Applications for Employment Authorization may take 8-12 months or longer. It is important to understand that Employment Authorization 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. USCIS currently has extremely long backlogs of pending cases that has led to delays in adjudication of nearly all applications, including those for work authorization.