How to Track Your EAD Card from Approval to Delivery

To track your EAD card from USCIS approval to delivery, use your 13-character receipt number in the Case Status Online tool at egov.uscis.gov, watch for the “Card Was Mailed” update, and then follow the USPS tracking number that appears to trace the package to your address. The physical card is usually produced within about two weeks of approval and ships by USPS Priority Mail.

Find Your Receipt Number

Every tracking method starts with your receipt number, so pull it up before anything else. It’s a 13-character code, three letters followed by ten digits, printed near the top of the Form I-797C, Notice of Action that USCIS sent you. Prefixes like EAC, MSC, WAC, LIN, SRC, NBC, and IOE each tie to a particular service center or filing method.¹

If you filed online, the receipt number also appears in your USCIS account dashboard. If you’ve lost every notice, call the USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283 to retrieve it.

Check Case Status Online

The fastest way to see where your card stands is the Case Status Online tool at egov.uscis.gov. Enter your receipt number and the system returns the most recent action on the case.² As your card moves through production and shipping, the status messages typically progress in this order:

Card Was Produced — USCIS has finished manufacturing your EAD.
Card Was Mailed To Me — the card has entered the mail stream.
Card Was Picked Up By The United States Postal Service — USPS has scanned and accepted the package.
Card Was Delivered To Me By The Post Office — USPS shows the card as delivered to your address.

Once the status shows the card was mailed, a USPS tracking number should appear as well. Use it on usps.com to follow the package in real time.³ The full production-to-delivery window usually runs about two weeks after approval, with a few days of mail transit on top depending on your location.⁴

Get Notifications Through Your USCIS Account

Rather than reloading the case status page, create a free account at myaccount.uscis.gov. The dashboard shows up to the last five actions on your case and sends notifications when the status changes.⁵ It also stores a chronological log of every update, so you have a built-in record of when the card was produced, mailed, and delivered.

Follow the Package with USPS

USCIS ships EAD cards by USPS Priority Mail, which usually delivers within one to three business days after the package enters the mail stream.⁴ Once you have the tracking number from your case status, you can watch the package on usps.com like any other Priority Mail shipment.

For added visibility, sign up for USPS Informed Delivery at informeddelivery.usps.com. The free service emails grayscale previews of letter-sized mail headed to your address each morning.⁶ It’s designed for letter mail and won’t capture every package, but it can help you spot the USCIS envelope before it lands.

If a signature is required and no one is home when the carrier comes, they’ll leave a PS Form 3849 notice. From there you can schedule redelivery through USPS or pick the package up at your local post office. Someone at your address can sign for you, but a signed slip left in the mailbox does not count for accountable mail.⁷

Update Your Address Before the Card Ships

This is where a lot of people lose their cards. USCIS mails the EAD to whatever address it has on file, and USPS will not forward mail sent by USCIS, even if you’ve filed a change-of-address with the post office.⁸ A postal forwarding request alone will not get your card to a new home.

You’re required to notify USCIS of any address change within 10 days of moving.⁹ The fastest route is the Enterprise Change of Address (E-COA) tool inside your USCIS online account. Log in, choose E-COA from the “My Account” menu, and enter every pending receipt number so the new address applies to each case. USCIS processes these updates almost immediately.⁸

If the Card Doesn’t Arrive

If your case status shows the card was mailed but nothing turns up, file a non-delivery inquiry through the USCIS e-Request portal at egov.uscis.gov/e-request. Select “Did Not Receive Card by Mail” and follow the prompts.¹⁰

There’s a waiting period. USCIS will not accept the inquiry until at least 90 days after you received your approval notice, and earlier submissions are rejected.³ Save the confirmation after filing so you have proof while USCIS investigates.

If the card is confirmed lost, you’ll need to file a new Form I-765 for a replacement and pay the filing fee again. Fees vary by eligibility category and were adjusted effective January 1, 2026, so check the current I-765 fee schedule on uscis.gov for your specific amount.¹¹

Check the Card for Errors When It Arrives

Open the envelope and check every detail right away: name, date of birth, A-number, and category code. If USCIS made a typo or printed something wrong, submit a Typographic Error service request through the e-Request portal with your receipt number, A-number, and a description of the specific error.¹² Corrections for USCIS mistakes are handled at no extra cost, and USCIS will tell you how to return the defective card.

If the wrong information came from your own application, you’ll generally need to file a new I-765 with the correction and pay the filing fee. Compare the card against your original submission before assuming the error was on USCIS’s end.

A Note on the Social Security Card

If you asked for a Social Security number on your I-765, the SSN card comes separately from the Social Security Administration and should arrive within 14 days after your EAD. The two cards ship from different agencies, so a gap between them is normal. If more than 14 days pass after your EAD arrives, contact your local Social Security field office directly with your EAD and immigration documents; USCIS can’t track the SSN card for you.¹³

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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Receipt Number
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Case Status Online
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. e-Request – Non-Delivery of Card
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-765, Application for Employment Authorization
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Checking Your Case Status Online
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USPS. Informed Delivery – Mail and Package Notifications
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USPS. Redelivery – The Basics
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USCIS. How to Change Your Address
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. AR-11, Alien’s Change of Address Card
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. e-Request – Self Service Tools
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Announces FY 2026 Inflation Increase for Certain Immigration Related Fees
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USCIS. Typographic Error
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Social Security Administration. Apply For Your Social Security Number While Applying For Your Work Permit and or Lawful Permanent Residency