Is applying for an EAD faster than waiting for a green card in California?

Question

My husband wants to change jobs as soon as possible so that we can move but his SS card and green card were stolen with his wallet. Is applying for an EAD faster than waiting for a green card in California?

Answer 1

ever thought about reporting a lost/stolen card ?

because you can get a replacement for that, ya know?

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/m...

what about reporting a lost/stolen ssn card?

they'd replace that too

http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/ssa....

Answer 2

I assume by your post that your husband is already an LPR.

If that's the case, he has a legal requirement to replace his I-551 card as he must carry it on his person at all times as proof of his immigration status.

I think you asked this question yesterday and I explained the options to do.

If you don't have an I-551 stamp in the passport, and you don't have an SSN card, you need to file for a new I-551 card to be able to get a job.

An Employment Authorization Document (EAD) is an interim benefit for non-immigrant aliens and immigrant aliens pending adjustment of status. There is no EAD category that an LPR can use to apply for an EAD with I-765 (see link 1 below).

You NEED to file I-90 to get a replacement card (see link 2 below).

According to the I-9 Handbook for Employers (See link 3 below), the receipt for a replacement I-551 card can be used to meet the requirements of the I-9 form. The receipt gives the new employee 90 days in which to provide the new card to the employer.

However, your I-90 application will almost certainly take more than 90 days. With that in mind, you should be able to take your receipt for the I-90 application to your local USCIS office and get them to stamp your husbands passport with an I-551 stamp.

Answer 3

He can't get an EAD because he's not eligible.  He's already got a green card.

Your husband does NOT need his green card to get a job.  If you look on the I-9 you'll see a long list of acceptable documents in both column B and column C.  He only needs one of each.  Additionally, he can get a new SS card in about 2 weeks.

He sould be able to replace his drivers license in about 20 minutes using his passport as ID.

Make sure he files a police report for the lost wallet and green card.  The odds are very high, especially in California, that hundreds, maybe more, of illegal immigrants will be using his name and social security number in the very near future.  

He should put a block on his credit reports too.

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-9.pdf