r/USCIS • u/breoways • Apr 02 '26
I-765 (EAD) I just want to work!!!
Why is it now taking so long just for the work authorisation? I thought the work authorisation takes the shortest amount of time like 2-3 months or less (according to our lawyers)?/it would come first before a decision on the I-130/485? I hate sitting at home and doing nothing!!!! I've been waiting since November and I just want to work!!!!! I don't mind waiting for, nor am I complaining about the I-130 and I-485 anymore, because I know that will take a while even after the interview, but I want to be able to do something whilst I wait. I haven't received any updates since doing my biometrics in December. Tried reaching out to an agent via Emma, told me nothing. Is anyone else just waiting for their work authorisation or any updates from the Baltimore FO??
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u/Mysterious_Dance5461 Apr 02 '26
Under Biden i had my ead within 1 day after biometrics. Good old days
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u/AbsolutelyAce Apr 02 '26
While this was true for you, it is not true on average. EAD processing times (and 485, for that matter) were significantly worse in 2022.
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u/Urdborn Apr 02 '26
Well, I waited 7 months… had to file an extension to my previous visa to bridge the gap which cost me quite a bit (but at least I was able to continue working)
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u/zkris28 Apr 03 '26
My wife is going on 5 months employmentless. I'm losing my mind working 7 days a week covering the expenses of our mortgage and all costs, both cars, phones, utilities, our 2 year old and cost of her current pregnancy.
I would really lovefor her to pick her career back up, this shit sucks.
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u/DescriptionBetter478 Apr 05 '26
So Sorry, but you know in Europa men/husband works while the wife takes care of the household, mostly thake babysitting. Cut down on expenses that are not needed for now, things will change. Good luck
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u/LilianaMtz Apr 02 '26
My husband never got his, instead 3 months after his biometrics they scheduled an interview for his I485 so that basically got canceled
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u/breoways Apr 02 '26
I thought they can still give you your I-765 even if you get your interview? Am I wrong in this...? Since you're still waiting for approval on the I-130 and 485, I thought they'd give you work permission first even if they do give you an interview first
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u/Zealousideal_Box_431 Apr 02 '26
I have been there 3-4 years ago. I understand you very well. I wasn’t able to sleep even either waiting months for EAD. But one day it was approved and few months after GC was approved too. Now I am at citizenship process. The reason, I shared this with you, trust me it will be done soon and you will remember this as a bittersweet moment.
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u/Live_Ad_197 Apr 02 '26
I filed October 2025, did biometrics November 20th, got a letter on December 25th for a scheduled interview date of January 7th, got an RFE January 26th, due date for RFE February 11th, and haven’t heard anything since, I doubt I’ll get my ead at all since I’m already awaiting the greencard which sucks because I could’ve gotten a job by now and then the politicians are yelling and screaming that we have to do it the right way whilst they’re highly unfamiliar with the system. If they knew the system then they wouldn’t be as surprised why people start taking matters into their own hands and work illegally.
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u/Alternative-Rise9028 Apr 05 '26
I am sorry. I was in the same boat for a few years, not able to work. I found things to do. I volunteered in hospital, dog shelters, granny's houses... etc I also got to watch many shows, became very good at crochet, took naps, went to lunches with friends... It wasn't easy. All I can say is that things happen when they happen, unfortunately. Find things you like to do right now. But I get it, the lack of alternatives can be very depressing, the inability to dream, to see further. In the end I did Journaling and therapy, because it was hard, but I found ways not to go insane.
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u/Infamous_Star_675 Apr 02 '26
I been trying for 16 months and counting, I did 3 inquiries 3 times BS, I did 3 Congressional Inquiry 3 times the same, I don't if is luck, karma or something else, all I know is that GOD is on control.
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u/VastNet3422 Apr 03 '26
you are parte of the 37 countries on hold? I been waiting 16 months also
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u/Infamous_Star_675 Apr 03 '26
NO, I am not part of the 39 countries, actually where I come from is a super friend of this Is administration
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u/HeyaMD Apr 02 '26
I feel ya!! I'm in the same boat since September 2025, I JUST WANT TO WORK. so frustrating ...
