EAD Card Production Delays: Approved Cases Stuck for 3+ Months

A growing number of employment authorization applicants are reporting significant delays between case approval and actual card production by USCIS. One applicant describes their Employment Authorization Document (EAD) being approved through adjustment of status on December 2nd, yet remaining in an approved-but-unproduced state for more than three months — with no movement to a 'Card Produced' status. The frustration stems from a disconnect in USCIS processing: while the adjudication itself is complete with no requests for evidence or denials pending, the physical card production phase appears to be experiencing its own separate bottleneck. This two-stage process — approval followed by card production and mailing — can become a source of significant uncertainty when one stage stalls indefinitely. The delays appear connected to administrative holds that USCIS has acknowledged affecting certain cases. Lawsuits have previously been filed against USCIS over such delays, suggesting this is a systemic issue rather than isolated incidents. Congressional outreach through a senator's office yielded only generic responses that confirmed the administrative hold situation without providing specific timelines or remedies. For EB-3 applicants and others awaiting EADs tied to adjustment of status, this situation highlights the importance of maintaining backup work authorization when possible. It also underscores the limited practical recourse available short of legal action when USCIS administrative processes stall after approval. Applicants experiencing similar delays are advised to submit a service request through the USCIS online portal, contact the USCIS Contact Center, and consider reaching out to their congressional representatives — though responses may be limited — while monitoring for any class action or mandamus lawsuit opportunities that may apply to their situation.