EAD and AP

[aos_query001]

I am on H-1B and my 485 is pending.
As I know my employer has filed for my 485 and the lawyers represent my employer and not me. My employer is not filing for my EAD or AP. I feel like my lawyers refrain from talking to me about my EAD and AP because their client is my employer.

1) Is it okay if I myself file my EAD and AP without telling employer or lawyer about it?

2) Is it okay if I share with my lawyer my plan of applying for an EAD myself?

Thanks much in advance

 

[pralay]

1) Is it okay if I myself file my EAD and AP without telling employer or lawyer about it?

It's OK to file EAD and AP yourself. You need a copy of I-485 receipt for that. If you don't have already you can ask for a copy from lawyer saying that you need to check I-485 status online.

2) Is it okay if I share with my lawyer my plan of applying for an EAD myself?

Yes, you can, provided he/she is a good professional and goes by professional norms. You can tell him/her that you gathered information from internet and downloaded EAD, AP application forms. As they look pretty simple, you want to apply in your own.

 

[pras01]

...

EAD is for you to continue your legal employment. The AP allows you to re-enter USA. Your employer will lose you if you can not work legally (no EAD) or re-enter the country after a vacation abroad (no AP). It is in their interest that they help file EAD and AP for you, unless they have already sponsored you on H1 and you can continue their employment and re-eneter USA as amany times as you like thru a valid H1. In that case, EAD helps chane your job after 180 days of filing I-485 and therefore, the lawyer, retained by the employer may not be interested in making it easier for you to change jobs and hurt his client's (the employer's) business.