I reached there around 4:30am. People were already lined up. First you have to get the form from one line and then wait in another line. Around 6:30am they asked people who are there for EAD to form another shorter line. I got the token and my no. was called around 8:30am. The required documents are :
1. I-485 receipt
2. I-765 receipt
3.information about any previous I-765, like receipt date
4. previous EAD Plastic card
5.California driver license and Passport for identification.
I went to the Miami office today to apply for a temporary work authorization card. This office no longer accepts walk ins as of two days ago. People can either make an appointment with the office on the web from home, or on site. The waiting time is approximately two weeks for an appointment. This is for any type of immmigration case.
I had a 11 AM appointment (ND-4/6/2004 at VSC) via infopass but showed up at 10 AM just in case.
1. The guard at the building entrance asked me to enter at the beginning of the Q since I had an infopass appointment.
2. In room 310, I stood in the line just like everyone else. Got a ticket at 10:30 and headed to room 900 on the 9th floor.
3. My number was called at 11 AM and I handed my infopass appointment sheet and filled out 765 form. The person at the counter asked me to wait for the number to be called again.
Today the 9th of August 2004 i went to the local immigration office of New york in order to receive the EAD card as they told me over the phone when i call earlier the day that made my application 90 . I filled a form i-539 for the v-status and a form 765 for the EAD on april 29 2004, they gave me the notice with the date 7th of may 2004 . When i arrive at the local office with my infopass apointement thing went very easy . You go to the room 310 for a number , filled out the application then went to the 9 floor on room 900 .
"96 days after submitting the EAD application, Tampa refused to issue an interim EAD. Evidentially an appointment card had been mailed that same day.The appointment was set for 10 days later. Including 2 months wasted trying to get the initial appointment to submit the EAD application, it took 5.5 months to get this EAD renewal. The real tragedy was the loss a job and residual loss of income which lasted months. We will start this process again 6 months before this EAD expires. Hmm...that's pretty soon".
EAD and Advance Parole was applied and Jul 8, 2004 along with I140 and I485(concurrent). Received by Vermont service center on Jul 13, 2004. Approved on Jul 28,2004. Recieved EAD card on Aug 2,2004. I saw on Web my advance parole also was approved.So EAD and Advance parole in 15 days.
It tooks around 827 days.
Filed in TX and later moved to Ohio.
letter for interview was issued to me and my wife, but duing interview they asked kids to be present, So please make sure kids are with you. Asked for six fmily photos with kids and some school reports( Grades and mark or award) for the file - Please consider this to be with you, during interview.
Thanks...
I contacted the USCIS regularly from Jan ‘ 04 (I applied in Aug) and was told my security check is pending. I contacted the FBI directly who told me that they received no request for a name check from the FBI. I did this on 2 separate occasions. I had no idea if my name check was submitted or not.
Here is my recent H1B stamping experience (early August, 2003) in U.S. consulate in Calgary, AB.
I contacted the USCIS regularly from Jan ‘ 04 (I applied in Aug) and was told my security check is pending. I contacted the FBI directly who told me that they received no request for a name check from the FBI. I did this on 2 separate occasions. I had no idea if my name check was submitted or not.
Based on many posts by users of these boards, I’ve decided to write-up a fairly comprehensive posting regarding ability to pay issues and how to overcome RFE’s, Denials and appeals.
Background:
Law governing ability to pay – 8 CFR 204.5(g)(2)
Release Date
12/05/2025
New vetting center will focus on powerful screening resources to keep America safe
Release Date
12/04/2025
Maximum validity periods of some Employment Authorization Documents will be reduced
WASHINGTON – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services updated its Policy Manual to reduce the maximum validity period for Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) for certain categories of aliens. This update also incorporates changes to EAD validity periods made by recent legislation to ensure proper vetting and screening of aliens.
USCIS is updating USCIS Policy Manual Volume 1, Part C to deter the filing of frivolous claims and provide operational consistency. This update clarifies that the Department of Homeland Security generally will not take biometrics of detained aliens unless they are in removal proceedings and have a pending application or petition filed with the Executive Office for Immigration Review. This guidance is effective immediately and applies to requests pending or filed on or after the publication date.
Rajiv S. Khanna, US Immigration attorney, provides free immigration help by hosting a free community conference call for US immigration-related questions every Thursday. You can post questions for the call if you are a member of our US Immigration forums. Membership is immediate and lifelong. Walk-ins are also permitted.
Last Updated: December 3, 2025
As of December 15, the Department will expand the requirement that an online presence review be conducted for all H-1B applicants and their dependents, in addition to the students and exchange visitors already subject to this review. To facilitate this vetting, all applicants for H-1B and their dependents (H-4), F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas are instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to “public.”
Published by: The Times of India - December 04, 2025
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/us-to-scan-social-media-of…
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:
Rajiv S. Khanna, managing attorney at Immigration.com expressed dismay that a country which professes to be a shining beacon of free speech does not appreciate it.
December 23, 2025
The Department of Homeland Security has finalized regulations that fundamentally change how H-1B cap registrations will be selected, effective for the FY 2027 lottery (registration opening around March 2026). Under the new weighted selection process, registrations for higher-paid workers will have significantly better chances of selection than those for lower-paid workers.