Current EAD Processing Time 2019 – H4, L2, I-485 Green Card
Updated 22 Oct, 19USCIS EAD Processing Time
H4 EAD processing time 1 month at Vermont to 5 month at California service center.
i485 EAD processing time is 2 to 6 month at National benefits center.
How long does it take for EAD to come? The answer is the processing time vary for EAD applications filed on form i-765 for different types of employment authorizations.
The most recent EAD approval found using data from user driven online forums are merged with USCIS official data to give you a reliable average EAD processing time.
| CALIFORNIA | Fastest Approved Case | Raise USCIS SR Date |
|---|---|---|
| I-485 pending EAD | WAC19234***** Receipt: 05 Sep, 19 Approved in 1 month 17 days | 26 May, 19 Slowest case approval in 4 month 29 days |
| Haiti extension | WAC19235***** Receipt: 06 Sep, 19 Approved in 1 month 16 days | 26 May, 19 Slowest case approval in 4 month 29 days |
| H4-EAD / L2-EAD / J2 / Others | WAC19213***** Receipt: 06 Aug, 19 Approved in 2 month 17 days | 10 May, 19 Slowest case approval in 5 month 15 days |
| VERMONT | Fastest Approved Case | Raise USCIS SR Date |
|---|---|---|
| Approved, concurrently filed, I-821D EAD | EAC19005***** Receipt: 05 Oct, 18 Approved in 1 year | 24 May, 18 Slowest case approval in 1 year 5 month |
| I-485 pending EAD | EAC19214***** Receipt: 07 Aug, 19 Approved in 2 month 16 days | 21 Apr, 19 Slowest case approval in 6 month 4 days |
| TPS for El Salvador EAD | EAC19024***** Receipt: 03 Nov, 18 Approved in 11 month 23 days | 24 May, 18 Slowest case approval in 1 year 5 month |
| H4-EAD / L2-EAD / J2 / Others | EAC19214***** Receipt: 07 Aug, 19 Approved in 2 month 16 days | 19 May, 19 Slowest case approval in 5 month 6 days |
| TEXAS | Fastest Approved Case | Raise USCIS SR Date |
|---|---|---|
| Pending Asylum EAD | 19235***** Receipt: 06 Sep, 19 Approved in 1 month 16 days | 03 Aug, 19 Slowest case approval in 2 month 20 days |
| I-485 pending EAD | 19233***** Receipt: 04 Sep, 19 Approved in 1 month 18 days | 26 May, 19 Slowest case approval in 4 month 29 days |
| H4-EAD / L2-EAD / J2 / Others | 19232***** Receipt: 03 Sep, 19 Approved in 1 month 19 days | 26 May, 19 Slowest case approval in 4 month 29 days |
| NEBRASKA | Fastest Approved Case | Raise USCIS SR Date |
|---|---|---|
| Based on an approved asylum application [(a)(5)] | LIN19214***** Receipt: 07 Aug, 19 Approved in 2 month 16 days | 11 May, 19 Slowest case approval in 5 month 14 days |
| Pending Asylum EAD | LIN19213***** Receipt: 06 Aug, 19 Approved in 2 month 17 days | 11 May, 19 Slowest case approval in 5 month 14 days |
| I-485 pending EAD | LIN19212***** Receipt: 05 Aug, 19 Approved in 2 month 18 days | 11 May, 19 Slowest case approval in 5 month 14 days |
| H4-EAD / L2-EAD / J2 / Others | LIN19212***** Receipt: 05 Aug, 19 Approved in 2 month 18 days | 11 May, 19 Slowest case approval in 5 month 14 days |
| POTOMAC | Fastest Approved Case | Raise USCIS SR Date |
|---|---|---|
| F-1 OPT EAD (Pre-Completion, Post-completion, STEM) - C(3) | YSC19245***** Receipt: 20 Sep, 19 Approved in 1 month 2 days | 26 May, 19 Slowest case approval in 4 month 29 days |
| Pending Asylum EAD | YSC19245***** Receipt: 20 Sep, 19 Approved in 1 month 2 days | 10 Jun, 19 Slowest case approval in 4 month 14 days |
| H4-EAD / L2-EAD / J2 / Others | YSC19245***** Receipt: 20 Sep, 19 Approved in 1 month 2 days | 26 May, 19 Slowest case approval in 4 month 29 days |
| NATIONAL BENEFITS | Fastest Approved Case | Raise USCIS SR Date |
|---|---|---|
| I-485 pending EAD | 19212***** Receipt: 05 Aug, 19 Approved in 2 month 18 days | 12 Apr, 19 Slowest case approval in 6 month 13 days |
| H4-EAD / L2-EAD / J2 / Others | 19149***** Receipt: 06 May, 19 Approved in 5 month 19 days | 07 Feb, 19 Slowest case approval in 8 month 17 days |
Raise USCIS Case Service Request
If your ‘case received date’ is before the date mentioned above, you should raise a service request with USCIS to check why your case has been delayed. This could mean that your case is taking longer than other similar cases and may be stuck in administrative processing.
