Ridiculous waiting time for an EAD renewal - about to lose job

[NovaDC 270]

Wow you should have really got your Green Card by now. So sorry you have to go through all of this. Hope you'll get an interview notice soon. I got my EAD 7 months after we applied. We did not appy right away, we applied 2 months after we got married. We got married November of 2017. And i got my green card,2 months after I got my EAD. Wishing you all the best. 

[accumbyte 149]

2 hours ago, sam.e said:

This may be incorrect information, but have you looked into an Interim EAD? I've seen on multiple sites this info:

"Request an interim card. If the USCIS fails to make a decision on your EAD renewal within 90 days (or 30 days if you are an asylum applicant), you may request an interim EAD. This document can be granted for up to 240 days.

• You can request an interim card, in-person, at a local USCIS office.
• Make an appointment at your local office at http://www.uscis.gov/news/fact-sheets/your-guide-infopass.
• You must bring with you a document verifying your identity and the Receipt Notice showing that your application has been pending for more than 90 days"

I dont know if it is accurate, but couldn't hurt to try!

Info is outdated; https://www.sggimmigration.com/new-rules-regarding-employment-authorization-to-go-into-effect-january-17-2017/:

Quote

DHS stopped issuing interim employment authorization many years ago due to concerns about fraud and security. The new rule will officially eliminate the 90 day processing requirement and interim employment authorization documents.

 

[MongolianPanda 7]

16 hours ago, MajaMukanowska said:

Hi everyone,

 

I think I have the weirdest immigration timeline one could have. K-1 visa got approved pretty fast in May 2017.  Came to the US in June 2017. Got married in July. Applied for the Green Card and EAD/AP in July. Then EAD/AP combo card got approved within 88 days. Here's when the fun starts...

 

The combo card expired 10/16/18. I applied for the renewal in July 2018 - so in a nice timely manner. 246 DAYS AGO. Even with the 180 days automatic extension, I will still lose my job in 3 weeks.

 

Yes, I made an Infopass appointment. They can't rush EADs, but they put in a request for the Green Card interview expedition - since it's been almost 2 years that I'm waiting for it. Well, that's nice of them, but I still have no sign of it happening anytime soon.

Yes, I have a lawyer. Apparently the best immigration lawyer in Maryland. She said I'm really on top of my paperwork so there is noting she can do for me.

Yes, I called the landline and put in service request - 3 of them. I call every 30 days. Everytime someone promisses to take care of it, and NOTHING HAPPENS.

Yes, I have my congressman working on the case. So what. They told me they will get back to me once USCIS replies. They never did.

Yes, I sent letters from my employer stating he's gonna be terminating me SOLELY because of EAD expiring. And mine and my husbands testimonies of financial hardships we're gonna face. Had the congressman forward the same letters to USCIS, too.

 

I guess I'm gonna lose a job that I love, because of nothing.

 

Anyone there with a similar problem?

 

Thanks, guys

 

Maja

@MajaMukanowska  if you filed for AOS back in July 2017, why haven't you had your green card interview yet? It's going to be almost 2 years since you submitted AOS package and no green card interview?  Correct me if I'm wrong, but once you have a green card, you no longer need a work permit. no?

[Beth & Achraf 328]

3 hours ago, sam.e said:

This may be incorrect information, but have you looked into an Interim EAD? I've seen on multiple sites this info:

"Request an interim card. If the USCIS fails to make a decision on your EAD renewal within 90 days (or 30 days if you are an asylum applicant), you may request an interim EAD. This document can be granted for up to 240 days.

• You can request an interim card, in-person, at a local USCIS office.
• Make an appointment at your local office at http://www.uscis.gov/news/fact-sheets/your-guide-infopass.
• You must bring with you a document verifying your identity and the Receipt Notice showing that your application has been pending for more than 90 days"

I dont know if it is accurate, but couldn't hurt to try!

There is no more Info Pass appointments , you have to call Customer Service for one and its up to them if its truly needed.  My husband called 2 weeks ago, and they would not give him a Info Pass appointment.   Said the case was assigned to an officer Jan. 20th      I say bull on that one.

[MajaMukanowska 38]

13 minutes ago, MongolianPanda said:

@MajaMukanowska  if you filed for AOS back in July 2017, why haven't you had your green card interview yet? It's going to be almost 2 years since you submitted AOS package and no green card interview?  Correct me if I'm wrong, but once you have a green card, you no longer need a work permit. no?

 

Once you have a Green Card you don’t need a work permit.

 

Why haven’t I had a Green Card interview? That’s a great question! Could you please ask USCIS for me? I have a request for it to be expedited already in the system. Didn’t do much for me. 

[MajaMukanowska 38]

11 minutes ago, Beth & Achraf said:

There is no more Info Pass appointments , you have to call Customer Service for one and its up to them if its truly needed.  My husband called 2 weeks ago, and they would not give him a Info Pass appointment.   Said the case was assigned to an officer Jan. 20th      I say bull on that one.

