Expedited EAD for self-employed freelancers?

[peanutismint 35]

I'm self-employed and have lots of offers of work from US employers but can't take any of them yet as I'm still awaiting my work permit (EAD).

 

Do you think there's much point in trying to expedite showing them I've got lots of offers of work or are they only interested in people who have traditional employment/job offers?

[Russ&Caro 1,548]

It's definitely worthwhile to try to expedite it. Job offer in hand is a reason for granting an expedite.

[peanutismint 35]

Thanks. Do you think they will consider my per-job work purchase orders an 'employment offer' though? Because it's not like a company is offering me a 12 month 9-5 contract, but rather specific work orders to complete jobs at various times/locations....  Worth a shot? 

[Russ&Caro 1,548]

I don't know for sure, but if you showed several pending work orders I think that would be as good as a traditional job offer, in hand. Do you plan to register your contract business with the state and city? Because that would show further proof that you're serious about starting your own business, legitimately. There's nothing to lose to apply for an expedite as they cost nothing. Good luck.

[peanutismint 35]

Thanks, I will try it. To be honest I don’t really know much about how self-employment works in the USA; I am trying to get an ITN number so that I can set up a joint bank account with my US citizen wife.

 

Back in the UK I didn’t really have to do anything to register myself as a business, I just had a specific form to fill out to process my self-employed taxes. If setting up a business registration in my state is something I can do as a pending resident/alien,  perhaps it would be good for me to do this, especially if it would aid any expedition case. 

[Boiler 43,401]

Just need to show financial hardship. Not sure what your line of work is but may require licensing in the US.

[ITMFA 241]

4 hours ago, peanutismint said:

I'm self-employed and have lots of offers of work from US employers but can't take any of them yet as I'm still awaiting my work permit (EAD).

 

Do you think there's much point in trying to expedite showing them I've got lots of offers of work or are they only interested in people who have traditional employment/job offers?

I just successfully expedited my EAD/AP based on multiple job offers as a freelance classical musician (self-employed/"independent contractor"), so you should definitely go for it! I had multiple offers of employment, including one project starting on July 6th. The letters from my potential employers stated that they are keen to work with me, and my cover letter stressed the importance of being able to accept these offers to establish a good reputation in my field. I also included separate evidence showing that I needed my AP to go back and work in Canada in August, and to attend my own wedding celebration. I sent various bills to show the financial strain that the long wait has been putting on us. I'm not sure which evidence "worked," but I wrote a detailed cover letter, and it probably also helped that I had already been waiting over 6 months. Good luck! 

Edited June 28, 2019 by ITMFA

[peanutismint 35]

17 hours ago, ITMFA said:

I just successfully expedited my EAD/AP based on multiple job offers as a freelance classical musician (self-employed/"independent contractor"), so you should definitely go for it! I had multiple offers of employment, including one project starting on July 6th. The letters from my potential employers stated that they are keen to work with me, and my cover letter stressed the importance of being able to accept these offers to establish a good reputation in my field. I also included separate evidence showing that I needed my AP to go back and work in Canada in August, and to attend my own wedding celebration. I sent various bills to show the financial strain that the long wait has been putting on us. I'm not sure which evidence "worked," but I wrote a detailed cover letter, and it probably also helped that I had already been waiting over 6 months. Good luck! 

Thanks for the really useful information/advice! So what process did you follow in order to apply for this? Did you have to call-in first? Or go in for an in person meeting at your local service centre? Or simply just to compile some evidence and write a cover letter and send it into somewhere?  

 

My issue is that currently I only have one or two local clients to show that I could start work within the next month also if I wanted, but I’m not sure if that will be enough… And obviously I don’t want to contact new prospective clients where I will have to say “I can’t start work for you right away but if you could show that you would give me work so that I can get a work permit…“, as that just sounds kind of unprofessional and not worth their while when they don’t even know me yet...! 

[ITMFA 241]

On 6/28/2019 at 5:08 PM, peanutismint said:

Thanks for the really useful information/advice! So what process did you follow in order to apply for this? Did you have to call-in first? Or go in for an in person meeting at your local service centre? Or simply just to compile some evidence and write a cover letter and send it into somewhere?  

 

My issue is that currently I only have one or two local clients to show that I could start work within the next month also if I wanted, but I’m not sure if that will be enough… And obviously I don’t want to contact new prospective clients where I will have to say “I can’t start work for you right away but if you could show that you would give me work so that I can get a work permit…“, as that just sounds kind of unprofessional and not worth their while when they don’t even know me yet...! 

I called it in with a Tier 1 representative first and made sure to get a confirmation number. Then I waited to receive an email asking for evidence, but I never did, so I called up the immigration specialist at my local congressman's office (just called the number I found online). That person helped me by inquiring independently about my case, and then asked me to send along some evidence to support. I emailed him with 13 attachments (cover letter, a bunch of bills, job offer letters, anything I thought might help). I only had a few gigs lined up, but I explained the situation and the people hiring me made sure to say they looked forward to working with me again going into next season. Not sure what you do for a living, but as a performer we have a pretty small community with a lot of people from different countries, so people are friendly and helpful with this kind of stuff. Good luck! 

[peanutismint 35]

Thanks, that's super helpful, esp. info about getting the assistance of my local congress office. Will definitely look into that. I am a musician too, actually, but only as a hobby....! 😄 I'm a sound/lighting engineer for live events by trade so luckily have a few good local clients to start working with as soon as I get this EAD. I just called them and started the process stating "severe financial loss" but I'm hoping they take "I have work requests" as 'severe financial loss'..... It would be great to not have to wait another FIVE MONTHS to start supporting my family. 

 

Thanks again - will keep in touch. 

[Russ&Caro 1,548]

I think you have a decent chance of getting an expedite approved.