FedEx delivered my EAD to the wrong city and it was signed for…

Summary

You can cross the worry of an automatic full fee off your list. If paying for this replacement is a financial hardship, USCIS offers a fee waiver you can apply for.

Since your card was lost, your path depends on whether you can afford the replacement fee.

File with a fee waiverIf eligible

If you have a demonstrated inability to pay, you can submit a fee waiver request along with your new application.

File with the standard feeStandard process

If you do not qualify for a fee waiver, you must pay the standard filing fee for a replacement card.

Read the full explanation

Rules for lost cards and missing reports

If your Employment Authorization Document is lost, stolen, or destroyed, you can request a replacement by filing a new Form I-765. [1]

You must pay the filing fee for this replacement unless you request a fee waiver and USCIS approves it. [1]

You asked if USCIS requires a formal carrier loss report or a police report to waive the replacement fee for a misdelivered card. The provided documents do not state whether these reports are required or accepted for this purpose.

Next steps

Here is how you can apply for a replacement card.

Check your fee waiver eligibility

You can request a fee waiver if you currently receive a means-tested benefit, your household income is at or below 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or you are experiencing extreme financial hardship. [2]

Prepare your new application

Complete a new Form I-765 to request your replacement card. [1]

Submit your application and fee request

Submit your Form I-765. If you are requesting a fee waiver, you must attach a completed Form I-912 or a written request. You can mail a paper version of Form I-912 with your application, or for certain eligible forms, you can upload a completed PDF of Form I-912 using your USCIS online account. [3]

Others who faced this

You are not the first to go through this. Here is how it went for others who asked the same thing.

USPS misdelivered my EAD card, tracking says “delivered” has anyone successfully gotten a fee-free replacement?

u/Interesting_Total544r/USCISFeb 5, 2026

Hi everyone, I’m on F-1 OPT and my EAD card was approved and produced, but I never received it. USPS tracking shows the card as “delivered”, but after going in person to the post office, USPS confirmed that it was misdelivered to the wrong address by a third-party carrier that delivers to apartment complexes. They also told me the “delivered” status cannot be changed because it was scanned, even though it was an error. They attempted retrieval and are working on providing written documentation of the misdelivery. USCIS agents keep telling me to refile Form I-765 and pay the fee, but this wa

1 View on Reddit

Missing EAD card

u/maybemike22r/f1visaJan 7, 2026

My EAD card was not delivered to me by USPS. According to the tracking number provided by USCIS, it shows that the card was delivered on **October 28**, but I never received anything in the mail. I have been in contact with USPS regarding this issue; however, I have not received any concrete response about the whereabouts of my card. Every time I call them, I am told that the service request is still under investigation. USPS has acknowledged that the package was delivered to the **wrong address**, but they continue to state that it was marked as delivered and have not provided any resolution

1 View on Reddit

EAD card misdelivered by USPS, replacement filed — I-9 verification questions

u/harmful_damselr/USCISJan 10, 2026

Hi everyone, I’m looking for advice from anyone who has been in a similar situation. My H-4 EAD was approved, but the physical EAD card was misdelivered by USPS to the wrong address, and I never received it. I only found out later after checking archived USPS tracking. USCIS advised me to file a replacement I-765, which I’ve already done, and I also submitted an expedite request due to employment impact and medical/insurance concerns. I now have: 1. EAD approval notice 2. Replacement I-765 receipt (I-797C) 3. USPS proof that the card was delivered to a wrong address My employer uses Fragome

1 View on Reddit

Legal sources

The rules for replacing a lost Employment Authorization Document come directly from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

USCIS Employment Authorization Document

A lost EAD requires a new Form I-765 and a filing fee, unless a fee waiver is approved.

USCIS Employment Authorization Document

If your EAD is lost, stolen or destroyed, you may request a replacement EAD by filing a new Form I-765 and filing fee (if required), unless a fee waiver is requested and approved.

Read the full text

USCIS Additional Information on Filing a Fee Waiver

You can qualify for a fee waiver based on a means-tested benefit, income level, or extreme financial hardship.

USCIS Additional Information on Filing a Fee Waiver

You provide documentation showing that you qualify based upon one of the following criteria: You, your spouse, your child, or your parent (if you are under 21 or disabled) are currently receiving a means-tested benefit. Your household income is at or below 150% percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines at the time you file. You are currently experiencing extreme financial hardship, including hardship from unexpected medical bills or emergencies, that prevents you from paying the filing fee.

Read the full text

USCIS Form I-912

You can submit a fee waiver request by mailing a paper form or uploading it online for certain forms.

USCIS Form I-912

For all forms that are eligible for a fee waiver, you may mail in a paper version of Form I-912 with the form you are requesting a fee waiver for. For certain eligible forms you may upload a completed PDF of Form I-912 with the completed form you are requesting a fee waiver for, using your USCIS online account.

Read the full text

This is general guidance, not legal advice. Please confirm your specific situation with a licensed immigration attorney.

Summary

Rules for lost cards and missing reports

Next steps

Others who faced this

Legal sources

Related answers

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