I just had an Info

 

12 minutes ago, Beth & Achraf said:

There is no more Info Pass appointments , you have to call Customer Service for one and its up to them if its truly needed.  My husband called 2 weeks ago, and they would not give him a Info Pass appointment.   Said the case was assigned to an officer Jan. 20th      I say bull on that one.

Uhm. You’re wrong. There are InfoPass apoitments. Had one last week. You book them online, not through the phone.

 

[MajaMukanowska 38]

48 minutes ago, accumbyte said:

Info is outdated; https://www.sggimmigration.com/new-rules-regarding-employment-authorization-to-go-into-effect-january-17-2017/:

 

They are right. This is not a thing anymore. I already checked in so many different ways. 

[MajaMukanowska 38]

1 hour ago, adamj7 said:

Using the fee calculator https://www.uscis.gov/feecalculator and assuming you filed for the original EAD at the same time as AOS and you paid the correct fee, the renewal of the EAD should be free. There would be no charge for filing of for biometrics (do you have to redo this?)

They sent me a letter saying that I don’t. 

[MajaMukanowska 38]

13 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

Try leaning harder on the Congressman's office.

What do you mean? I call them on a regular basis. 

[TabeaK 517]

9 minutes ago, MajaMukanowska said:

I just had an Info

 

Uhm. You’re wrong. There are InfoPass apoitments. Had one last week. You book them online, not through the phone.

 

Depends on your field office. A lot of the busier once no longer allow online scheduling. You have to call.

 

As an aside to that, I am so sorry what you are going through. That is ridiculous. Lean on your representatives. ALL OF THEM. Call and/or email them repeatedly. Every day if necessary. Tweet them. Hound their facebook page. Go to their office if you are able to. Be the squeaky wheel. Reach out to the ombudsman. Repeatedly. It is insane you have to do this, but sometimes being VERY insistent is the only way forward.

Edited March 20, 2019 by TabeaK

[Beth & Achraf 328]

9 minutes ago, TabeaK said:

Depends on your field office. A lot of the busier once no longer allow online scheduling. You have to call.

 

As an aside to that, I am so sorry what you are going through. That is ridiculous. Lean on your representatives. ALL OF THEM. Call and/or email them repeatedly. Every day if necessary. Tweet them. Hound their facebook page. Be the squeaky wheel. Reach out to the ombudsman. Repeatedly. It is insane you have to do this, but sometimes being VERY insistent is the only way forward.

That is very interesting,   we are in the Houston field office district.    They don't allow Info Pass anymore.

[Beth & Achraf 328]

12 minutes ago, TabeaK said:

Depends on your field office. A lot of the busier once no longer allow online scheduling. You have to call.

 

As an aside to that, I am so sorry what you are going through. That is ridiculous. Lean on your representatives. ALL OF THEM. Call and/or email them repeatedly. Every day if necessary. Tweet them. Hound their facebook page. Be the squeaky wheel. Reach out to the ombudsman. Repeatedly. It is insane you have to do this, but sometimes being VERY insistent is the only way forward.

This is what the Houston field office shows for Info Pass.

Texas - Houston Field Office

 

This office is not accepting walk-in requests or scheduling InfoPass appointments.

You can get basic information about immigration services and ask questions about your case on our Tools page without visiting an office or calling us.

If you need help with document services (such as passport stamps and advance parole) or have an emergency, call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283.

Offices sometimes close because of bad weather or unexpected events. During bad weather, check this page or the main Office Closings page before traveling to make sure we are open.

[Ash.1101 1,756]

33 minutes ago, Beth & Achraf said:

This is what the Houston field office shows for Info Pass.

Texas - Houston Field Office

 

This office is not accepting walk-in requests or scheduling InfoPass appointments.

You can get basic information about immigration services and ask questions about your case on our Tools page without visiting an office or calling us.

If you need help with document services (such as passport stamps and advance parole) or have an emergency, call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283.

Offices sometimes close because of bad weather or unexpected events. During bad weather, check this page or the main Office Closings page before traveling to make sure we are open.

 

Ya it looks like if you want an info pass appointment and live in Texas you’ll have to drive to laredo

[Cathi 5,755]

Call one or both of your US Senators and ask to speak to their immigration liaison, don't bother with a congressperson. I contacted my US Senator's liaison when my husband's case was stuck at the NVC and he was on top of my husband's case immediately and got it moving again. 

[Ash.1101 1,756]

Along with contacting a senator instead of a congress person, I would try to haggle with your work. I'm sure they're truly working with you, but is there a way that you could take a Leave of Absence? Something that would take you off their books while you get this sorted out, but keep your job there? Leave W/O Pay.

I know that it would mean they would be down someone and they may be behind, but maybe they'd be willing to eat it.