How early did you apply to renew your EAD/AP card?

[Loren Y 2,756]

I have been waiting on a AOS interview reschedule since early October, and since that doesn't seem to be happening anytime soon as it is December now, I decided since you can file for your EAD/AP card renewal up to 180 days before it expires according to current guidelines, I got the I131, and I765 all filled out and ready to mail today. My wife's current card doesn't expire until April 2020, but I thought better early than late. Has anyone else filed this early? I remember the guidelines used to be 90 days I thought, or that was just some wrong information I read long ago while researching the whole K1 process? Either way the envelopes are on the way to their separate mailing addresses and I guess we will see what happens. Since they were sent to separate addresses will she still get the combo card like before? I know the I485 package was separated in Chicago and send out to different places, so I am assuming the same thing will happen here. They will get processed at their respective places, and a new card will be issued. Will filing early change the dates on the new card? Lets say it gets processed in February will she get a new card issued from February 2020 thru February 2021, or will it have a start date in April when the current card expires thru April 2021? Not a big deal I hope as I would think we should have our AOS interview and green card in hand by April, but the way USCIS works I am not too sure that will happen, so I am covering my Butt. Just looking for some examples from anyone that has actually had to renew their EAD/AP card so I can get an idea of how this will play out. I know I will get a letter extending the current card for another year once they receive and process the mailings. Has anyone had any issues with their current employer accepting the letter as work authorization if no physical card showed up? My wife is working now, and will still be working I am sure when her current card expires. Best case scenario we get the Green Card before that happens, but if not 2nd best would be a new EAD/AP card good for another year, and the last option is to show the letter extending her work authorization. Thanks for taking the time to read my babbling post, and any input is appreciated. Thanks for all the help in advance.

[Highmystic 234]

1 hour ago, Loren Y said:

I have been waiting on a AOS interview reschedule since early October, and since that doesn't seem to be happening anytime soon as it is December now, I decided since you can file for your EAD/AP card renewal up to 180 days before it expires according to current guidelines, I got the I131, and I765 all filled out and ready to mail today. My wife's current card doesn't expire until April 2020, but I thought better early than late. Has anyone else filed this early? I remember the guidelines used to be 90 days I thought, or that was just some wrong information I read long ago while researching the whole K1 process? Either way the envelopes are on the way to their separate mailing addresses and I guess we will see what happens. Since they were sent to separate addresses will she still get the combo card like before? I know the I485 package was separated in Chicago and send out to different places, so I am assuming the same thing will happen here. They will get processed at their respective places, and a new card will be issued. Will filing early change the dates on the new card? Lets say it gets processed in February will she get a new card issued from February 2020 thru February 2021, or will it have a start date in April when the current card expires thru April 2021? Not a big deal I hope as I would think we should have our AOS interview and green card in hand by April, but the way USCIS works I am not too sure that will happen, so I am covering my Butt. Just looking for some examples from anyone that has actually had to renew their EAD/AP card so I can get an idea of how this will play out. I know I will get a letter extending the current card for another year once they receive and process the mailings. Has anyone had any issues with their current employer accepting the letter as work authorization if no physical card showed up? My wife is working now, and will still be working I am sure when her current card expires. Best case scenario we get the Green Card before that happens, but if not 2nd best would be a new EAD/AP card good for another year, and the last option is to show the letter extending her work authorization. Thanks for taking the time to read my babbling post, and any input is appreciated. Thanks for all the help in advance.

We sent in the wife's extension for her EAD at the 90 day mark, while waiting for an appointment for AOS,  We had he AOS about a month later from filing the extension.  Her GC arrived, and we just let the EAD go, figuring the GC would show as issued before they renewed the EAD.    We got an email that he EAD was mailed a  month later, but never received in the mail, so I assume they never sent it. Her GC was dated with the interview timing, and we never got the EAD so can't comment on the  extension date.

 

[SalishSea 17,970]

3 hours ago, Highmystic said:

We sent in the wife's extension for her EAD at the 90 day mark, while waiting for an appointment for AOS,  We had he AOS about a month later from filing the extension.  Her GC arrived, and we just let the EAD go, figuring the GC would show as issued before they renewed the EAD.    We got an email that he EAD was mailed a  month later, but never received in the mail, so I assume they never sent it. Her GC was dated with the interview timing, and we never got the EAD so can't comment on the  extension date.

 

We have now been waiting just over a year for my husband's AOS interview.  He received his combo card in March of this year.  He sent in the renewal paperwork about a month ago, and shortly after, received the NOA1/180 day automatic extension letter.

[Highmystic 234]

1 hour ago, Jorgedig said:

We have now been waiting just over a year for my husband's AOS interview.  He received his combo card in March of this year.  He sent in the renewal paperwork about a month ago, and shortly after, received the NOA1/180 day automatic extension letter.

