Submitting AOS with request to expidite EAD

[aznhouston 132]

Is there anyone submitting their AOS package with the request to expidite EAD?

If yes, how long did it take you to get the EAD after submitting the AOS package?

 

[A&H2018 148]

This is a good idea and possible strategy. Unfortunately USCIS is a step ahead and makes you submit everything to "lockbox" so no actual officier see/organizes your orginial applicaiton.

[Marcelina 246]

To submit an expedite request to your EAD you have to call USCIS. You need your EAD case number and your biometrics need to be already completed.

Edited July 9, 2018 by Marcelina

[george8880 27]

Basically what everyone said already. The conventional wisdom is that you need to wait until your biometrics is completed to submit a request to expedite. You get your biometrics appointment letter about 2-3 weeks after you file, and you can do walk-in biometrics immediately after you get your letter; or you can wait until your scheduled appointment which is usually ~1 month after you file (1-2 weeks after you receive your appointment letter).

 

I have seen people expedite immediately after submitting their AOS, and so their biometrics appointment get expedited too. But I think it is very case-by-case and very rare though. Unless you have a very convincing reason, seems to me it would raise major red flags regarding your marriage if you’re in such a rush, so I would proceed cautiously here.

 

For reference, I was able to get my EAD approved in 43 days after submitting my AOS, and I waited for my biometrics appointment time instead of doing walk-in 1.5 weeks earlier. Seems like the process could move pretty fast if all goes well. Still I would say it takes at least 30 days though after you file. 

[george8880 27]

13 minutes ago, LizM said:

EAD after 43 days, with no expedite? That is awesome. Was this recently?

Sorry, 43 days with expedite. Going to edit my previous response to clarify.

 

And yes, this was recently. PD of 5/25 and just got it approved 7/6

[geowrian 22,338]

What's the basis for expedite?

I've seen people request an expedite in the initial filing, but no clue if it actually worked for anybody...the lockbox workers just scan in the forms. I wouldn't see it as being any faster than requesting one via phone.

[aznhouston 132]

5 hours ago, george8880 said:

Basically what everyone said already. The conventional wisdom is that you need to wait until your biometrics is completed to submit a request to expedite. You get your biometrics appointment letter about 2-3 weeks after you file, and you can do walk-in biometrics immediately after you get your letter; or you can wait until your scheduled appointment which is usually ~1 month after you file (1-2 weeks after you receive your appointment letter).

 

I have seen people expedite immediately after submitting their AOS, and so their biometrics appointment get expedited too. But I think it is very case-by-case and very rare though. Unless you have a very convincing reason, seems to me it would raise major red flags regarding your marriage if you’re in such a rush, so I would proceed cautiously here.

 

For reference, I was able to get my EAD approved in 43 days after submitting my AOS, and I waited for my biometrics appointment time instead of doing walk-in 1.5 weeks earlier. Seems like the process could move pretty fast if all goes well. Still I would say it takes at least 30 days though after you file. 

That's amazing, 48 days. Do you mind telling me what documents you submitted to get the EAD expedited?

 I really can't use "financial harship" reason as I'm currently being paid by the school. I may use "financial loss" due to not taking the offer, what do you think?

[george8880 27]

35 minutes ago, hoangthaihuy said:

That's amazing, 48 days. Do you mind telling me what documents you submitted to get the EAD expedited?

 I really can't use "financial harship" reason as I'm currently being paid by the school. I may use "financial loss" due to not taking the offer, what do you think?

My specific situation is that my then-current employment is ending, and I have a pending job offer, and so I sent the following to USCIS:

1. Cover letter;
2. USCIS email response requesting for supporting evidence (required);
3. Pending job offer; and
4. Statement from current employer indicating termination of then-current employment

 

To my congresswoman's office and Ombudsman, I also included the below:

1. Completed biometrics appointment notice; and 
2. Wife's letter of termination (she was in between jobs when we applied, so our AOS package had her as unemployed, which may / may not have affected anything)

 

To your case, people have gotten approvals for their request to expedite based on just a pending job offer, but the odds are lower, and the timeline is likely not as quick. In fact, Ombudsman specifically mentions USCIS tells them a pending job offer is not enough. Enough people on this forum and elsewhere are successful this way though, so you should at least try. Keep in mind: since you have a paying job already, the financial loss is really the difference between the pending job salary and your current job salary. As a result, any argument for significant financial hardship and financial loss (e.g., low bank accounts, upcoming debt payments, etc.) will be tough, unless the new job pays like two times more.

 

A couple things you could do though in my opinion:

1. Write a persuasive cover letter, especially if the new job is a much better fit for your degree or your career goals; this should be secondary to stating "financial loss" though, because this is by itself not one of the USCIS expedite criteria. Doing so, you might get lucky and get a sympathizing USCIS officer to look past the "severe" in the "financial loss" criteria
2. You can try to explain your situation to your congressman / congresswoman or someone in their office. If you get them involved, the process is much, much faster. Note, though, that they cannot push USCIS on decisions (e.g., approve request to expedite, approve EAD, etc.), but they can get your case reviewed faster so you hear of a decision sooner

[JoAndLo 47]

On 7/9/2018 at 4:41 PM, Marcelina said:

To submit an expedite request to your EAD you have to call USCIS. You need your EAD case number and your biometrics need to be already completed.

That is all I need? 

[george8880 27]

1 hour ago, JoAndLo said:

That is all I need? 

Yes, assuming you have a reason to expedite. https://www.uscis.gov/forms/expedite-criteria

 

[Marcelina 246]

1 hour ago, JoAndLo said:

That is all I need? 

When they register your request they will ask you to provide additional documents by fax and then they will make a final decision about it.