Community Stories

My wife's EAD application is pending at VSC for more than 4 months now. On 91st day (Which happened to be a Wednesday), we reached Arlington office at 1.45pm. They asked us to wait in a room, after a while someone picked up her receipt and gave her a form to fill out. After 30 minutes they asked her to wait in another room after verifying the payment info. She was done by 3.15pm, so I should say it was a painless and quick procedure. She was issued EAD valid for one year.

We filed for an EAD renewal to VSC on Jan 30th 2004. Apparently we did not check how much VSC was back logged. EAD was expiring on 8th of April. When the Employer asked for a renewed EAD, we checked the status & realized the seriousness. We took an appointment with the local Tampa USCIS on March 19th (49th day of filing EAD). We showed all the documents to the officer, she did not allow me to utter a single word. She gave me an appointment for March 24th for Interim EAD. On March 24th Local USCIS issued an interim EAD in 10 mintues for 8 months.

As I got my approval/551 stamp this week, I thought it would be best to share some experience to help others; This may be applicable in Texas and
Atlanta, so read with caution and use accordingly.

Texas SC
485 rcpt date 2/2002
FP done 4/2003
Approved 5/2004

My online status never changed, except when approved (No change during FP etc). This may help some who are worried like me when online status never changed.

Your website is great and you are doing a wonderful job. Believe me - so many of us appreciate your efforts.

Here is my iEAD experience at Hartford:

Here's my story of getting the interim EAD.

Applied electronically for renewal on Jan 5, 2004 at VSC, with notice date Jan 6, 2004. Went to Newark, NJ on April 15, 2004. I got it without much hassle, except for the wait.
Valid from 2004/04/15 till 2004/12/15.

Now for the long story...

I went to Arlington, Virginia for a walk-in on Wednesday (April 14). As of the 7th, they dont take walkins on Wednesday afternoon. I was told to come back the next day at 7:30.

I cam back on 15 at 7 AM (there were already 100
people in front of me). They opened at 7:30 and we were directed a room in the secon floor. Waited in the room until 10.00 and was told that I would receive the EAD the same day. I waited some more in a different room and obtained my interim EAD little after noon.

Few things to note:

This website has been extremely helpful to me in respect of my GCA process.Thank you.

I actually had a very easy time in Columbus. I went to the offices at 7:30 am on Tuesday 13th April and was directed to stand outside in the rain until 7:45. At 7:45 I went in and joined the surge to the elevators.

Once in the offices, I was checked by a security officer (who was very helpful), gave my receipts, completed I-765, and took a seat. I was called in about an hour later to be finger printed and photographed, and I went back to the waiting room. I left by 9:20am with my card.

Sequence of events :

1. Stood in line at 7 AM.
2. Let into Room 200 at 9 AM. (Separate Line for interim EAD applicants).
3. Was sent to Room 1300 at 9:15 AM, after a cursory check of documentation.
4. Was called to a window at 12:40 PM.
5. Tough lady at the counter asked a lot of arbitrary questions (why did I
not have my old expired passports with me? etc.), and then approved my
application.
6. Went to Room 1304 - sat for about 20 mins.. they called my name, got my

I would like to share my personal experience regarding the interim EAD issuance in Indianapolis. They deliver the inteim EAD after 90 days period.