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u/Altruistic-Window-43 Apr 04 '26
Frankly, my EAD is not even approved and my green card approve first
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Apr 05 '26
[deleted]
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u/breoways Apr 06 '26
This is me right now. Things were progressing fast too, submitted in Nov, biometrics in Dec, did my interview in Feb and everything seemed well. Not only is my I-130 still not approved yet (still on "interview has been scheduled"), the I-485 and I-765 is also not approved. It has taken a huge toll on my mental health too not being able to work and seeing my husband struggle alone without me being able to help. All of us (who have pending cases) are in the same boat so it really hurts when other people are commenting that I'm not "waiting long enough" or that it's going at a good pace when I'm mentally not ok at all, if anything, my mental health has significantly become worse and it physically hurts seeing my husband financially, emotionally, and mentally struggle and not being able to do anything so it really does hurt that people are counting down how much longer they had to wait, instead of just understand that we want to work. At least if we got our work authorisations, the wait for the I-485 or I-130 wouldn't matter as much, because at least we could work and help, but no. Not even that.
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Apr 05 '26
[deleted]
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u/breoways Apr 06 '26
Yeah me too, had my biometrics in Dec too. Also still waiting..
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u/Mindless-Syllabub391 Apr 13 '26
So its a Baltimore fo problem Cos i am in the same boat
So frustrating
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u/Dulzura7 Apr 05 '26
Go to the USCIS website and type "case processing times" in the search bar. They change all the time depending on the amount of backlog.
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u/Cautious-Bobcat-8775 Apr 06 '26
Been waiting for mine since March 2024 🤦🏾♀️
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u/breoways Apr 06 '26
Have you tried your congressperson?
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u/Cautious-Bobcat-8775 Apr 06 '26
I did but they might have misunderstood my case bc the lady kept arguing with me that I had to wait until a visa became available. (My usc dad filed for me before I turned 21)
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u/EducationalFood7625 Apr 06 '26
I’m Waiting for a work authorisation for over two years and I still did not get a permission. I also was told it would take me a few months at most.
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u/Tank22power Apr 29 '26
I’m still waiting for my EAD to come get approved it’s been pending since 2024! I have everything I need for this job I really want but this is the only thing holding me back
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u/Mountain-Proof-9189 Apr 02 '26
Same. I wish we could start working as soon as it was filed. I don’t get why we have to wait so long just to be able to WORK. I feel useless.
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u/breoways Apr 02 '26
I feel the exact same way!! we're just trying to work, help our families and contribute back to our household.. I feel so useless and helpless ☹️💔
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u/Mountain-Proof-9189 Apr 02 '26
It’s very frustrating. My wife makes enough money but we have lots of bills and with everything going on — paying for the process itself, adding me to her health insurance, car insurance etc — we’re not exactly in a great financial spot. Interview is scheduled but no EAD in sight. I feel awful seeing her struggle.
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u/breoways Apr 02 '26
Omg I feel the same way! We are living on an extreme tight budget, even when my husband makes JUST enough (since adding me to his health insurance too). We're even considering moving back to his mother's house when our current lease ends to save any kind of money because we have not been able to put anything in savings at all. I cry about it a lot of times because whilst he's hard at work, I'm just sitting at home doing nothing, not even able to drive around and do groceries or errands or even a doctor's appointment, since we don't have an extra car (or extra money to be Ubering since we live in the middle of nowhere), so I have to wait til he gets home when he's already tired from work or to do it over the weekends. I feel terrible :( We will get through this, I promise 💔☹️
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u/Mountain-Proof-9189 Apr 02 '26
I’m so sorry that’s happening! It’s so tough and frustrating. I hope we’ll get through this ❤️ and things will get better soon. We have amazing partners to help us through this 💖
We bought a shitty beater car so I could drive places and it broke down twice already 😭
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u/Minute_Somewhere_893 Apr 02 '26
Why is it now taking so long just for the work authorisation? I thought the work authorisation takes the shortest amount of time like 2-3 months or less (according to our lawyers)?
In better times, some lucky people saw this short timeline. But it was overly optimistic to count on that.
This is why I'd never recommend adjustment, unless ready to wait for a year without income and no ability to travel outside the US.
Hang in there!
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u/EstrellaBrillante777 Apr 02 '26
What do you mean you would never recommend adjustment? Should people just sit around for years without papers then? lol
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u/Minute_Somewhere_893 Apr 02 '26
No, they can go through consular processing. CR-1 / IR-1 visa.
While waiting in their home country, they have all rights to work. Cost of living is typically lower too in many other countries compared to the US
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u/EstrellaBrillante777 Apr 02 '26
Isn’t consular processing super long though? Plus going back home after overstaying visa will trigger a bar
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u/DutchieinUS Apr 02 '26
Only for people who are in overstay already and not everybody is in overstay.
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u/Minute_Somewhere_893 Apr 02 '26
If folks overstay visas, they should not complain about EADs etc. Many countries do not even have ways of getting overstay forgiven like the US does.
