Drift78

I'm hoping someone would advice me in my time of turmoil,

I had applied for my OPT Card and the INS center at Vermont received
it on July 12, 2002.
Its been six months and I still haven't recieved my EAD card. I have a
job but I'm unable to work since I do not have the card. A month ago
they asked me to re-send my photographs (obviously, they lost the
photographs I sent to them earlier). Now everytime I speak to the INS
people through the phone I get rude people and some who offer false
hopes that I would get within a week. I am without a job for almost
six months now.

Can anyone answer these questions for me.

01. What do I do now ? Can i approach my local INS center in New
Jersey and apply for a temp OPT/EAD card. One of my friends went to
the local office at Newark to get a temp card but they sent him away.

02. How do i convince my employers who have been very kind to wait for
me to make me work for them.

03. Is there any immigration rule book on the internet. I want to take
a print out of it before I approach my local INS office asking for a
temp EAD card.

I'd appreciate any advice given .

Thank you very much,
- SD

Ingo Pakleppa

On Thu, 19 Dec 2002 19:25:39 +0000, Drift78 wrote:

    > I'm hoping someone would advice me in my time of turmoil,
    >
    > I had applied for my OPT Card and the INS center at Vermont received
    > it on July 12, 2002.
    > Its been six months and I still haven't recieved my EAD card. I have a
    > job but I'm unable to work since I do not have the card. A month ago
    > they asked me to re-send my photographs (obviously, they lost the
    > photographs I sent to them earlier). Now everytime I speak to the INS
    > people through the phone I get rude people and some who offer false
    > hopes that I would get within a week. I am without a job for almost
    > six months now.
    >
    > Can anyone answer these questions for me.
    >
    > 01. What do I do now ? Can i approach my local INS center in New
    > Jersey and apply for a temp OPT/EAD card. One of my friends went to
    > the local office at Newark to get a temp card but they sent him away.

In theory, you can after 90 days. But as your friend experienced, many INS
offices ignore this rule.

    > 02. How do i convince my employers who have been very kind to wait for
    > me to make me work for them.

Really not much you can do.

    > 03. Is there any immigration rule book on the internet. I want to take
    > a print out of it before I approach my local INS office asking for a
    > temp EAD card.

The INS Web site at http://www.ins.gov has the complete laws and
regulations. Don't get your hope up, though; INS offices often ignore
policies even after they are pointed out.

Your better bet is to contact your local Congressperson.

Ingo

Sylvia Ottemoeller

"Drift78" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

    > I'm hoping someone would advice me in my time of turmoil,
    > I had applied for my OPT Card and the INS center at Vermont received
    > it on July 12, 2002.
    > Its been six months and I still haven't recieved my EAD card. I have a
    > job but I'm unable to work since I do not have the card. A month ago
    > they asked me to re-send my photographs (obviously, they lost the
    > photographs I sent to them earlier). Now everytime I speak to the INS
    > people through the phone I get rude people and some who offer false
    > hopes that I would get within a week. I am without a job for almost
    > six months now.
    > Can anyone answer these questions for me.
    > 01. What do I do now ? Can i approach my local INS center in New
    > Jersey and apply for a temp OPT/EAD card. One of my friends went to
    > the local office at Newark to get a temp card but they sent him away.
    > 02. How do i convince my employers who have been very kind to wait for
    > me to make me work for them.
    > 03. Is there any immigration rule book on the internet. I want to take
    > a print out of it before I approach my local INS office asking for a
    > temp EAD card.
    > I'd appreciate any advice given .

Most INS offices have emergency and expedite procedures for almost
everything. Sometimes the standard is quite high, for example, requiring
that a death be involved for expedited advance parole.

I think your best bet is to call the local office of your Congressperson
(member of House), and ask to speak with a staff member in charge of
immigration inquiries. You will probably have to get a letter of urgency
from your employer, but you might ask the staff member about appropriate
wording for the letter. The staff member can determine whether INS has an
expedite procedure and whether you qualify, and if you do, arrange for you
to get the EAD.