What to do if I’m an international student and applied for OPT and waited for 12 months before they sent me an EAD card that would expire in 2months?

Employment authorization documents (EAD) allow non US citizens and non Green Card holders to work legally in the United States. It is a legal work permit that grants the holder of that document, authorization to work in the country. These documents come with a two year validity period and are renewable. In some cases, EADs valid for one year are issued by the USCIS.

People who hold these work permits can extend their permits when their cards near their expiration date. If they fail to renew these documents, they cannot work here legally. So people who hold employment authorization documents, who seek to work in the United States after the expiration of the work permits they were initially granted, need to renew their documents at the right time to continue working in the United States.

Right Time to Start the Renewal Process

To extend an employment authorization card, an application for renewal must be filed around 90 days prior to the expiration date printed on the card. An application for renewal of a work permit must be filed and accepted by the USCIS prior to the expiration of the card that was initially granted to the applicant. Applicants must remember that they cannot file applications for renewal more than 120 days before their original permits expire.

File Form I-765 to Renew an Employment Authorization Document

Form I-765 must be filed to renew an employment authorization document. Form I-765 can be filed online or the applicants can also choose to file the paper form. However, they need to read the form instructions prior to filing their forms. Forms that are filled out completely and accurately alone will be considered by the USCIS. Applicants need to keep that in mind while completing their forms and they need to provide all the information that the form requires. The easiest way to complete this form is to complete it online as the applicants are likely to make mistakes while completing the paper form.

Supporting Documents

Applicants who seek to extend their work permits need to gather the required supporting documents. They need to send photocopies of the previously issued work permits and Form I-797, USCIS approval notice of the permits they hold, along with their applications for renewal. If they have applied for adjustment of status, they need to submit copies of the receipt notices of their pending applications for permanent resident status. Along with these supporting documents, they need to submit two passport style photographs and the form filing fee of $380. Cash must not be sent. A check or a money order must be used to pay the form filing fee.

Filing the Form

This form can either be filed by mail or electronically. If the applicant is filing the paper form, the completed form along with the supporting documents and the form filing fee must be mailed together to the right USCIS office. If an application for renewal is filed online, the supporting documents must be mailed to the address printed on the receipt notice that the applicants obtain after filing the form online. People who file the form online can also pay the form filing fee online.

Applications for renewal are generally processed by the USCIS in fewer than 90 days. At times, the USICS might take more that 90 days to process these applications. In such cases, if the renewal is taking more time, applicants can request interim cards. They need to provide the application receipt notice they received after filing applications for renewal of EAD to get interim EADs. They can get those interim cards by making appointments at local USCIS offices and by submitting the required documents.

Answer: I would go post haste and consult with an immigration attorney in your locality. One can be found on attorneypages.com.