Summer surge of applications for July 2007 Visa Bulletin causes delays for EAD

Many persons have been reporting difficulties in obtaining information regarding their pending I-765 applications (EAD). Unfortunately, due to last years mayhem with the announcement of the July 2007 Visa Bulletin, many applicants are seeing long delays before they get their employment authorization cards.

Pursuant to 8 CFR § 274a.13, USCIS must adjudicate EAD applications within 90 days from the date of USCIS receipt of the application. This however has not been the case as the Nebraska Service Center is only reporting processing times current as of March 2008. That’s almost 6 months (180 days) delay outside of standard processing for these typed of petitions.

The CIS Ombudsman has been receiving numerous inquiries from customers about EAD applications pending more than 90 days. In order to address these concerns the Ombudsman has released the below information to help those in need of the EAD

Step 1- Call USCIS National Customer Service Center (NCSC) at 1-(800) 375-5283 and record the time/date of the call and the name/number of the customer service representative, Explain to the customer service representative that your EAD has been pending more than 90 days and ask for a “service request.” You should receive a response to your service request within a week. Ask the customer service representative to request an interim card for you. You should receive an EAD or response within a week.

Step 2- if you choose to visit a local USCIS office, schedule an INFOPASS appointment to visit that office

Step 3- If you have tried both Step 1 and Step 2 and have still not received your EAD or an interim card, please include the date and time of your call to the NCSC and the name of the customer service representative.