Edwin Ayala Perez
Jul 16, 2026
I-765 Approved After 144 Days — Sharing for Anyone Still Waiting 🎉
Wanted to share a bit of good news for others in the queue. My I-765 (Category C09) was approved on Jul 15, 2026, 144 days after filing. Still waiting on a decision for my I-485.
One lesson learned: my previous EAD (Category C14) expired, and since this new one was a different category rather than a straightforward renewal, I filed 2 months before expiration thinking that would be enough — it wasn’t. I ended up with a 3-month gap where I couldn’t legally work while waiting on the new one. If your category is changing or you’re not 100% sure it counts as a simple renewal, file even earlier than you think you need to, so you don’t get caught in that gap.
To everyone still waiting — I know the not-knowing is the hardest part. The gap between biometrics and any movement can feel endless, and it’s easy to start reading into every processing time update. But cases do move, even when the timeline looks quiet for months at a time. Keep your documents ready, keep checking your case status, and hang in there.
EB4
Special immigrant juveniles, religious workers, etc
Total Days: 849 days
Case
2024-05-16
Today
I-765
150 Days
I-485
849 Days
California Service Center: I-765
National Benefits Center: I-485
Timeline Map
2019-07-05
I-485
Added
D-1777
Priority Date
2024-05-16
I-485
Submission to USCIS
2024-07-24
I-485
D+69
Biometrics, i.e. fingerprint and photo
2026-02-20
I-765
D+645
Submission to USCIS
2026-03-13
I-765
D+666
Biometrics, i.e. fingerprint and photo
2026-07-20
I-765
D+795
Decision (Approval or Denial)
This timeline was created with the Lawfully App. Download the Lawfully App now.
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Joel MadasuJul 16, 2026
16 months since I filed for my EAD renewal. Still waiting.
yeny velasquezJul 16, 2026
congrats @Edwin Ayala Perez I’m still waiting for mine for more than 9 months already 🥲
ira mJul 16, 2026
Congrats Edwin, are you SIJS?
Javier VelasquezJul 16, 2026
@yeny velasquez u waiting for the C09 form?
yeny velasquezJul 16, 2026
@Javier Velz yes Work permit C09 for the first time.
Javier VelasquezJul 16, 2026
me too, first time.
yeny velasquezJul 16, 2026
@Javier Velz how long have u been waiting?
Edwin Ayala PerezJul 16, 2026
@Joel Madasu you should talk to your congressman that’s a long time for you work permit 16 months!?
Edwin Ayala PerezJul 16, 2026
@yeny velasquez thank youu. do you still have your c14? it has not expired yet? and that’s a long waiting time!
Javier VelasquezJul 16, 2026
@yeny velasquez 14 months
Daniel SenteJul 17, 2026
es increíble como no te aprobaron la i485 y te aprueban el permiso de trabajo
yeny velasquezJul 17, 2026
@Edwin Ayala Perez ya me expiró en mayo de este año créeme esto es frustrante
yeny velasquezJul 17, 2026
@Javier Velz ay no que barbaridad así como vamos en 2 años yo creo nos van aprobar
Javier VelasquezJul 17, 2026
@yeny velasquez bastante Tiempo.
Edwin Ayala PerezJul 17, 2026
@ira m yes I am SIJS
Edwin Ayala PerezJul 17, 2026
@yeny velasquez wow. deberías hablar con tu congresista. y hacer un inquiry. yo hablé con mi congresista en california y creo que eso más o menos ayudó a que vieran mi caso porque mi permiso (c14) expiró también en mayo y no tenía cómo trabajar
Edwin Ayala PerezJul 17, 2026
@Daniel Sente tampoco me lo creo. no se por que. pero ojalá tenga un respuesta pronto. lo que más necesitaba era trabajar y después preocuparme con I-485🙏
Edwin Ayala PerezJul 17, 2026
@Javier Velz a ti ya te aprobaron el permiso?
yeny velasquezJul 17, 2026
@Edwin Ayala Perez ya lo hice y le dijeron al congresista que mi caso está dentro de los tiempos de procesamiento ya no puedo hacer nada
Javier VelasquezJul 17, 2026
@Edwin Ayala Perez todavia no.
B BJul 18, 2026
how many years EAD did they give you? @Edwin Ayala Perez
Edwin Ayala PerezJul 20, 2026
@B B I will figure out once I get it but from my understanding is probably only 18 months since the new administration changed how long it will last.
B BJul 21, 2026
@Edwin Ayala Perez wow ok! congratulations tho