We had a wait for interview for AOS   15 months.

[AoNang 7]

Bummer you have these issues Loren.  My wife is also on a K1 from Thailand..  Sent in paperwork for AOS in June, received EAD/AP card last week and then....surprise!!  received AOS green card interview for 13 January!!!  Somewhat taken aback by the rapid interview date so soon after the EAD/AP and total time only about 7 months instead of the nearly year long process we were expecting. We are going to get her Nevada Real ID renewed this week even though the Green Card interview is only a month later.  Will get another Nevada Real ID updated again after we have her Green Card...no big deal to pay the few dollars for a new ID, besides, my wife will need to learn how to drive and get a driver's license (yeah, a real driver's license, not a 3000 baht under the table driver's license, and a driver's license for a car, not a motorbike with no helmet)  soon thereafter.  

Our appointment is for 9am, so if it is decided that we need to use the translation service, it is within the 5pm time EST time window (of course, it will be lunch time in D.C. and they will all be on lunch break, LOL!!!). We will be practicing the AOS interview questions on this site, just as we did for the Embassy interview in February.  We find that practice, practice, practice is the way to go...boosts confidence, calms the soul.  Of course, we have been together for 7 years in January, so we have a pretty good idea of what makes the other person tick.  Maybe the length of our relationship has speeded up things in the eyes of USCIS, who knows, but we are treating this interview as newlyweds.

We are not planning on needing a translator.  Again, practice, practice, practice asking the same question in as many ways as I can devise so she is not thrown by simple question asked in a different way (when is your husband's birth date, your husband's date of birth, when was your husband born).

My wife has a job offer at one of the strip casinos but we are going to wait until after the interview to start work so we don't have to ask for time off. 

Hope you hear from USCIS soon on your rescheduled interview date.

Please keep everyone posted on any updates to your situation and we will do the same for all the Visa Journey members.

[AoNang 7]

Update:

We had our interview yesterday a 9am at the Las Vegas Office.  Easy!! Maybe 15 minutes total. Agents very nice, professional. Really appreciated the agent's kind demeanor and courtesy. 

 

First asked for our IDs and Passport and wife's EAD card. Agent made a copy of those and we followed her to her office where we were both sworn in.  We were together the whole time.

 

For some reason my wife's medical records from Bangkok were not in her file. Agent asked if we had a copy and we did.  The doctor had given us a copy of what he sent to the embassy prior to her Packet 4 interview. The agent made a copy for the files and said that was a great help since she would not have to wait to find out where the original file in the sealed envelope we surrendered at the POE went.

 

Nothing was asked about my wife's English language ability.  Agent stated she would ask my wife questions and if at any time the question/s were needed to be repeated, just ask her and she would be glad to. My wife asked her if it would be okay if she asked me to help as well if she didn't understand and the agent said that was fine. 

 

Agent asked if we had photos to show her and we handed over a booklet of about 40 photos with annotations on each one that covered out 7 year relationship from 2013 to 2020. The agent was going to make copies and we told her no, the booklet was prepared just for the interview and we had copies.  Agent appreciated that.  Agent thumbed through the booklet for about 20 seconds and put it in an envelope.  

 

The agent asked if we had things like utility bills or bank account statements showing both our names.  We had lots of stuff and the agent didn't want to see everything, just took four or five pages and said she didn't want anymore.  Didn't ask for marriage certificate or my birth certificate or I-864.  Agent did ask each of us how many times we had been married.  For my wife, only one for me this was my second.  Agent asked if I had copy of the Divorce Decree which I did and gave her a copy.  The copy went straight to the large folder which appeared to be  either the original of everything we had previously submitted or a copy of the digital files.  

 

Agent proceeded to go though the I485 asking my wife to confirm the contents. Agent read the last few pages with the Yes/No questions and asked my wife to answer each one. Had 2 clarifications, one with the  no middle name.  I had put NMI (no middle initial) and the agent changed that to NMN (no middle name) and a clarification on being refused a tourist visa in 2016.  No issues with either.

 

That was it!  Agent said she a couple of things to check but that my wife was approved.  Checked USCIS website this afternoon:

New Card Is Being Produced

On January 13, 2020, we ordered your new card for Receipt Number

 

 

That was it!  Hope everyone has the same great experience!

 

[jaysaldi 213]

On 1/14/2020 at 5:49 PM, AoNang said:

Update:

We had our interview yesterday a 9am at the Las Vegas Office.  Easy!!

 

Cogratulations! I am also going through the Las Vegas office and today got an email saying ready to be scheduled for interview. How long would you it expect it to take for them to send me notice of scheduling an interview, and then when might I expect the interview to be scheduled for? Thanks