Drivers License and Work Permit may expire before AOS interview. What is the processing time?

[Erik_and_Angela 9]

Hi all! Had a question I was hoping to get assistance for. My wife and I submitted our AOS and EAD paperwork last August. Of course, with COVID our AOS interview has been postponed until who knows when, but we had a question about my wife's EAD and license. We got them both this January and they are set to expire in January 2021. We are getting ready to submit the paperwork to renew them, but our immigration lawyer said we probably should have done that sooner. Does anyone know how long it could take to get those renewed? My wife really doesn't want to be stuck in the house doing nothing again for another several months.

[geowrian 22,338]

As long as you file for an extension of the EAD before it expires, you get a 180 day extension.

There is no fee for this renewal. Include a copy of the I-485's NOA1 in lieu of payment.

https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/information-for-employers-and-employees/automatic-employment-authorization-document-ead-extension

 

DL is a state issue...presumably you could provide them with the EAD renewal notice as documentation that it has been extended and they can use that. But it really is their call...states make their own DL requirements.

 

[Scandi 4,180]

Your lawyer isn't wrong, you can file for a renewal 180 days before the card expires, and considering it takes around 6 months to get it approved it's not a bad idea to actually file that early. 

 

Like Geo says, you do get an automatic extension of 180 days after the EAD expires if you filed your renewal before the card expired. So for work purposes it's not an issue in that regard. Expect issues with renewal of a DL though. You can try to print the page Geo posted that shows the automatic extension, and also bring the NOA1 as proof you actually filed for the renewal. 

[Ayrton 965]

2 hours ago, Scandi said:

Your lawyer isn't wrong, you can file for a renewal 180 days before the card expires, and considering it takes around 6 months to get it approved it's not a bad idea to actually file that early. 

 

Like Geo says, you do get an automatic extension of 180 days after the EAD expires if you filed your renewal before the card expired. So for work purposes it's not an issue in that regard. Expect issues with renewal of a DL though. You can try to print the page Geo posted that shows the automatic extension, and also bring the NOA1 as proof you actually filed for the renewal. 

Renewals with reused biometrics are taking 1-2 months to get approved.