The demise of the EAD/AP Combo Card? [merged threads]

[JoelThai 313]

Today my wife's Employment Authorization card arrived in the mail.  She applied for renewal of her previous "Combo" card last July by submitting forms I-131 and I-765.  I was surprised to see that the card that arrived is not a "Combo" card and specifically states "NOT VALID FOR REENTRY TO U.S."   I checked the receipt number for the I-131 and it currently remains at ""The above case has been received by our office and is in process."

 

After some investigation, I found this: https://www.uscis.gov/i-131

 

Alert: To improve efficiency and reduce Form I-765 processing times for Form I-485 applicants, USCIS may decouple Forms I-765 from Forms I-131 filed at the same time.

To improve efficiency and reduce Form I-765 processing times for Form I-485 applicants, USCIS may decouple Forms I-765 from Forms I-131 filed at the same time. Effective Feb. 1, 2022, when possible, USCIS will adjudicate the request for employment authorization first and, if it is approved, we will issue an Employment Authorization Document without any notation about advanced parole. We will adjudicate the Form I-131 separately and, if it is approved, we will issue an Advance Parole Document.

 

 

 

[Boiler 43,749]

I heard about this a few weeks back, the logic of seemingly doubling the work to speed up the process escapes me.

[Dashinka 23,378]

Yeah, does somewhat seem counter-intuitive, but I suppose it is USCIS thinking, more cards will need to be produced when the AP is finally adjudicated.

[K1visaHopeful 2,691]

If it was a renewal it would not have came as a combo anyways.

EAD is allowed to be submitted 180 days before expiry while AP, only 120.

[Crazy Cat 39,660]

2 separate entities, 2 different renewal processes.

Edited March 15, 2022 by Crazy Cat

[JoelThai 313]

1 hour ago, K1visaHopeful said:

If it was a renewal it would not have came as a combo anyways.

EAD is allowed to be submitted 180 days before expiry while AP, only 120.

This is our second renewal for work authorization and advance parole.  The original card and the first renewal were both "combo" cards.   

Edited March 15, 2022 by JoelThai

[Chancy 6,233]

*** Moved from AOS from K1 Visas forum to Working & Traveling During US Immigration, where topics related to EAD/AP processing are discussed ***

 

[Timona 3,970]

Yap. They're separating both now. My boy got just EAD last week though he applied for both. 

 

I wonder who makes decisions at USCIS sometimes. It'll just be a waste of time to revisit someone's file to produce AP which you already knew he applied for and you only sent EAD. Additionally, waste of plastic and time too.

[P055UM 259]

Anybody have any insight into how the approval processes differ for I-765/I-131? I naively assumed since the forms are generally pretty similar and require basically the same evidence that they went through more or less the same review. Given the disparity in the timings now, perhaps not? Unless it is just down to differing volumes in applications for both.

[Timona 3,970]

1 hour ago, AW1704 said:

Anybody have any insight into how the approval processes differ for I-765/I-131? I naively assumed since the forms are generally pretty similar and require basically the same evidence that they went through more or less the same review. Given the disparity in the timings now, perhaps not? Unless it is just down to differing volumes in applications for both.

 

I agree. They should just merge the two with a box asking if you want to apply for AP too. As stated, the two pretty much have the same evidence requirement and are free either way.

[JoelThai 313]

15 hours ago, Boiler said:

I heard about this a few weeks back, the logic of seemingly doubling the work to speed up the process escapes me.

Their language of stating that this is being done for efficiency improvement is interesting.   My best guess is they are attempting to reduce the wait time for employment authorization, and this will be coming at the cost of increasing wait times for travel authorization.  That is to say, resources are being moved from one group to the other.   But an improvement in overall efficiency is hard to comprehend.  

 

Current wait times at the National Benefits Center for Travel Documents (I-131) is 8 - 13 months.

Current wait times at the National Benefits Center for Employment Authorization (I-765) is 7.5 - 12 mounts.

 

It will be interesting to track the wait times for both the I-131 and I-765 over the coming months and see if the time gap widens and the time for Employment Authorization will be reduced.  

 

The "combo" card was first introduced in 2011.

https://www.uscis.gov/archive/uscis-to-issue-employment-authorization-and-advance-parole-card-for-adjustment-of-status-applicants-0

 

Does anyone know if the Travel Document (I-131) will be issued as a second card, or as a paper document as was done in the past?

Edited March 15, 2022 by JoelThai

[HRQX 4,145]

On 3/15/2022 at 3:44 PM, JoelThai said:

Does anyone know if the Travel Document (I-131) will be issued as a second card, or as a paper document as was done in the past?

As a paper document:

[Jimmy_Breen 10]

I got word this morning that my combo card was being produced, so perhaps not all cards are being "decoupled". 

 

First time EAD for me. Filed I-765 with I-131 and I-485 concurrently. 

[SAB6 0]

Jimmy, did you expedite your EAD card at all?

[Michilcha 0]

Hi all! I'm through the AOS process and I applied for EAD/AP both together as well. I just received today my EAD with the 'not valid for reentry to US', does anyone has idea how long it will take to received the AP?😭