hi all - a quickie question...

i have been in the US for a little over a year and everything is going well. all my paperwork is in order and i'm working full time. my question is, i have both a Permanent Residence Card and an Employment Authorization card. The employment card expires in November and I'm not clear on whether I need to renew it or not, seeing as I am a Permanent Resident?

Thanks
-KJ

Your greencard is all you need to work and travel..... you do not need a EAD.... Frame it and hang it on the wall as a memento....

Kezzie

-KJ,

I'm surprised they didn't take the EAD away from you at your AOS interview - or were you approved without interview, or after your interview ?

Yodrak

I was told I was approved at the interview (I didnt get a stamp in my passport though). Neither my EAD, AP or I-94 were taken from me. I found it confusing, but I wasnt about to tell the Officer, hey do you want these?? What if they forgot to approve me later??

What I am trying to say is, that apparently they dont take those from everyone.

Yodrak,

I got everything in the mail at once: my Permanent Resident Card, my work authorization card, and my travel authorization (advance parole). I was extremely fortunate that my case was processed at lightning speed (relatively) with basically zero problems. I did not have to surrender anything at my interview, as that took place before I received all of those cards.

-KJ

I recommend the following reads to anyone who is already or is becoming a Permanent Resident, so you can better understand your rights and responsibilities.

Now That You Are A Permanent Resident
http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/PermRes.htm

How Do I Remove the Conditions on Permanent Residence Based on Marriage?
http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/remcond.htm

Welcome to the United States:
A Guide for New Immigrants
http://uscis.gov/graphics/citizenship/imm_guide.htm

You'll find there that now that you are a PR, you do not need the EAD or Advance Parole. Your Green Card trumps all.
Your case was just a little weird in that everything came at once; normally the EAD and AP would come before the GC, but the GC is the one you want. If your GC is only valid for two years, read the middle link!

-KJ,

I didn't think of that possibility! You might want to return the EA and AP documents to your District or Sub office since they're of no value to you anymore, although I don't know if you're under obligation to do so.

Yodrak

If they didn't take them off you or ask for them back, you've got a little souvenier... people who were approved without interview still have their EAD cards too (I do anyway).