Arb123

Just got approved! Finally!

It seems like expedite requests can take up to 2 months these day. Maybe even more... If I were you, I would tell them the truth and what your plans are. If you do get that job, ask them to issue a letter for you so you can have basis to expedite. Be transparent I would advice. 

There is no decision yet. I think I am just waiting in expedite cases queue... Yesterday, one person who sent fax 10 days before me got approved. I waiting patiently. I tried literally all I could. I also have infopass appointment in a week, in case I hear nothing before that. 

Seems like the norm if you look back at other AOS forums from past months.  Ours still shows the NOA1 date January 10th.  Hopefully everyone will hear something soon but it still is very early in the process.  But who knows, the process may be going faster this year???  It doesn't hurt to dream..hehe 

the status apparently doesn't change on time. its nothing to be worried about. did my biometrics on 01/23, still no change  

I'm adjusting from F1 visa, I had my old EAD and it expired earlier this year. I worked for this company last year and they decided to hire me, I just told them my situation and they agreed to wait till I have my EAD. 

good luck!! i hope it gets expedited! Oh my PD is Jan 2nd too we have identical timeline..
Let us know what happens.  

Just faxed them all the documents they need. Will wait and see if they decide to expedite my EAD, if I don't see any updates till the end of the week, I will contact congressman to help fast things up. My PD is Jan 02, so almost 60 days.

So I got the expected letter that requires me to fax them supporting document to expedite my EAD, however, they spelled my first name wrong in the letter. I'll call them tomorrow and ask them what I should do, oh well...

Hey, I saw the letter in my informed delivery for today, I'll keep you posted when I receive it. 

I first call USCIS and request an expedite, they then send out a letter explaining they need further evidence with a fax number, then you fax your supporting material to that number. 
I just called USCIS again this morning, they said they sent out a letter Feb 19th which was a holiday, surprise to know they work during the holiday, I should receive the letter soon. I will keep you posted. 

Reinstatement is only possible if the status violation occurred less than 5 months so that option is out of the table. The only way your friend can gain a new F-1 status is by leaving the country and applying for a new F-1 visa overseas, and as you already know chances of getting one is almost impossible espercially with a 2 year status violation. Your friend can’t gain any other legal status without departing the U.S. unless he/she marries a U.S. citizen or gains asylum. 

I assume they mail me a letter with all further request, and we all know that normally takes a week to arrive. So I should get the letter this Saturday or early next week.

I just received 6 texts (just in case one was not enough) telling me my case got updated..
now it says "Card was Mailed to me" dated today

The only think I know for certain is that to get a Fi Visa is that you need to apply for one, usually at the Consulate where you live.

I doubt your friend will be able to come back by leaving the country and applying for a new F1. Your friend has already violated the rules of the F1 visa so the chances of getting a new one are slim.

I noticed we have almost identical timelines! What I did was to look up keywords "Courtesy Letter" and check the timelines of whoever got it. It seems most of them got their interview schedule or EAD/AP approval within one or two months from receiving the Courtesy Letter. But I haven't seen anyone point out if there is a certain connection between them. But hopefully, we will hear something from USCIS by the end of the month!  Btw, I also request an expedited for EAD with a job offer, so in my case tracker it shows that they have sent me a respond last Saturday, I think it will be a letter in the mail requesting further evidence to fax to them. I will keep you posted. 

It would be better if they contacted the university they attended and ask the international advisors. 
 
I would say that it is not possible. 2 years is too much and not being able to pay was not "beyond your friend's control". Usually, they allow to regain F-1 status if you had a medical injury that did not allow you to be a full-time student and, at the same time, you were not able to leave the country. Moreover, reinstatement might only be available if your friend had stayed only 5 months after loosing status for some extraordinary circumstance. 
 
Also, if your friend was not able to pay tuition, how he or she was able to afford living without working raises another issue. If your friend was working illegally, that is another can of worms. 
 
 
 
 
 

I hear that expediting sometimes is a stroke of luck. I’ll speak to my lawyer today and see what she can do about it. 

no template..
USCIS does not contact employer, but I wouldn't dare to submit something on behalf of a company without them knowing about it..

I think I've read some people with similar issues expedite based on financial loss  (do a search in VJ) with a letter from the employer explaining they cant loose you for x y reason and that not having EAD on time would prevent you from working. To that I would add whatever doc you have that is expiring in 2 weeks, and maybe some bills you need to pay.. rent cellphone etc as evidence
Expedites are taking longer than before (mine took 3 weeks only for approval, I still don't have either the approval letter or the card itself, and I was very proactive with calling, contacting my congressman at the right time, and answering the fax as soon as I got the request).. but one thing is sure.. it will take longer the more you wait.. the first call is just placing the request.. then you have to wait for them to ask for the evidence... then review the evidence.. and then if approved send your case to an adjudicator.. each step takes as long as USCIS wants.. the only one that you have control over is when you put in the request.. So make that call ASAP
 
Just a tip.. sometimes when I need something from my employer ASAP, such as this letter, I volunteer to write it myself and they just have to review it and sign it vs them having to stop working and write this letter..
 
I hope this helps somehow, Good Luck

So we are only talking about the EAD based on AOS. I think it is possible to request expedition using your current employer or a new employer. But either way, it is NOT going to be fast. I waited for almost 140 days to get EAD, and that is 1.5 months after I requested expedition due to a job offer. So I would not hold my breath for the expedition. Good luck!!!

Still need to understand your situation more...
 
You are currently on F-1 status? You filed AOS together with EAD, right?
 
You have to choose between:
1 Pay the tuition, maintain F-1, and get another CPT with which you can work
2 Get the EAD based on AOS, then you can work.
 
Is that right? For the two situations
 
1. I have seen cases like this whose EAD (based on CPT) is not expedited and the reason given by USCIS is that F-1 holders are supposed to have funding covered before they came to the US.
 
2. EAD based on AOS would still take about 2 months for expedition, so I am not sure this would help at all.
 

I thought I would write this up as I was successful in expediting my EAD.
Called USCIS on 1-800-375-5283 on 4 September.
Said 'I would like to expedite my EAD because I have been offered a job and cannot take it up until I have the right to work in the US'
I was given a list of reasons as to why my expedited EAD may be considered. These reasons are:
Severe financial loss to company or individual Extreme emergent situation Humanitarian situation Nonprofit status of requesting organization in furtherance of the cultural and social interests of the United States Department of Defense or National Interest Situation (Note: Request must come from official United States Government entity and state that delay will be detrimental to our Government) USCIS error Compelling interest of USCIS I selected 'severe financial loss'. I said that I had been unable to work due to waiting for the K1 process to finish - I was made redundant. I said that whether this could be consider severe or not was open to opinion.
The person at USCIS then read back to me what she had typed up and told me that someone would be in contact with 5 working days. She gave me a reference number for my request. She said there was no guarantee that my request would be granted.
On 9 September I received a letter from USCIS requesting that I fax them proof of my job offer, together with a reference number and also to fax their letter. I did that the same afternoon and also included the state exam and license I had taken in order to get the job offer. I also included a cover letter.
On 10 September I received an e-mail to tell me that my status had changed to 'card production' for my EAD. My AP was updated about 2 hours later.
I thought I would write this up as I've noticed a couple people saying that they've managed to expedite their EAD because of a job offer but did not explain how they did it.

I filed on December 27th, USCIS received on January 2nd, bio on Jan 31st. Got a "Courtesy letter" requesting to bring up to date medical form to interview on February 15th.