Advice needed for AP/EAD

[Tycoon]

Early September (last month), I filed my I-485 along with EAD and AP application and did my FP on 10/25. Online status shows that my AP got approved on 10/16 (and USCIS sent a notice), but I have not received any notice so far. My EAD is still in initial review.

Have any of you seen such case where AP is approved two weeks back, but EAD is still pending and no notice/card is sent? I have to travel to India on 11/27 so not sure what are my options at this time....can you please advice?

[Tycoon]

Can anyone please respond if you have any suggestions…..

[suninphx]

Early September (last month), I filed my I-485 along with EAD and AP application and did my FP on 10/25. Online status shows that my AP got approved on 10/16 (and USCIS sent a notice), but I have not received any notice so far. My EAD is still in initial review.

Have any of you seen such case where AP is approved two weeks back, but EAD is still pending and no notice/card is sent? I have to travel to India on 11/27 so not sure what are my options at this time....can you please advice?

As EAD/AP is a combo card, I suspect that you will get that once your EAD is approved. If your case is outside processing time , try calling USCIS.

[Tycoon]

As EAD/AP is a combo card, I suspect that you will get that once your EAD is approved. If your case is outside processing time , try calling USCIS.

Thanks suninphx. As I have to leave in 27 days, I am really becoming anxious. What if I do not get combo card before my date of leaving? I cannot call USCIS because EAD is still within the processing time. But can I somehow just get the AP approval notice which I can use for re-entry? Or anything from local ASC?

[suninphx]

Thanks suninphx. As I have to leave in 27 days, I am really becoming anxious. What if I do not get combo card before my date of leaving? I cannot call USCIS because EAD is still within the processing time. But can I somehow just get the AP approval notice which I can use for re-entry? Or anything from local ASC?

I am not sure if we can use AP approval notice for re-entry. AFAIK- since its a combo card, we don't even get approval notice for AP. Lets wait and see if anyone else has some information on this.

[Kanmani]

Thanks suninphx. As I have to leave in 27 days, I am really becoming anxious. What if I do not get combo card before my date of leaving? I cannot call USCIS because EAD is still within the processing time. But can I somehow just get the AP approval notice which I can use for re-entry? Or anything from local ASC?

No. You cannot use the AP approval notice in the place of combo card.

Local ASC is of no use in this matter.

If you do not get the combo card at the time of your travel, you must get the visa stamping in the case of expired visa.

[Tycoon]

Thanks suninphx and Kanmani. I do not want to get into visa stamping process at this time. So I guess my only option is wait and watch!!

[dorais]

When I filed for renewal this year, I got a combo card. But for my spouse AP was approved initially and then EAD got approved 2 weeks later. So we received an AP approval document with her picture. After the EAD was approved, she got the EAD card (without the usual AP text saying that it was valid for re-entry). We had used the paper AP document to renter the country.

Before USCIS introduced the combo card, people used to get EAD card and AP approval document separately. If you can get the AP approval document (that has your picture) you could use that for reentry. Follow up with USCIS about the approval document.

Hope this helps.

[qesehmk]

Tycoon - what dorais says makes sense. If UCSIS can give you such document (I too have used paper AP in the past) then you can use that to reenter.


When I filed for renewal this year, I got a combo card. But for my spouse AP was approved initially and then EAD got approved 2 weeks later. So we received an AP approval document with her picture. After the EAD was approved, she got the EAD card (without the usual AP text saying that it was valid for re-entry). We had used the paper AP document to renter the country.

Before USCIS introduced the combo card, people used to get EAD card and AP approval document separately. If you can get the AP approval document (that has your picture) you could use that for reentry. Follow up with USCIS about the approval document.

Hope this helps.

[Tycoon]

Tycoon - what dorais says makes sense. If UCSIS can give you such document (I too have used paper AP in the past) then you can use that to reenter.

Q - Seems like while you were reply, an officer was also working on my EAD case :) My EAD case got approved and went into card production today morning. Now I can peacefully prepare for my trip.

On a related note, I spoke with my lawyer earlier today. He said that he will contact USCIS to get AP approval letter and suggested me to get in touch with Congressman's office also to get an inquiry placed for AP letter. He mentioned that we should be careful to request just the AP approval letter (as AP is approved as per the USCIS website) and do not talk about EAD because that is still within processing time. But glad that we did not have to do all that and EAD got approved.

Thanks suninphx, Kanmani, dorais and Q for your valuable advice!! I really appreciate that.

[qesehmk]

Well.... Happy Diwali !! Glad it worked out.
Q - Seems like while you were reply, an officer was also working on my EAD case :) My EAD case got approved and went into card production today morning. Now I can peacefully prepare for my trip.

On a related note, I spoke with my lawyer earlier today. He said that he will contact USCIS to get AP approval letter and suggested me to get in touch with Congressman's office also to get an inquiry placed for AP letter. He mentioned that we should be careful to request just the AP approval letter (as AP is approved as per the USCIS website) and do not talk about EAD because that is still within processing time. But glad that we did not have to do all that and EAD got approved.

Thanks suninphx, Kanmani, dorais and Q for your valuable advice!! I really appreciate that.

[suninphx]

Q - Seems like while you were reply, an officer was also working on my EAD case :) My EAD case got approved and went into card production today morning. Now I can peacefully prepare for my trip.

On a related note, I spoke with my lawyer earlier today. He said that he will contact USCIS to get AP approval letter and suggested me to get in touch with Congressman's office also to get an inquiry placed for AP letter. He mentioned that we should be careful to request just the AP approval letter (as AP is approved as per the USCIS website) and do not talk about EAD because that is still within processing time. But glad that we did not have to do all that and EAD got approved.

Thanks suninphx, Kanmani, dorais and Q for your valuable advice!! I really appreciate that.

Enjoy your India trip . Happy Diwali !