, what category did your expedite request fit in (mine overlapped multiple categories)?

Edited October 25, 2016 by curious-intellect

[curious-intellect 0]

[update: I was able to reschedule a call with a tier 2 officer and speak to them finally, and they gave me the tracking information number. Pretty smooth experience with USCIS so far! Right before they'd called, I'd also received a notice from MyUSPS that I had priority mail scheduled for delivery at my place from Corbin, KY. Since I know one of USCIS's and TSA's card production facilities is in Corbin (and because I was not expecting anything else being mailed from there), I knew that had to be my EAD/Combo card. I should have my card delivered in another two days at the most! I'm just hoping I receive the combo card soon.]

[curious-intellect 0]

Update: I received the card finally!

[Asanwa 3]

Please what is EAD/Ad? Full meaning

[curious-intellect 0]

Please what is EAD/Ad? Full meaning

EAD = Employment Authorization Card

AP = Advance Parole

[embay16 12]

Did anyone have success with getting a temporary AP stamp in your passport?

My spouse went to our "local" office (Lawrence MA) after talking with the USCIS customer service. They told him to go there with a copy of the approval print out from online, and they should be able to give him a "ADIT" stamp. We looked it up and it's typically only something they give after you get your green card approval, or for Emergency AP.

Anyways, he drove the two hours with a last minute appointment to our local office because the customer rep person said it wouldn't be an issue to get the stamp since it was already approved. However, our local office refused to give him the stamp (among some other things including a severely rude officer), despite his needing to travel out of the country next week. Do you think he should try again with a different officer?

[curious-intellect 0]

Did anyone have success with getting a temporary AP stamp in your passport?

My spouse went to our "local" office (Lawrence MA) after talking with the USCIS customer service. They told him to go there with a copy of the approval print out from online, and they should be able to give him a "ADIT" stamp. We looked it up and it's typically only something they give after you get your green card approval, or for Emergency AP.

Anyways, he drove the two hours with a last minute appointment to our local office because the customer rep person said it wouldn't be an issue to get the stamp since it was already approved. However, our local office refused to give him the stamp (among some other things including a severely rude officer), despite his needing to travel out of the country next week. Do you think he should try again with a different officer?

I got my EAD/AP card before my travel date and ended up canceling my InfoPass appointment, so I can't offer much insight into the stamp part. I guess you could try talking to a supervisor at the local office through an InfoPass? Also, try speaking to a tier 2 officer using the national customer service hotline.

Edited November 3, 2016 by curious-intellect