Minor Delays in Processing Advance Paroles and EADs for F-1s
Prior to May 1998

INS Headquarters has recently issued instructions to the INS Service Centers modifying the steps the INS must take before issuing an advance parole travel authorization. This will add an additional, hopefully temporary, two week delay to the NSC's processing of requests for advance paroles or I-512s.

The INS Nebraska Service Center has been instructed by headquarters to work on a large backlog of reentry permits. With the exception of EAD applications with job offers attached, not many EADs are being processed. According to statistics available to AILA -- the American Immigration Lawyers Association, as of early December 1997, EAD applications received at the Nebraska Service Center on or after October 9, 1997 are yet to be processed.

INS states that EAD requests are expected to take 60 to 90 days to be processed.

In order to attempt to expedite the approval of an EAD card, if a student has a job offer, INS has stated that expedited processing can be requested, but this will require an offer letter showing a start date within 60 days.