Does submitting I-131 with I-765 make it process faster? Combo card?

[AmericanGirltoBe 1]

I'm finding sparse answers online. My main goal is to have the I-131 approved as soon as possible as my marriage-based I-485 is pending. I do not need to work but could, so I have the option of submitting the I-765 or not. I will submit it if it gets a chance of my I-131 being approved faster, but I won't if that's unlikely and it just wastes precious money.

 

Multiple sources online say that when the I-131 and I-765 are submitted together with the I-485, the I-131 gets approved much faster on average because sometimes it's approved as a combo card with the I-765. Alternatively, if only the I-131 and I-485 are submitted, the I-131 will take longer on average with no chance of a combo card. 

 

I read on one lawyer website: "as of 2025, USCIS has largely returned to its pre-pandemic practices, and combo cards are once again being issued in many cases – but currently only for employment-based adjustment of status applicants" but haven't been able to corroborate that info on any other site. If that's true, then I'll skip paying to submit the I-765 since that means there's no chance of a faster combo card with my family-based application. But if that's false and there is a chance of a faster combo card for me, I want to take that chance. Anyone have info on whether combo cards are currently issued sometimes for family-based applicants who submit the I-485, I-765 and I-131 together?

[OldUser 9,374]

In short no, submitting both I-131 and I-765 doesn't make any process go any faster.

 

However, if you plan getting work permit I-765 or Advance Parole I-131, then yes, applying sooner get your those documents sooner (hopefully).

Edited Friday at 10:56 PM by OldUser

[TBoneTX 47,252]

A lot of people have skipped applying for either the I-765 or I-131 and have regretted it later.  Regardless of timing, file for everything possible at the earliest opportunity.

Edited yesterday at 12:20 AM by TBoneTX

[wildbug100420 267]

2 hours ago, AmericanGirltoBe said:

I'm finding sparse answers online. My main goal is to have the I-131 approved as soon as possible as my marriage-based I-485 is pending. I do not need to work but could, so I have the option of submitting the I-765 or not. I will submit it if it gets a chance of my I-131 being approved faster, but I won't if that's unlikely and it just wastes precious money.

 

Multiple sources online say that when the I-131 and I-765 are submitted together with the I-485, the I-131 gets approved much faster on average because sometimes it's approved as a combo card with the I-765. Alternatively, if only the I-131 and I-485 are submitted, the I-131 will take longer on average with no chance of a combo card. 

 

I read on one lawyer website: "as of 2025, USCIS has largely returned to its pre-pandemic practices, and combo cards are once again being issued in many cases – but currently only for employment-based adjustment of status applicants" but haven't been able to corroborate that info on any other site. If that's true, then I'll skip paying to submit the I-765 since that means there's no chance of a faster combo card with my family-based application. But if that's false and there is a chance of a faster combo card for me, I want to take that chance. Anyone have info on whether combo cards are currently issued sometimes for family-based applicants who submit the I-485, I-765 and I-131 together?

You'll want the employment authorization since it's needed for a SS card and to apply for a driver's license or state ID 

[AmericanGirltoBe 1]

9 minutes ago, wildbug100420 said:

You'll want the employment authorization since it's needed for a SS card and to apply for a driver's license or state ID 

Oh, I already got a SS card that notes it can't be used for employment. If I don't need to be employed till my Green Card gets approved eventually, does this matter? Also, I was told at the DMV that since I have a Canadian driver's license I only need to show that license along with my USCIS NOA and proof of US residency to get a US license. 

Edited yesterday at 01:30 AM by AmericanGirltoBe

[TBoneTX 47,252]

6 minutes ago, AmericanGirltoBe said:

does this matter?

It's up to you.  Situations can change unexpectedly, such as not currently needing to work... and, you might become quite bored if the GC takes its usual long time to arrive.

 

If EAD comes earliest, it serves as proof of your legal residence.  (After you apply for AOS, your official status is "applicant for adjustment," or, more simply, "adjustment applicant.)

 

These factors are food for thought.

[OldUser 9,374]

14 hours ago, AmericanGirltoBe said:

Oh, I already got a SS card that notes it can't be used for employment. If I don't need to be employed till my Green Card gets approved eventually, does this matter? Also, I was told at the DMV that since I have a Canadian driver's license I only need to show that license along with my USCIS NOA and proof of US residency to get a US license. 

You could apply for license today if you had EAD in hand, otherwise you'd be waiting for GC.

 

Also, each state tells you how long you can use your out of state driver's license to drive in the state. So after that time, driving with Canadian license won't be an option.

[SL2024 246]

In my case I applied for both the EAD and AP and I got them approved about a month and half after filing (this timeline is factoring in receipt of my AOS package and my biometrics as well). I received the EAD/AP combo card about a week after the approval.

 

I needed the EAD in order to apply for a State Driving License and State ID. The EAD also served as a form of Real ID which I used to go on honeymoon (I have applied for a Real ID State Driving License but I have my test later this month).

[OldUser 9,374]

24 minutes ago, SL2024 said:

In my case I applied for both the EAD and AP and I got them approved about a month and half after filing (this timeline is factoring in receipt of my AOS package and my biometrics as well). I received the EAD/AP combo card about a week after the approval.

 

I needed the EAD in order to apply for a State Driving License and State ID. The EAD also served as a form of Real ID which I used to go on honeymoon (I have applied for a Real ID State Driving License but I have my test later this month).

Yep, EAD, GC or other proof of status such as valid I-94 (while on student visa, work visa) is needed to get driver license.

Your EAD / AP got processed super fast, it must be a lucky exception. Even before COVID, my combo card took around 6 months.

 

 

Fun fact, British call it "driving license", while Americans use "driver license"

 

[SL2024 246]

4 minutes ago, OldUser said:

Yep, EAD, GC or other proof of status such as valid I-94 (while on student visa, work visa) is needed to get driver license.

Your EAD / AP got processed super fast, it must be a lucky exception. Even before COVID, my combo card took around 6 months.

 

 

Fun fact, British call it "driving license", while Americans use "driver license"

 

 

Cheers for the fun fact but I knew that already

[JimmyX 18]

I don't know anything about whether it makes things go faster if you file all three, but we used recent case history as shown on this and other sites to guide us. We opted to file I-765 and I-485 only and our case was approved in under three months (of course each case is different!). Filed 3/17/25, EAD approved 5/7/25, Green Card approved 6/12/25. (full timeline on my timeline page)

 

This timeline tracked with what we had been seeing, and a 5-week advance on the AP didn't feel worth $630 to us in our financial and personal situation. Using that money later to upgrade my wife to business class on her next transatlantic trip home seemed like a better option for us.

 

Of course every situation is different, and things are rapidly changing from day to day in the current political climate. We knew this going into our decision to not file for AP and it felt like a risk worth taking.