A# also assigned to different person

[bklyn_applicant]

Hello everyone,

I had my marriage-based green card interview on 04/29/2021 in the Brooklyn field office. I was so excited to finally get to the end of this process (my application was first submitted October 2019) and the officer said she is going to approve my application...

BUT

USCIS also assigned my A# to a completely different person so they will not move forward with my application until they resolve their technical glitch. Right now, my H1-B is set to expire soon, my current, physical EAD card is expired, and the renewal for the EAD/AP that I submitted 6 months ago has gone nowhere. This process is getting dangerously close to leaving me unable to remain employed, and I already have no means of travelling in case of an emergency. I am in the process of looking for a different job, and one company that extended an offer already said that they will not accept the expired EAD card (despite the 180 day extension with the renewal) so I am stuck.

According to my immigration attorney, my green card interview was already 4 months behind all of his other October 2019 filers for Brooklyn, and I only got an interview after I reached out to my Congresswoman asking about the delays in my case. I am betting that it was delayed because of this A number mix up, so I have a nagging feeling that this green card approval will drag as well and leave me in a mess when it comes to my employment.

Has anyone ever experienced this situation? Or does anyone have any tips for how to get through to a real person on the USCIS phone number to follow up on this?

[catparade]

one company that extended an offer already said that they will not accept the expired EAD card (despite the 180 day extension with the renewal)

Is that legal?

[bklyn_applicant]

Is that legal?

I would assume so since the Federal I-9 form has in big bold letters at the top of the page of acceptable employment documents, "All documents must be UNEXPIRED". And I cannot blame the employer because why take on the risk for a new hire with an expired EAD and no proof of when their green card will be approved if there is a chance that a few months down the road, if paperwork doesn't get ironed out in time, they may not legally be able to keep you on the payroll?

I applied for my EAD/AP renewal 6 months ago and cannot inquire because NBC has up to 10 months processing time so I have to live with the expired EAD for maybe 4 more months assuming the processing time doesn't get even more delayed, and have no idea when this A number mixup (which is *not* my fault) will get sorted so this GC will be approved. Screwed out of a job paying $15k more ???? Thank goodness I still have a job (at least until my H1-B expires in September) because otherwise I'd be SOL