Discuss musawirali's OPT USCIS Case

Hi, I'm wondering if you know how to apply for an expediate petition for OPT? I'm waiting almost 83 days and no news yet.

appreciate it.

I did it through my school's international student adviser. I brought my offer letter and I asked them to fax an expedite request.

I was waiting to start my job and got EAD 1 day before the start date.

They screwed it up and didnt look at my Registration info in my passport the first time, so I send them information again with Fedex. Leter I wrote them a letter asking to Expedite and FAXED it. I think that helped. It happened back in 2005, and if I remember correctly the representative I spoke to siad that sometimes it helps and sometimes it doesnt. Follow-up!

Good Luck!
By the way, you can start your job and be on a job for 1 month (I think - not confirmed) before you get your EAD

I made my school's international student adviser fax the expedite letter last week. Haven't heard anything back yet.

I have been calling the USCIS customer service to check the status of my application (and the expedite request), but these people have absolutely no clue. They cannot seem to provide any more information than what is on the website. I've called them several times, and when I ask for further assistance they just get angry and rude. I it extremely frustrating, both talking to them and waiting for this nightmare wait to end.

Also, I checked with my employer's attorneys and they say that you must have the EAD card in hand before you can start. Even a notification of approval is not enough. You must physically have the card in hand.

I was told the same...but since I already saw that USCIS shipped the card to me, it was a matter of 2-3 days before I could get it. So I convinced my firm's recruiters/HR, and I think they said that bring what you have. But fortunately I got the card itself a day before.

I was filling out a form during my first day at work, it was some immigration related form where we put our EAD info (Its a standard government form), I noted that there were a few options (Legal Resident/Citizen, have EAD, dont have EAD) I dont know the EXACT wording but one of them implied that you dont have the EAD (hence waiting) and can work without it for max xx days. A different HR person who was helping me fill that form, I think, even said that they didn't need to have that card right then - when I told the whole drama.

Again that happened 2 years ago and I vaguely remember this only because it was a nerve wrecking process.

It would help if you see the approval on the website. Just hope that they dont put RFE, like they did to me.

Write them a letter and FAX them yourself - may have to beg them to expedite.

What do you suggest putting in this letter exactly? I am thinking of faxing one separately on my own.

As bad as it sounds, you probably want to have them have some pity on you and your future. My case required explanation that they screwed it up and everything is there, they probably felt some guilty.

Explain why (something believable and touching) you want them to respond asap. For e.g. You could say that you only have limited option of employers where you can apply for job, etc. etc.

Good Luck!

Today I called the customer support, and I asked "them" to file an expedite request after explaining my situation. Fortunately I got a nice person on the end. She put me on hold for a few minutes, then came back and asked me a bunch of contact information (mailing address, phone number, etc.). She has filed an expedite request, and said that I should hear back from USCIS by Friday. She told me that there was no guarantee that the case will be expedited, of course. But anyway, looks like a good sign. fingers crossed!

Thats a very good sign!

i called customer support yesterday to file an expedite request but he told me options, in which i don't fall in. i was wondering how can i expedite request when i not fall in all those options. Also can u please tell me how u handle customer support to expedite your request.

well I told them I had a job offer, and my employer had to reschedule the start date twice because of this EAD card issue Plus it has been more than 11 weeks since I sent my application. I think all those factors played in.

I called them up today to check on the status of my expedite request that they filed, and they guy reads me out this note saying "we don't see a reason for expediting your case and processing it before others". What the hell? I provided them with job offer letter and everything. Explained to them my start date has been rescheduled twice. what other reason do they need! this is insane.

Thanks dude.....herez a small idea which i followed(In case u diny do it)......Try the POJ method(http://www.trackitt.com/discussion-forums/i765-1/52963113/)......it worked 4 me......don talk 2 customer care ppl...try 2 get a Immigration officer to talk with.......once u get them on phone...bug thm to the Max explaining ur situation and tell some of the reason like(http://www.trackitt.com/discussion-forums/opt/34667999/)....use the reasons in the link......

All da best dude.....

can you tell me the exact steps to this method? I followed the steps listed on that page you linked, but I'm getting the same customer service people. It doesn't say "this is the Texas service center" or any other indication that I am actually speaking with an immigration officer. I think there is come confusion in the steps, I maybe following them in correctly. Here's what I did.

called: 1-800-375-5283. then pressed: 1, 2, 2, 6, 1, receipt #. After I enter the receipt number, it asks me if my receipt number starts with SRC. I press 1. Then it reads our the entire number and asks if it was correct. I press 1 again. The POJ method says to press 3 at this point, but there is no "3" option. Anyway, when I press 1 for that option, in the next menu I can press 3. After this is done, it gives me 4 more options. Option 4 (which the POJ method tells you to use) is something about if you have filed multiple cases together, etc. etc. But option 3 is about the fact that if it has been 60 days. I press the 4th option (about the multiple cases, as mentioned in POJ), and I get transfered to "customer service". The automated system says "transferring to customer service", it doesn't say if anything about immigration officer or any particular service center.

So can you tell me if I'm doing something wrong?

after u enter the receipt#...press 1 for SRC and again 1 to confirm urs is correct.......after that it says that plz wait while we acess ur account......after they say the latest updated account info immediately press 3 and 4.......ur call will go to the immigration officer or it may say there are no immigration officers avilabe and ur call will be transfered to the customer servive.....hang up if it says for customer service and try after some time........

useful tip: plz read thru all thr discussions in the above links i provided so that u can be ready to bug the ppl once u get them on phone...

ok i see. I guess I was following the instructions correctly, I just happened to get the customer service because the immigration officers were busy or something. I'll keep trying. thanks for the help.

all da best dude

man such pathetic people these guys are.. I did get transferred to the texas service center today, but the person I was speaking to was responding to me in one word answers and short phrases:. "no", "yes", "I told you no", "Sept. 29", "wait more", etc. etc. I tried to talk to her nicely for about 15 minutes or so, but she didn't budge .. then when I saw that it was hopeless and she wasn't going to help, I started talking to her in a heated tone out of frustration. I think that pushed her over the edge, and she transferred me to another lady. I explained to her my situation again, and she said "There is an immigration officer here right now, let me give him your case and see what he can do". So I am thinking this second lady that I spoke to is probably the immigration officer's secretary or something. But anyway, looks like I was able to hit the immigration officer. Now lets see what happens :/

Try 2 call thm again 2day and u may get a good IO officer...all da best....

oh, this was today's story actually. they were closed yesterday due to MLK. I think I will give them a day or so to see what the immigration officer cooks up (if anything).

dude u call thm after lunch...u can get hold of a good IO.......

well i called back again today. Now these people are getting totally out of control. They lady started yelling at me for calling so often. I really don't know what to do.

I was just guessing seeing the trend. My expedite request was not accepted (though i never recieved any denial or approval regarding expedite). I was expecting my application to be approved last week seeing the trend but finally got "card production ordered" today. I also sent fax five times explaining my situation (but I think still they never accepted it). I still dont know how they operate, I think it is more of luck than anything else. Do leave me a comment if you need to know anything more. I will be more than glad to help.... Good luck...

Hey musawirali,

How long after your approval notice was sent did you actually get the card? I saw the notice online 2 days ago and would like an idea of when the card should arrive.

Thanks