USCIS allows you to ask for status update if your case is taking more than other cases and they call it ‘outside normal processing time’.
You can use USCIS case status check website to check the status of your EAD application with your USCIS receipt number.
EAD Card Delivery Time
You can expect your EAD card within 5-7 days once the status of your EAD application shows as ‘Card sent for printing’.
Your EAD is approved if your application status shows as new Card is Being Produced Meaning on USCIS website.
You cannot start working until you have received your EAD card. Card is delivered by USPS regular mail in your mailbox.
Make sure that you write your apartment number on i765 form correctly to avoid delivery issues later.
SSN Card Time After EAD Approval
The SSN card takes 4 to 6 weeks to arrive after your EAD approval. You should have selected the SSN option on form I765 for automatic SSN application.
If not applied with EAD, you have to apply SSN separately after you receive your EAD card.
If SSN card is taking more time than 6 weeks, you can visit your local SSN office and apply a new SSD card yourself.
SSN office will be able to see if there is any existing pending application for you before applying a new one.
SSN is required to start working and get paid legally. Your ITIN may or may not be accepted by the employer.
Automatic EAD 180 Day Extension
USCIS has officially allowed many EADs categories to keep working if their current one expires and their extension application is pending.
You can apply for EAD extension 180 days before its expiry.
Example:
- If you have i485 pending EAD, you are eligible for automatic 180 day extension. You can also apply for interim EAD until you get the EAD renewed card in your local USCIS office.
- H4 EAD including L2 EAD are not eligible to work if their current card expires. Please be careful as the form i765 has generic instructions for automatic extension which does not apply to category C(26).
EAD Processing Time Dallas or Phoenix
There are no USCIS service centers named Dallas or Phoenix. You just send your applications to lock-boxes (mail box) located in Dallas and Phoenix.
After that, USCIS routes your EAD application to actual service center. Check your receipt number to find which service is processing your application.
EAD Processing Time after RFE
It usually takes 60-90 days to process and approve EAD application after you have submitted RFE response to USCIS. The count starts from day USCIS receives your RFE response.
Make sure your primary visa like H1B (or L) has at-least 6 months of validity before applying for dependent H4 EAD to avoid a certain RFE.
EAD USA
Priyanka
Hi Anil,
My RD- 01/29/2019.
Married to US citizen.
Center-NBC.
When do I expect my EAD card?
Appreciate your help and work.
Thanks.
Anil.Gupta
Hi @sandya
We have not seen any H4 EAD approval after biometrics from Nebraska service center at this time.
Hence, I do not have an estimate to share with you.
sapyard
@Anil.Gupta - Last two times I send for EAD applications I used to get email updates as well. And EAD got approved exactly within 90 days. I had sent separate form with email id. Strangely, this time I did not get any email updates… Just received one receipt number over postal mail.
Anything changed now?
Raju.
sai1
Hi @Anil.Gupta
i am on my H4 visa status, but my spouse i140 was filed in premium processing, receipt number was received on july 8th. So now the employer is planning to file for H1b extension, he has valid visa till feb 2020. so my question is can i apply for H4 ead with approved H4 visa or its better to apply along with my extension. I came to know the processing time for H4-EAD is 2-5 months. kindly let me know your thoughts on this.
BoomJosh
@Anil.Gupta
Here you go, this works in chrome. In the given script change [colon] in url to :
Install the “Web Scraper” Chrome addin
{"_id":“t20”,“startUrl”:[“https[colon]//egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/mycasestatus.do?
appReceiptNum=MSC199020[1900-1999]”],“selectors”:[{“id”:“start”,“type”:“SelectorText”,“parentSelectors”:["_root"],“selector”:“h1”,“multiple”:false,“regex”:"",“delay”:0},{“id”:“te2”,“type”:“SelectorText”,“parentSelectors”:["_root"],“selector”:".rows p",“multiple”:false,“regex”:"",“delay”:0}]}
Modify the case number range for range of interest to you.