Current EAD Processing Time 2020 – H4, L2, I-485 Green Card
USCIS EAD Processing Time
H4 EAD processing time 1 month at Vermont to 5 months at California service center.
i485 EAD processing time is 2 to 6 months at the National benefits center.
How long does it take for EAD to come? The answer is the processing time varies 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.
| VERMONT | Fastest Approved Case | Raise USCIS SR Date |
|---|---|---|
| approved, concurrently filed, i-821d ead | EAC20089***** Receipt: 10 Feb, 20 Approved in 3 month 16 days | 14 Oct, 19 Slowest case approval in 7 month 15 days |
| i-485 pending ead | EAC20059***** Receipt: 26 Dec, 19 Approved in 5 month 2 days | 28 Oct, 19 Slowest case approval in 7 month 1 days |
| tps for el salvador ead | EAC20089***** Receipt: 10 Feb, 20 Approved in 3 month 16 days | 14 Oct, 19 Slowest case approval in 7 month 15 days |
| h4-ead / l2-ead / j2 / others | EAC20039***** Receipt: 26 Nov, 19 Approved in 6 month 2 days | 14 Oct, 19 Slowest case approval in 7 month 15 days |
| NEBRASKA | Fastest Approved Case | Raise USCIS SR Date |
|---|---|---|
| based on an approved asylum application [(a)(5)] | LIN20100***** Receipt: 26 Feb, 20 Approved in 3 month | 28 Dec, 19 Slowest case approval in 5 month |
| pending asylum ead | LIN20121***** Receipt: 26 Mar, 20 Approved in 2 month 1 days | 11 Jan, 20 Slowest case approval in 4 month 16 days |
| i-485 pending ead | LIN20079***** Receipt: 27 Jan, 20 Approved in 4 month | 13 Nov, 19 Slowest case approval in 6 month 15 days |
| h4-ead / l2-ead / j2 / others | LIN20079***** Receipt: 27 Jan, 20 Approved in 4 month | 13 Nov, 19 Slowest case approval in 6 month 15 days |
| NATIONAL BENEFITS CENTER | Fastest Approved Case | Raise USCIS SR Date |
|---|---|---|
| i-485 pending ead | NBC20039***** Receipt: 26 Nov, 19 Approved in 6 month 2 days | 27 Sep, 19 Slowest case approval in 8 month 2 days |
| h4-ead / l2-ead / j2 / others | NBC19249***** Receipt: 26 Sep, 19 Approved in 8 month 3 days | 18 Jul, 19 Slowest case approval in 10 month 13 days |
| TEXAS | Fastest Approved Case | Raise USCIS SR Date |
|---|---|---|
| f-1 opt ead (pre-completion, post-completion, stem) - c(3) | TSC20079***** Receipt: 27 Jan, 20 Approved in 4 month | 28 Dec, 19 Slowest case approval in 5 month |
| pending asylum ead | TSC20079***** Receipt: 27 Jan, 20 Approved in 4 month | 02 Mar, 20 Slowest case approval in 2 month 25 days |
| i-485 pending ead | TSC20079***** Receipt: 27 Jan, 20 Approved in 4 month | 28 Dec, 19 Slowest case approval in 5 month |
| h4-ead / l2-ead / j2 / others | TSC20079***** Receipt: 27 Jan, 20 Approved in 4 month | 28 Dec, 19 Slowest case approval in 5 month |
| CALIFORNIA | Fastest Approved Case | Raise USCIS SR Date |
|---|---|---|
| i-485 pending ead | WAC20100***** Receipt: 26 Feb, 20 Approved in 3 month | 27 Dec, 19 Slowest case approval in 5 month 1 days |
| haiti extension | WAC20100***** Receipt: 26 Feb, 20 Approved in 3 month | 27 Dec, 19 Slowest case approval in 5 month 1 days |
| h4-ead / l2-ead / j2 / others | WAC20019***** Receipt: 28 Oct, 19 Approved in 7 month 1 days | 29 Aug, 19 Slowest case approval in 9 month 1 days |
| POTOMAC | Fastest Approved Case | Raise USCIS SR Date |
|---|---|---|
| f-1 opt ead (pre-completion, post-completion, stem) - c(3) | YSC20059***** Receipt: 26 Dec, 19 Approved in 5 month 2 days | 28 Dec, 19 Slowest case approval in 5 month |
| pending asylum ead | YSC20108***** Receipt: 09 Mar, 20 Approved in 2 month 18 days | 28 Feb, 20 Slowest case approval in 2 month 28 days |
| h4-ead / l2-ead / j2 / others | YSC20108***** Receipt: 09 Mar, 20 Approved in 2 month 18 days | 28 Dec, 19 Slowest case approval in 5 month |
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 the USCIS website.
You cannot start working until you have received your EAD card. Card is delivered by USPS regular mail in your mailbox.
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.
You should wait for at least 6 weeks for your SSN card to arrive.
If the SSN card is taking more time than 6 weeks, you can visit your local SSN office and apply for 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.
If not applied with EAD, you have to apply SSN separately after you receive your EAD card.
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.
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 a status update if your case is taking more than other cases and they call it ‘outside normal processing time’.
You can use the USCIS case status check website to check the status of your EAD application with your USCIS receipt number.
Psnbk
Hi Anil,
We filed for H1+H4+H4 EAD on 10/21/2019 in premium processing at vermont centre
H1 got approved on 10/27/2019
I-765 receive date 10/23/2019
Biometric on 11/13/2019
Its been 90 days that i don’t see any change in the case status
My current EAD expires on 01/23/2020
I am losing my job today
Do u have any idea as to how long is the processing times for Vermont centres .
And is there any option i can expedite this
Anil.Gupta
Hi @Psnbk
Please check current H4 EAD processing time here.
You can try filing EAD expedite request.
Uma_Lakshmanan
Hi Anil,
We submitted our H1B + H4 EAD renewal under premium processing on Jan 14th to USCIS California Service Center. Documents received by USCIS on Jan 15th. H1B receipt came on Jan 17th. Did not receive a receipt for H4 EAD yet. H1B got approved on Jan 29th.
H4 EAD - have not got the receipt yet, nor biometrics letter. I’m concerned. Any advice on this would be appreciated.
My H4 EAD expiry date is June 2020.
Thanks
Uma
Anil.Gupta
Hi @Srikanth_P
Check normal processing time here on USCIS website.
Vineet_Singh
Thanks Anil, My EAD is approved today, L2 is showing in process but may be it may also come in mail.
For others who are on same boat, My journey is
L2 COS+EAD ==> Applied alongwith L1A extension on 21st Oct 2019
EAD approved ==.> 25th Feb after 126 days