Authorisation to Work

[Chez 0]

Dear VJ,

Thanks for your help and support at this time. I write to keep you all updated and also share my latest information. I came from the UK in September 2005 and got married in Oct. We filed for my authorisation to work in November. Six months on did not hear anything and was getting concerned so I called immigration who provided little or no information. Even basic information they did not know. Then I arranged an appointment through 'info pass' (go to the USCIS website). I went for my appointment on Friday at 7.30am.

If 90 days has passed and you have not heard from them you can arrange an appointment on line with your local office.

Now this is where it gets interesting. I took my biometic on 1st March 2006 (for adjustment and authorisation to work). I ask the officer why has it taken so long for me to receive authorisation to work. She said my authorisation has been available since Nov 28th and she cannot understand why I had not received it - she said that I should have called to get my biometric test done earlier. I said to her that your letter clearly states that you will contact me - she said the letter needs to be changed. I was so mad because of their lack of organisation I could have my details sooner. So the morale of this story is not wait on immigration for info - because their info is not always correct - but to ring up your local office and find out what is going on.

So to all of us out there - don't give up

[j&js 0]

I was wondering about that... Does anyone know, if you look online and see that your EAD is approved, can you start working or do you need to wait until they actually send it to you? I hear that every once in awhile, where someone was approved and never knew it because they screwed up!

[eau_xplain 2]

I was wondering about that... Does anyone know, if you look online and see that your EAD is approved, can you start working or do you need to wait until they actually send it to you? I hear that every once in awhile, where someone was approved and never knew it because they screwed up!

When you get hired, the employer usually asks for a copy of your SS card. If your SS card has the "work with USCIS authorization only" notation, then the employer is supposed to ask for such proof (either an EAD, GC or some other form of authorization).

So, technically, you are supposed to wait until you actually get your EAD before you can work as you will need to present it to your employer. An online status indicating an approved EAD is, unfortunately, not on the list of acceptable proof of authorization to work.