Applications for Employment Authorization have been taking up to 8-12 months. However, USCIS announced recently that Ukrainians who enter on humanitarian parole may file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization Document (EAD), online as soon as they are granted entry. By filing online, humanitarian parolees will benefit from priority processing and should receive employment authorization more quickly. While USCIS did not provide an estimated processing time, the agency indicated that Ukrainians who file online after entering through Uniting for Ukraine can expect to receive a decision in weeks instead of months. Some Ukrainians may receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) within 10-12 weeks or even sooner. Thus, it is recommended that all Ukrainians who are eligible to apply online should file an I-765 online.
It is important to understand that an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) is not necessarily granted to all applicants. Each application is reviewed individually based on the reason for application, length of time the applicant has been approved to stay in the U.S., and other factors.