Lost & Found EAD, Withdrawal of Application

[mac90 1]

Hi all,

Truly appreciate everyone that takes the time to read and respond to my post. I've had stressful few weeks to say the least.

Background: F1 student, applied for post-completion OPT, was approved for employment authorization first week of April. The EAC never arrived even though USPS said it was delivered, and panicked, I filed for a replacement EAC a few days later (I am traveling out of the country to visit family at the end of May and need the EAD to to reenter the country). The original EAC found its way to me last week, and I sent a letter to my filing office asking for the application for the replacement one to be withdrawn.

I called USCIS just now (I was calling to check if they received any of my letters)...they told me that any withdrawal application I file will render my old EAD card invalid. And that because I filed a withdrawal letter (according to instructions of USCIS officers), they will stop processing my application regardless of the circumstance.

Basically, this officer told me me that because I sent the withdrawal letter, I will not be getting a new card and my old card isn't valid. Is his statement true?? Has anyone gone through a similar scenario? In the letter, I outlined that I had found my original card and was hoping it can still be valid.

Thank you sincerely for your response...I'm just distressed because I'm already out $800 from this entire process.

Edited April 26, 2016 by mac90

[teeak 224]

Sometimes the phone reps don't exactly give accurate information. Did you ask for a supervisor?

or

Schedule an infoPass appointment and ask an IO directly: https://infopass.uscis.gov//

[mac90 1]

Sometimes the phone reps don't exactly give accurate information. Did you ask for a supervisor?

or

Schedule an infoPass appointment and ask an IO directly: https://infopass.uscis.gov//

I have an InfoPass appointment next week, which was the earliest I could get. The phone rep refused to transfer me because he said they all have the same information...I was kind of overwhelmed with what he told me so I hung up.

[teeak 224]

Ahh okay, yeah, I would just say call again then. The supervisors are much more experienced/knowledgable and will be able to provide more information.

[piff 46]

that is not correct - the card will be valid if you state in the withdrawal letter that you finally got it delivered. So I wouldn't even worry about it then!

[mac90 1]

that is not correct - the card will be valid if you state in the withdrawal letter that you finally got it delivered. So I wouldn't even worry about it then!

Thank you!! Hopefully this is the case. I welcome anybody else's input as well because I know this is not a common situation.

[mac90 1]

To close the loop: if you send a withdrawal application, it does NOT invalidate your current EAD (not sure if this is the case with all EADs, but it is the case with post-completion OPT EADs as these ones don't have fingerprints). I went to my InfoPass appt today and verified that my current EAD was valid and that my replacement application has been withdrawn.

[TBoneTX 45,288]

That's great news -- thanks for the positive update. You must be relieved.

[pbprasad_99 0]

Hi,

I need to apply for a replacement cars. Basically USPS status says the card was delivered but I never got it in the mail. I have the approval notice though. Do I need to file a police report in order to apply for a replacement card?

[mac90 1]

Hi,

I need to apply for a replacement cars. Basically USPS status says the card was delivered but I never got it in the mail. I have the approval notice though. Do I need to file a police report in order to apply for a replacement card?

I did not need a police report. You should send a copy of your approval notice with your replacement card.

[pbprasad_99 0]

I did not need a police report. You should send a copy of your approval notice with your replacement card.

Thank you very much for your reply. One more question. When you apply for a replacement card, do you need to apply with a new I20 or did you apply with the earlier I20 with which you had applied for the original card?

[mac90 1]

Thank you very much for your reply. One more question. When you apply for a replacement card, do you need to apply with a new I20 or did you apply with the earlier I20 with which you had applied for the original card?

You can apply with the earlier I-20 since this is just a replacement EAC and you already have approval. However, my designated school official did issue me a new I-20 and changed the request from "post completion OPT requested" to "post completion OPT approved".