What is an Employment Authorization Document (EAD)?

How long is EAD and Travel Authorization taking?Mike, you can explain for those people who don't know what is an EAD. So if you're here in the US, and you're going through the green card process, you're going through something called an I-140 adjustment of status application. And as part of that application, you are permitted to apply for EAD a work card and something called Advanced Parole, which takes the place of your prior visa, whether that be an h1 or student visa, and allows you to travel internationally.

Generally, those applications are processed together and issued in one card called a combo card that will look like a driver's license that will have your EAD and your AP on the exact same document. However, and the normal processing time for that is right now anywhere four to six months. However, the if you're a healthcare worker, you have the ability to expedite the issuance of that EAD card. It will not expedite the issuance of the AP though. And so that can work to split your card up. So expediting may not be the best thing for you. So I think it depends on your circumstances. And they weren't just expediting renewals, and then maybe about three weeks ago or so they announced that they were also going to expedite new cases. So right now, I haven't asked anyone how soon we're getting them but as I understand it, the expedites are being granted.