New Processing time for EAD papers at national benefits center!!

[geowrian 22,338]

7 hours ago, jeanieCZ said:

Don't you think it can have anything to do with the cuts USCIS made to avoid the furlough?

I don't think they have enough data to make that decision so quickly. USCIS moves super slowly normally.

The estimates on their website are based on existing data models. Something likely threw that off, like a batch of old cases being adjudicated at once (or being found....knowing how USCIS loses stuff).

 

I do think the cuts will impact cases in some ways. But I think it's too soon for it to be reflected on that website yet.

 

4 hours ago, marianabrasil said:

I think it is a political definition. Instead of the public charge, the USCIS will transform any family based AOS in a living hell process. Only family based AOS has changed! Employment based is going super fast, they are in 29 of March, 2020. Coincidence?  

You're misunderstanding what is posted there. Employment-based AOS can (and often does) use (c)(9) too.

Employment-based visa holders can typically work via their visa and don't need a separate EAD. If they do get an EAD due to doing AOS, they use (c)(9) as well, and fall under the same timeline.

 

"All other applications for employment authorization" refers to all the other types of categories like VAWA, asylum, DACA, OPT and certain other students, certain dependents of work-authorized visa holders, etc. Some of them have strict timelines for processing.

[marianabrasil 25]

43 minutes ago, geowrian said:

I don't think they have enough data to make that decision so quickly. USCIS moves super slowly normally.

The estimates on their website are based on existing data models. Something likely threw that off, like a batch of old cases being adjudicated at once (or being found....knowing how USCIS loses stuff).

 

I do think the cuts will impact cases in some ways. But I think it's too soon for it to be reflected on that website yet.

 

You're misunderstanding what is posted there. Employment-based AOS can (and often does) use (c)(9) too.

Employment-based visa holders can typically work via their visa and don't need a separate EAD. If they do get an EAD due to doing AOS, they use (c)(9) as well, and fall under the same timeline.

 

"All other applications for employment authorization" refers to all the other types of categories like VAWA, asylum, DACA, OPT and certain other students, certain dependents of work-authorized visa holders, etc. Some of them have strict timelines for processing.

Ok, thank you for correcting my misunderstanding! You are correct, checking again the website. 

 

[marianabrasil 25]

4 hours ago, geowrian said:

I don't think they have enough data to make that decision so quickly. USCIS moves super slowly normally.

The estimates on their website are based on existing data models. Something likely threw that off, like a batch of old cases being adjudicated at once (or being found....knowing how USCIS loses stuff).

 

I do think the cuts will impact cases in some ways. But I think it's too soon for it to be reflected on that website yet.

 

You're misunderstanding what is posted there. Employment-based AOS can (and often does) use (c)(9) too.

Employment-based visa holders can typically work via their visa and don't need a separate EAD. If they do get an EAD due to doing AOS, they use (c)(9) as well, and fall under the same timeline.

 

"All other applications for employment authorization" refers to all the other types of categories like VAWA, asylum, DACA, OPT and certain other students, certain dependents of work-authorized visa holders, etc. Some of them have strict timelines for processing.

I had another insight: maybe because EAD pending AOS is free, while other categories you have to pay, so they are not analyzing free forms while they have "payed" forms to work on?

Edited August 27, 2020 by marianabrasil

[geowrian 22,338]

2 hours ago, marianabrasil said:

I had another insight: maybe because EAD pending AOS is free, while other categories you have to pay, so they are not analyzing free forms while they have "payed" forms to work on?

There's no way to know if that is the case or not unless they announce it. But USCIS has no incentive to process paid forms before unpaid forms. They get the money upfront and have a no refund policy. So whether they handle paid cases first or unpaid cases equally with paid cases doesn't change the amount of workload or funding received (USCIS has no competitors to turn to ).

[RCable 75]

I read somewhere once on this board (while we were originally applying for CR1), that the date shown for "Receipt date for inquiry" is the oldest date of the applications they are working on. So if someone finds a really old case floating around and starts working on it, that changes the date in the processing times, which then changes the months. I don't know how accurate it is, but I know I read it a few times.

It makes sense though. There's no way USCIS is only processing EAD cases from 2017 right now. If that were the case, then there would be a ton of people on  this forum complaining that they still haven't received their EADS that they applied for in 2018. And there aren't. Most of those cases have been approved by now.

Also, my husband had his biometrics on Aug 12th and his EAD was approved on the 18th and printed on the 24th. He applied in late April 2020. So they are working on recent cases. 

Now, I'm sure there will be longer delays compared to before COVID-19, but I also don't believe it's 28.5 - 37 month wait. It will probably update to a new time frame next month. Fingers crossed anyway.

[Jessica and Tarik 4]

53 minutes ago, RCable said:

I read somewhere once on this board (while we were originally applying for CR1), that the date shown for "Receipt date for inquiry" is the oldest date of the applications they are working on. So if someone finds a really old case floating around and starts working on it, that changes the date in the processing times, which then changes the months. I don't know how accurate it is, but I know I read it a few times.

It makes sense though. There's no way USCIS is only processing EAD cases from 2017 right now. If that were the case, then there would be a ton of people on  this forum complaining that they still haven't received their EADS that they applied for in 2018. And there aren't. Most of those cases have been approved by now.

Also, my husband had his biometrics on Aug 12th and his EAD was approved on the 18th and printed on the 24th. He applied in late April 2020. So they are working on recent cases. 

Now, I'm sure there will be longer delays compared to before COVID-19, but I also don't believe it's 28.5 - 37 month wait. It will probably update to a new time frame next month. Fingers crossed anyway.

Thank you I appreciate your input congrats on you ead approval!!! 

[geowrian 22,338]

FYI, this is back to "normal" now (5.5-7.5 months).