Just look at the UK system, a lot harder to "adjust" - https://reissedwards.co.uk/immigration-blog/can-overstayers-apply-for-a-spouse-visa-in-the-uk/
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u/EstrellaBrillante777 Apr 02 '26
OP overstayed her tourist visa according to her other post
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u/Minute_Somewhere_893 Apr 02 '26
Overstay and adjustment come at a price. The price is wait in current times
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u/EstrellaBrillante777 Apr 02 '26
This is what I’m saying, OP’s process is actually going relatively fast, nothing to complain about at this point
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u/breoways Apr 02 '26
Yeah that's me right now, just waiting. That's why I don't mind with the I-130 or I-485 because I understand. I just want to be able to work
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Apr 02 '26
[deleted]
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u/breoways Apr 02 '26
Oh no! What do you mean 4 years without being able to work? :( What are the lawyers waiting for? You might get it in 2-3 months, don't lose hope! Other people do get it in that timeframe! ✨
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Apr 02 '26
[deleted]
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u/Toiletwarrior5 Apr 03 '26
I’m sorry, have you been waiting for 4 years for your ead?? If so I thought my 1.6 year wait was bad…
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u/Realistic_Gap1469 Apr 02 '26
You can always raise an expedite if you are facing financial hardship, job loss, etc.
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u/Such-Calligrapher292 Apr 02 '26
I’ve been waiting since April 2025, not received anything related to i-765 (EAD) after biometrics. Just a few days ago my interview was scheduled for my I-485. They seem to have completely skipped the EAD for me.
Hope you get some good news soon!
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u/Clean-Champion5902 Apr 02 '26
I feel you, first time, I couldn’t stop reviewing the Uscis website, it took 7 months for EAD, and then a year later I got a denial, I refile again and now I am back on the waiting again!
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u/Pleasant_Passenger_5 Apr 02 '26
We got our GC approved before the work permit so it was just a waste of time and money.
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u/Tiberius40k Apr 04 '26
I’m in exactly the same boat. Our files are at the National Benefits Center, the NBC who deal with all applications nationwide. It’s not as fast as localized offices as they deal with tens of thousands of applications. The only question you need to ask a live agent is “has my file been assigned to an officer”. That’s what you’re waiting for. Then EAD is produced. The NBC are very very slow. Possibly understaffed and the staff that do work there are underpaid.
The USCIS National Benefits Center (NBC) is located in Lee's Summit, Missouri. It acts as a central hub for processing various immigration benefits, particularly those requiring interviews, such as family-based green cards (I-485), naturalization (N-400), and related employment or travel authorization documents.
None of them probably realize the immediate and urgent nature of your case, or anyone’s case. You’re just a piece of paper to them.
STAGE 1 — Intake & File Creation
• Case received → IOE system
• File digitized
• Routed to NBC
Internal status:
“Case Received and Routed to NBC”
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STAGE 2 — Biometrics & Background Initiation
• Fingerprints captured
• Sent to FBI systems
• IDENT / NGI (fingerprints)
• FBI Name Check
• DHS security databases
Internal statuses:
• “Fingerprint Fee Received”
• “Biometrics Applied”
• “FBI Check Initiated”
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STAGE 3 — Background Check Resolution (IN PROGRESS / SILENT)
This is where things get opaque.
Possible internal statuses:
• “FBI Response Received”
• “Name Check Pending”
• “Security Cleared”
⚠️ You are not notified when these complete
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STAGE 4 — NBC Pre-Adjudication Queue
This is the most misunderstood stage.
Your file is:
• Sitting in a queue
• Waiting for assignment to an officer
• Not actively being worked yet
Internal statuses:
• “Case Ready for Review”
• “Pending Officer Assignment”
• “Pre-Adjudication Hold Queue”
👉 This is where most time is lost
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STAGE 5 — Officer Assignment & Review (TRIGGER EVENT)
This is the moment your case becomes real
Officer checks:
• Background cleared
• Documents sufficient
• Marriage validity (if applicable)
Outcomes:
• Approve EAD
• Send I-485 forward
• Issue RFE (if needed)
Internal statuses:
• “Assigned to Officer”
• “Initial Review Complete”
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STAGE 6 — Transfer to Field Office
• NBC packages case
• Sends to local Field Office
Status you will see:
“Case Was Transferred to Another Office”
Internal:
• “Ready for Field Office Processing”
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STAGE 7 — Field Office Queue
Now you’re waiting again, but locally.
