Uniting for Ukraine Employment Authorization

[Merica-n 65]

Hi, we have a family in my community that came here under the Uniting for Ukraine program and are staying at my friend’s house.

 

How do Uniting for Ukraine beneficiaries receive work authorization/social security card?  How long does this generally take?  Their sponsors are a little bit confused as to how this works as whenever they apply for a job, they ask for a ssn, but they don’t have one, but they seem to think they are allowed to work.

 

(my timeline totally unrelated.  Asking for a friend who knew I had experience with immigration)

Edited September 2, 2022 by Merica-n

[SteveInBostonI130 3,328]

Look up the USCIS webpage for the program:

 

https://www.uscis.gov/ukraine

 

Under the "After the Beneficiary Is Paroled into the United States" section there are instruction on Filing I-765, Authorization for Employment, under the c(11) category.  The I-765 lets the applicant qualify for a SSN.

[Kineo 93]

3 hours ago, Merica-n said:

Hi, we have a family in my community that came here under the Uniting for Ukraine program and are staying at my friend’s house.

 

How do Uniting for Ukraine beneficiaries receive work authorization/social security card?  How long does this generally take?  Their sponsors are a little bit confused as to how this works as whenever they apply for a job, they ask for a ssn, but they don’t have one, but they seem to think they are allowed to work.

 

(my timeline totally unrelated.  Asking for a friend who knew I had experience with immigration)

 

3 hours ago, SteveInBostonI130 said:

Look up the USCIS webpage for the program:

 

https://www.uscis.gov/ukraine

 

Under the "After the Beneficiary Is Paroled into the United States" section there are instruction on Filing I-765, Authorization for Employment, under the c(11) category.  The I-765 lets the applicant qualify for a SSN.

Steve is on target here. This can be filed online now. The fee is $410. Or they can apply for a fee waiver (I-912) and file it with the I-765 in the mail.

 

The whole process for 2 beneficiaries I've been working with took 35 days from the time the forms were mailed to USCIS and when they received their EAD cards and SS cards.

 

=Kineo 

[Merica-n 65]

3 minutes ago, Kineo said:

 

Steve is on target here. This can be filed online now. The fee is $410. Or they can apply for a fee waiver (I-912) and file it with the I-765 in the mail.

 

The whole process for 2 beneficiaries I've been working with took 35 days from the time the forms were mailed to USCIS and when they received their EAD cards and SS cards.

 

=Kineo 

Weird.  They said they got a letter that it will take 8 months to get ead.

[SteveInBostonI130 3,328]

1 hour ago, Merica-n said:

Weird.  They said they got a letter that it will take 8 months to get ead.

8 months was the typical timeline for all EADs.  Each subcategory differs, and I believe USCIS has put in an effort in the last few months to speed up I-765 processing.  I have seen AOS posts stating they got their EAD separately from their AP, with the AP (I-131) taking about 8 months and the EAD being much faster.

[slavaskii 885]

Anecdotally, I have also seen lightning-fast EAD timelines within the past few months. Some people have even gotten it the same days as biometrics complete. Not sure if this is a feature of U4U expediting the card or just USCIS being more efficient generally, but very nice to see the program is still being effective after arrival!

[Kineo 93]

11 hours ago, Merica-n said:

Weird.  They said they got a letter that it will take 8 months to get ead.

Who sent a letter this letter? USCIS? Actual I-765/I-912 timeline:

2022/07/27 - I-765's and I-912's delivered to Chicago lockbox 
2022/08/04 - NOA1 & Fee Waiver approval for beneficiaries #3&#4
2022/08/05 - Biometrics letter for beneficiaries #3&#4
2022/08/22 - Biometrics for beneficiaries #3&#4,  EAD approved for beneficiaries #3&#4
2022/08/26 - USCIS sent EAD cards for beneficiaries #3&#4
2022/08/29 - EAD cards and SS cards arrived for beneficiaries #3&#4

[Zaichik&Miska 44]

On 9/2/2022 at 6:10 PM, Kineo said:

 

Steve is on target here. This can be filed online now. The fee is $410. Or they can apply for a fee waiver (I-912) and file it with the I-765 in the mail.

 

The whole process for 2 beneficiaries I've been working with took 35 days from the time the forms were mailed to USCIS and when they received their EAD cards and SS cards.

 

=Kineo 

Hello Kineo, just curious, did you/they opt to pay for the EAD applications or did you/they apply for a fee waiver?

[Kineo 93]

15 hours ago, Zaichik&Miska said:

Hello Kineo, just curious, did you/they opt to pay for the EAD applications or did you/they apply for a fee waiver?

All 3 beneficiaries did fee waiver. All 3 fee waivers have been approved. The best and most assured approval option on the I-912 is #1 if they are receiving SNAP, TANF or MedicAid.

-Kineo