[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":3,"doc-seo-283847-105":53,"doc-detail-283847-en":127},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,14,19,24,29,34,39,44,49],{"id":8,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":11,"show_sort_weight":12,"slug":13},11,1,"Template","Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":15,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":16,"show_sort_weight":17,"slug":18},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":20,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":21,"show_sort_weight":22,"slug":23},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":25,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":26,"show_sort_weight":27,"slug":28},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":30,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":31,"show_sort_weight":32,"slug":33},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":35,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":36,"show_sort_weight":37,"slug":38},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":40,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":41,"show_sort_weight":42,"slug":43},18,"Letters",30,"letters",{"id":45,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":46,"show_sort_weight":47,"slug":48},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":50,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":51,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":52},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":54,"data":55},"ok",{"site_id":56,"language":57,"slug":58,"title":59,"keywords":60,"description":61,"schema_data":62,"social_meta":120,"head_meta":122,"extra_data":124,"updated_unix":126},105,"en","elimination-of-form-i-688b-employment-authorization-card-memorandum","Elimination of Form I-688B, Employment Authorization Card - Memorandum","","This memorandum outlines USCIS plans to eliminate Form I-688B, replacing it with centralized production of employment authorization documents. It describes current reliance on Form I-766 produced at ICPS and highlights risks in field-office manual EAD production, including inconsistent data uploads, uneven issuance quality, outdated technology, and limited security. Starting September 1, 2006, local offices stop issuing locally produced EADs and direct non-interim filings to Service Centers or the Chicago Lockbox, with streamlined processing and security improvements.",{"@graph":63,"@context":119},[64,80,102],{"@type":65,"itemListElement":66},"BreadcrumbList",[67,71,74,77],{"item":68,"name":69,"@type":70,"position":9},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":72,"name":10,"@type":70,"position":73},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/",2,{"item":75,"name":41,"@type":70,"position":76},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/letters/",3,{"item":78,"name":59,"@type":70,"position":79},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/elimination-of-form-i-688b-employment-authorization-card-memorandum/283847/",4,{"url":78,"name":59,"@type":81,"image":82,"author":87,"headline":59,"publisher":90,"fileFormat":93,"inLanguage":57,"description":61,"dateModified":94,"datePublished":95,"encodingFormat":93,"isAccessibleForFree":96,"interactionStatistic":97},"DigitalDocument",{"url":83,"@type":84,"width":85,"height":86},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/elimination-of-form-i-688b-employment-authorization-card-memorandum/283847.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":88,"@type":89},"WPS_1786070896","Person",{"url":68,"name":91,"@type":92},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-19","2026-09-17",true,{"@type":98,"interactionType":99,"userInteractionCount":101},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":100},"ViewAction",7,{"@type":103,"mainEntity":104},"FAQPage",[105,111,115],{"name":106,"@type":107,"acceptedAnswer":108},"What action does the memo announce regarding Form I-688B?","Question",{"text":109,"@type":110},"USCIS will reduce the need for locally produced EADs and pursue elimination of Form I-688B issuance by October 1, 2006.","Answer",{"name":112,"@type":107,"acceptedAnswer":113},"Why is USCIS eliminating locally produced EADs from field offices?",{"text":114,"@type":110},"The memo cites vulnerabilities in manual production, including inconsistent data uploads, lack of uniform issuance quality, limited security measures, and problems related to outdated card technology and equipment.",{"name":116,"@type":107,"acceptedAnswer":117},"Where should non-interim Form I-765 applications be filed after the timeline change?",{"text":118,"@type":110},"After October 1, 2006, a Form I-765 received at any local office will be returned to the applicant with instructions to file directly with the appropriate Service Center or the Chicago Lockbox.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":78,"og:type":121,"og:title":59,"og:site_name":91,"og:description":61},"article",{"robots":123,"canonical":78},"index,follow",{"doc_id":125,"site_id":56},283847,1790059237,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":128},{"doc_id":125,"user_id":129,"nickname":88,"user_avatar":130,"doc_module":9,"category_id":40,"category_name":41,"doc_title":59,"doc_description":61,"doc_content":131,"file_id":132,"file_url":133,"file_type":134,"file_size":135,"view_count":101,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":9,"is_downloadable":9,"audit_status":9,"page_count":47,"language":136,"language_code":57,"site_id":56,"html_lang":57,"table_of_contents":137,"faqs":138,"seo_title":139,"seo_description":61,"update_tm":140,"read_time":73},549768072016,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_155a257f0dc6eb9ab79c44ca47cae57d","20 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20529  \nTo: REGIONAL DIRECTORS  \nSERVICE CENTER DIRECTORS  \nNATIONAL BENEFITS CENTER DIRECTOR  \nDISTRICT DIRECTORS  \nFrom: Michael Aytes /s/  \nActing Director, Domestic Operations August 18, 2006  \nRe: Elimination of Form I-688B, Employment Authorization Card  \nU.