Honestly, the inconsistency is wild, and I’ve seen it firsthand. One client with a valid EAD and steady job history got approved so fast it made my head spin. Another, nearly identical situation on paper, ended up in documentation purgatory for weeks because the underwriter wanted to “double-check” everything. Drives people nuts.
What really gets me is how much hinges on the specific lender’s appetite for risk—or maybe just their mood that day? I always tell folks: if your paperwork isn’t crystal clear, expect a longer haul. But here’s the thing—sometimes even perfect docs get flagged if the underwriter’s never seen a certain visa type before or just isn’t familiar with non-perm resident guidelines.
Out of curiosity, has anyone actually had an underwriter push back on an EAD card or ask for something totally out of left field? I’ve heard stories about requests for proof of future employment contracts or even letters from immigration attorneys... seems overboard, but maybe that’s just me.
Had to laugh at the “documentation purgatory” bit—been there, survived that. I’ve actually had an underwriter ask for a letter from my employer’s HR confirming I’d still have my job in six months, even though my EAD was valid for two years. It felt like overkill, but I guess they just weren’t used to seeing my visa category. Honestly, it’s a roll of the dice sometimes. The wildest part is you can do everything right and still get a curveball request. Just gotta keep your paperwork tight and your patience tighter...
Just gotta keep your paperwork tight and your patience tighter...
That’s honestly the best advice for any non-citizen trying to get a mortgage. I remember my lender once asked for “proof of continued residency”—even though my green card had just been renewed. It felt like they were inventing hoops to jump through. The process can absolutely feel random, especially if your visa type isn’t common. Keeping a folder with every possible document (and then some) saved me a couple headaches, but there’s always that one oddball request you never see coming.
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve found that most lenders aren’t just making up hoops—they’re just not always familiar with the less common visa types or residency statuses. It’s frustrating, but sometimes it helps to walk them through your own paperwork step by step. I’ve had clients where we literally had to explain what a certain visa meant, and once they got it, things moved faster. Not saying it’s fair, but sometimes being proactive (even if it feels like extra work) can smooth things out.
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve found that most lenders aren’t just making up hoops—they’re just not always familiar with the less common visa types or residency statuses.
Honestly, walking lenders through your paperwork is almost a rite of passage at this point. I’d add that having a copy of the FHA’s own guidelines printed out can help too—sometimes they just need to see it in black and white. One thing I’ve noticed is that lenders get hung up on EAD cards or specific visa codes. If you can show them a timeline (like, “here’s my current status, here’s my renewal history”), it speeds things up. Not fair, but it’s the system we’ve got for now.
