They say about 30 days, but my wife got the letter in 2 weeks. Once she has this letter, it was pretty easy for her to get that interim EAD. They generally dont listen to you...unless you follow their procedures.
Dear Readers,
My experience went really well perhaps due to changes in the immigration procedures meant to make some applications process faster so that one can go on with life while waiting to gain finally permanent residence status?
I applied for a permanent residence through marriage to a US citizen while in F-1 status. Please note that I applied after our two year anniversary so the conditional permanent resident status would not apply. Here is the time line for my application process:
I applied for an EAD in April 2004 along with an I-485 etc. The EAD was applied for through e-file.
I heard nothing for 90 days, then made an appointment with Tampa USCIS.
I arrived and was told that as I e-filed the EAD application before I received my I-485 notice of action (but after I sent the I-485 pack) that my EAD COULD be denied. I was told that they couldn't issue an interim EAD and that I'd need to apply again. She then laughed at me and I was asked to leave for no reason.
I am originally from Maryland and I met my husband when I was attending college in Houston, TX. After I completed college, I moved back up to Maryland to spend time with my family and I also got a very good opportunity to work, in Washington D.C. My husband and I decided to get Married in February 2002, and I decided to move back to Houston so we could start our lives together. By the time I could wrap things up in Maryland and finally move to Houston it was August 2002.
Hi,
I want to share my interim EAD experience. I went to the local office on July 6 in Arlington,VA.
Well, I arrived at INS @ 7:15AM. There were like 250 to 300 people before me. By the time I got my EAD card it was 4:30PM. There is only one person that was helping issues related to work permits. Part of the reason for the delay was they closed early on july 2.
Anyways, be prepared to take day off (for those who are already occupied during the day) when you plan to go for your interim EAD.
Had our EADs done in a day too.My wife had a job offer confirmed but did not have an EAD on the day she received her offer letter.Since we had passed the wait period to qualify for an interim EAD we went on a expedition to the BCIS office at 5am and were among the 20's in the line.Got it done in less than a hour and drove to the nearby office for Photo.Had to wait for the office to open the counters and were one among the first few to get it done.Everything was done by 10.30am and my wife got her job too
1. Got in line at 4:15AM. 8 people in front of me.
2. At 7:30AM, they started taking folks with appointments.
3. At 8:00AM, they started taking walk-ins.
4. After security check, sent to the 3rd floor.
5. Told that computers for the ticket system are down, only I90 applicants can be processed.
6. Started giving out numbers manually. Mine was E0002. I176 receipt was taken.
7. Was sent to the EAD section across the big room.
8. Asked to fill I765 application. I brought one from home.
Got the interim EAD issued on the same day . They encourage walk in from tuesday to friday between 8 to 11. Went to Arlington Office at 7AM , they opened at 7.30 and got my EAD around 12.30 PM.Documents needed were the receipt notice and the EAD renewal application form.
There is no need to get there early. Try to be there around 9 and they'll give you a ticket. If you are lucky, you'll have your picture taken after a small wait otherwise you'll have to wait for 4 to 6 hours before you get your card. The good news is you'll get without any problems with the exception of the long waiting time.
Went to the Local Office at 1.30 PM. Got the call after 2 hours and 30 minutes wait and they asked for the old EAD, New I 765 Form and the I485 Reciept. It took 15 min to finish the process of getting the iEAD. It was a good experience and the staff were quite helpful.