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) currently issues two types of employment authorization documents, Form I-766, Employment Authorization Document (EAD), and Form I-688B, Employment Authorization Card. Form I-766 is produced at the Integrated Card Production System (ICPS) in Corbin, Kentucky, accounting for approximately 88% of the EADs produced on behalf of USCIS. Form I-688B is produced at the various Field Offices and comprises the remaining 12% .  \nNumerous vulnerabilities exist with the manual production of EADs at the Field Offices. Some of the risks include inconsistent frequency of data uploads to mainframe systems, lack of uniform quality of EAD issuance and limited security measures. Since the standalone EAD system was originally developed and implemented in 1989, there are now various issues pertaining to outdated card technology, obsolete equipment, ongoing equipment problems, and lack of maintenance support.  \nBeginning September 1, 2006, USCIS will reduce the need for locally produced EADs in order to reach a goal of total elimination of Form I-688B issuance by October 1, 2006. In order to attain this objective, Headquarters, Field Offices and Service Centers will work in unison to successfully complete the numerous stages in this process. This initiative affects both locally produced interim EADs and non-interim EADs.  \nNon-Interim Employment Authorization Document  \nHeadquarters  \nIn order to eliminate locally produced EADs, USCIS will no longer accept Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, filings for non-interim EADs at local offices. Applications received at any local office through September 30, 2006, will be forwarded to the appropriate Service Center or the Chicago Lockbox for proper processing. Applications received on or after October 1, 2006, will be returned and the  \nPage 2  \nindividual advised to file directly with the appropriate Service Center or Lockbox indicated on the Form I-765 instructions.  \nIf the original application was filed directly with the Service Center, all subsequent Form I-765 filings (renewals, replacements, etc.) should be filed at the same location. Likewise, if the original application was direct-mailed to the Lockbox, all renewal filings should be sent to that location. This streamlined approach will enhance the Service’s ability to process these applications within the 90-day timeframe, eliminate the need for an interim EAD, and produce a more secure document. A Public Notice was issued, on July 28, 2006, announcing this impending change.  \nIn researching the feasibility of eliminating the standalone systems in order to produce all EADs from one centralized location, Headquarters reviewed two systems options—Interim Case Management Solution (ICMS) and expanding Citrix Access to CLAIMS 3 Local Area Network (LAN) . It was decided that the most time and cost effective process, as well as the safest and most reliable system for local offices to initiate card production for all EADs, is through expanded use ofICMS at the local offices. Due to previous connectivity and performance problems experienced through Citrix access, it is highly unlikely that all offices would be able to simultaneously initiate card production when needed.  \nTwo separate memoranda, one providing guidance in the adjudication of Form I-765 and the other concerning employment authorization for aliens in proceedings, are being finalized at Headquarters and will work in conjunction with this memorandum. The Office of Field Operations has increased scheduling capacity at all Application Support Centers (ASC) in order to reduce the amount of time before an applicant can be scheduled i","cbCaim6Tg8QtxG8Z","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaim6Tg8QtxG8Z","pdf",135814,"English","# Background and purpose\n## Current EAD document types and production allocation\n## Identified vulnerabilities in manual field-office production\n# Elimination timeline and operational changes\n## Goal: discontinue I-688B issuance by October 1, 2006\n## Roles of Headquarters, Field Offices, and Service Centers\n# Non-Interim Employment Authorization Document process\n## Filing rules before and after October 1, 2006\n## Streamlined renewal and replacement filing location guidance\n# System and operational planning\n## Feasibility review: ICMS vs. Citrix/CLAIMS 3 LAN expansion\n## ASC scheduling capacity for biometrics capture\n# Field Office handling and special requests\n## Overnight forwarding to Chicago Lockbox or Service Center\n## Special handling with fee waiver prior to ICMS deployment","[{\"question\":\"What action does the memo announce regarding Form I-688B?\",\"answer\":\"USCIS will reduce the need for locally produced EADs and pursue elimination of Form I-688B issuance by October 1, 2006.\"},{\"question\":\"Why is USCIS eliminating locally produced EADs from field offices?\",\"answer\":\"The memo cites vulnerabilities in manual production, including inconsistent data uploads, lack of uniform issuance quality, limited security measures, and problems related to outdated card technology and equipment.\"},{\"question\":\"Where should non-interim Form I-765 applications be filed after the timeline change?\",\"answer\":\"After October 1, 2006, a Form I-765 received at any local office will be returned to the applicant with instructions to file directly with the appropriate Service Center or the Chicago Lockbox.\"}]","Elimination of Form I-688B, Employment Authorization Card - Memorandum | PDF",1789620841]