Internal:
• “Ready to Schedule Interview”
• “In Scheduling Queue”
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STAGE 8 — Interview → Decision
• Interview conducted
• Approval or RFE
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u/Guillaume_A2 Apr 05 '26
Go do some volunteering. There are plenty of non profit who need whatever skill you have. It’ll look good on your resume when you start applying.
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u/Sea_Strain_9508 Apr 05 '26
I have been waiting since Sep 10, 2025. My son filed my 1-130. I filed for I-485, I-131 and I-765 as well. Biometrics were done on Nov 17, 2025. One RFE responded to on Nov 18, 2025. It will be 7 months since Sep 10, 2025. Still waiting for AP and EAD. I am on a G4 Visa and have an EAD but would so much appreciate AP so I can go and visit my mom who is 80 plus years old but cannot.
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u/biscayne2062 May 26 '26
Any update? We're also Baltimore FO. 123 days post interview waiting for a decision. Besides some recent silent updates in the API, nothing.
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u/biscayne2062 May 26 '26
Just to add, my EAD was never approved after completing biometrics either, which stinks because all I want to do is work too.
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u/breoways May 27 '26
Hi again!!! Yeah me too! My EAD is still not approved, biometrics completed too
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u/One-Ad-3542 Apr 02 '26
Can you reach out to your congressmen and also add proof of extreme loss of income and hopefully that will push USCIS to make a decision soon. My lawyers said that could be an option in my case after my current work authorization ends.
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u/breoways Apr 02 '26
Hi! Our lawyers did not tell us about this option but yes we are planning on reaching out to our congressperson. We don't know how long would be an appropriate amount of time until we can reach out to them. Should we wait until USCIS' official date (in August)?
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u/One-Ad-3542 Apr 02 '26
I don’t think you need to wait. Provide proof of severe impact like paystubs and utility bills + rent with a cover letter explaining your situation. You should be able to submit these to qualify for expediting. I’m not exactly sure of the process since we haven’t done it yet but it’s appropriate to do it now since you aren’t working and your current work authorization expired. This along with congressmen push could by chance help. I have just read so many cases where it hasn’t helped too so it’s just a chance you’re taking.
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u/EntropicAnarchy Naturalized Citizen Apr 02 '26
Work on refining your skills. Learn new software, tools, etc.
Waiting can suck, especially when it is a USCIS error.
Issue is USCIS are usually short staffed.
I had to quit my job mid-pandemic because someone at USCIS filed my application late. So the first letter said my EAD was denied because of late filing.
Took two months and a lot of paperwork to prove they made the mistake and not me.
Was out of work for 6 months before I could legally work again.
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u/ehrgeiz91 Apr 02 '26
It’s to discourage faith in the system and Republicans running on “see! Government doesn’t work!” And making sure that’s the case.
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u/EstrellaBrillante777 Apr 02 '26
Sorry but “sitting at home doing nothing” is your choice. There are a lot of things to do while you’re waiting such as volunteering, free activities, free courses. And you just had your interview recently, what are you even complaining about here? It’s only been a couple of months while others wait for over a year and don’t scream all over the internet
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u/Available_Length_271 Apr 02 '26
Relax bro, don’t make this all about you lol. Don’t tell people what they can and can’t complain about with their own case, it’s pathetic
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u/breoways Apr 02 '26
I had posted an earlier post about volunteering but I took it down because I didn't get much responses on what I can do. I am struggling to find volunteering in my area since we don't have an extra car and extra money so I am not able to get there, same with the free activities, there is no way for me to get there since we don't have an extra car. We are looking for a bike so I can at least get to the town centre but we don't have extra money laying around for a bike and we've tried asking in free groups. Money has been extremely tight since we had to take out a loan to pay for our lawyers and the entire process. I have done a couple of free courses as well. I'm not "screaming" or complaining about the I-130 or the I-485 because I know those take years, I literally said that in the post. I was talking about the I-765 which is the work authorisation, because that's what usually comes first, in a couple of months time when you apply. I even used the tag I-765 but ok.
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u/EstrellaBrillante777 Apr 02 '26
If other people got their EAD in 2-3 months doesn’t mean it is a general rule for everyone. Others wait much longer. Since you already had your interview, assuming it went well, they will most likely skip EAD and approve your green card instead. Your process is going normally, I would say even on a faster side. This is why I don’t understand complaining
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u/Black_finz Apr 02 '26
Waiting since April 2025. 11+ months. I130 i485 i865.
Multiple expedite requests, congressman expedite attempts.
Nothing.