AOS biometrics keeps called cancelled, will this delay my EAD?

[AlissaCarly 44]

Hi everyone,

I've been having a rough time with biometrics.. I filed my AOS/EAD in December and got biometrics for January 26th in Elizabeth, NJ. But the Juno snow storm hit that day and it was cancelled. I got the reschedule letter 4 wks later and my new date was for March 5th (5,5 wks after the first one!). So I went to the ASC office yesterday (during snow storm Thor, just my luck driving there was horrendous) and everyone was forced to stand outside in the storm for an hour, after which they suddenly closed the office (with about 60 people waiting outside). Side note: I called the NSC before going and asked them what to do since the office was not listed as being closed, and the lady told me I had to go since it was open. After being cancelled again I called back to NSC and they said I should do a walk in ASAP and tell the office what happened both times and they'd fit me in. So I went back again today, which is a 2 hr trip But they did not let me do a walk in and said they have stopped accepting walk ins after all the storms this winter! The lady told me I'd be rescheduled in ANOTHER 4-5 weeks, which could push back my EAD to about 10 weeks from now (I think).

So my questions are:

1) I'm assuming my EAD is dependant on my biometrics, is that correct? Is there any way it could still come soon now that my biometrics was cancelled?

2) Is there anything I can do to get an earlier appointment than 4-5 weeks from now?

I have now been in the US and jobless for 5 months and I'd rather not sit around for another 2,5 months.. Also I recently received a job offer, but I doubt they will want to wait that long to fill the position.. Hope someone can help me Thanks!!

[steve n songsang 45]

question 1...unfortunately, yes, you are correct,the photo taken at biometric appt. and a fingerprint are put on the EAD card.

Question 2...Mother nature to blame here...2 hours from home, inconvienant, could try getting the manager at the ASC office and plead your case, in our case it was the security guard at the entrance who would not let us do early bio., I made him get the manager and she allowed us to do it. Sorry I cannot help you more....did you file the I-131 advance parole also? it is good to have as it allows you to travel back home if you need to, some AOS cases are taking over a year to be finished....good luck...

Edited March 7, 2015 by steve n songsang

[AlissaCarly 44]

Thanks for replying! I already feared that I couldn't get the EAD card before biometrics.. I will however try to plead my case as you said, and hopefully get an earlier appointment or even a different ASC. If those two storms hadn't happened I would have my EAD now. It's really a strain to have one salary and I'd like to contribute!

I didn't file for AP by the way, we're not planning on going anywhere this year because we're planning a big wedding.

[CowBoE 429]

Wow...sorry...I had to laugh...

Yes, the picture and fingerpint goes on the EAD card.

You should have filed for AP...just in case...it was free to do so.

The good news is we just had a daylight savings change,

and weather will be warming up in another 4-5 weeks

and I'm sure the risk of 3rd appointment getting snowed out is pretty low.

Lastly...I wonder if you write to them about 2 snowed-out situation

if they would grant you expedite processing...

[AlissaCarly 44]

Lol I would be laughing too if it weren't so frustrating

I called the NSC and asked about expedite processing or even getting my next appointment letter earlier than 5 weeks. She said no and said there's nothing I can do about it but wait. I even asked if they could send my EAD sooner after my third bio because of all this and she said no. So basically I'm stuck waiting. With my luck there will be a tornado during my next bio!

[AlissaCarly 44]

So I just got a 'Case Approved' message for my EAD and it's been sent to me this week apparently, but I still haven't done biometrics! How can they have approved it without that? Not to mention my third biometrics letter is probably on its way as we speak, seeing as it's been weeks since I got snowed out. Am I supposed to still go to that, even though EAD is approved?

[CowBoE 429]

So I just got a 'Case Approved' message for my EAD and it's been sent to me this week apparently, but I still haven't done biometrics! How can they have approved it without that? Not to mention my third biometrics letter is probably on its way as we speak, seeing as it's been weeks since I got snowed out. Am I supposed to still go to that, even though EAD is approved?

LOL...man...you are just having a ball with your case.

Well, at least its partially great that they approved it,

BUT...

they need your picture and fingerprint from biometrics to print the darn thing.

I'm pretty sure, even though its approved, it will not get printed until biometrics is done.

Can you call the local office again, see if you can do a walk in given the current situation?

[AlissaCarly 44]

Haha, I know right! I'm having a blast with all this

The ASC's don't publish their phone numbers unfortunately.. Like I wrote before, last time after the snow storm I called the USCIS NSC and was advised to do a walk-in at Elizabeth, after which Elizabeth told me they don't do those. So that shows how much USCIS knows about the ASC offices I called USCIS again last week and asked about doing a walk-in and they told me again I can do that. Hmmmm do I trust them and attempt a walk-in? It's a 4hr trip both ways, could get rejected again!

[Hypnos 6,576]

EADs are sometimes printed without biometrics. It's rare, but it's happened, and your circumstances sound like ones in which it may happen.

If this is the case, the photograph will be one of the passport photographs you sent in with the I-765 application, and under the fingerprint section it will be blank and simply state "Fingerprint not available".

[CowBoE 429]

EADs are sometimes printed without biometrics. It's rare, but it's happened, and your circumstances sound like ones in which it may happen.

If this is the case, the photograph will be one of the passport photographs you sent in with the I-765 application, and under the fingerprint section it will be blank and simply state "Fingerprint not available".

Really???

That's interesting to know...

[AlissaCarly 44]

I guess that might be the case because I just received my approval notice in the post and it states that the EAD is ready and has already been posted to me separate from the approval. And then it goes on to explain the use of the EAD. I won't be 100 percent convinced until I have card in hand, but I'm just glad something is happening finally

I assume I will still get my 3rd biometrics appointment soon though.