MahatPurush
Registered Users (C)
Stamping Experience/Tips at 970 Broad Street, Newark, NJ
General Tips:
If you are going without appointment (info-pass) try to reach early, it seems they allow some, limited number. Of people to walk –in , as soon as that number is reached, others are asked to come on other day.
I reached at 8:00 am, was lucky to enter the building without any problems, I would recommend reaching latest by 7:00 am
Read my post on “Info Pass Tips”
Kids are generally not required to have their passports stamped, they should get the “Welcome Letter “
My kid got the Actual Green Card, even before we went for the stamping.
Mentally prepare to be there whole day, take off from work, arrange for baby sitters (if you have kids).
Unless you enter the building, approx. 2 hours wait outside. There is no rest-room facility outside.
TIP – If you really have to go, enter from the main Entrance, where it says “entrance for people with appointments “ you will go through the security – they do not check the appointments at that time, take the elevator to 11th floor (I did that ), show your approval letter to the guard, he will ask you to go to the 3rd floor, request him to allow you to use the restroom!
Same trick can be tried by going to any other floor – but this worked on 11th!
If you have not received the green-card for your kid and need his/her passport stamped, you do not need to take your kid along with you, only his/her passport and approval letter would be sufficient for getting the stamp on his/her passport
What should you carry?
1. Approval letter
2. 2 passport size photographs (full frontal profile), ADIT style are no more accepted
(My letter said “ADIT style photographs)
3. Valid passport
4. Any EADs, or Parole documents you have (My letter did not mention this, however the officer asked for it).
5. Social –security card (If you want to apply for new one after the stamping)
6. Kids passport, Green-card- or approval letter (If you want to apply for Social Security Number for your kid)
7. Light reading material - you cannot do any serious reading in that environment, or PDA Games or anything which fancies you. (You will have lots of time to kill)
8. Some food for survival or be prepared to eat lousy food in the cafeteria. Water bottles.
The Process:
1. Getting there and Parking:
Get the directions, using Yahoo maps /mapquest etc.
(Following is taken from, another members post I forgot his name, thanks to him for excellent TIP on directions and parking)
The address of the place is
970 Broad Street
Newark, NJ 07102
assuming that you are driving. Here's what you should do. If you are on Broad Street coming from RT 1/9 and the Newark airport area, this 970 Broad Street is on the RIGHT HAND side. The place is a Mult-Story building, can't really see any SIGNS!
It's between E.KINNEY ST and WALNUT STREET.
The building is not accessible by CAR. Its part of a federal buildings area, plenty of GOVT buildings around it so you cannot drive up to it.
From Broad Street, make a right on to E. Kinney and then make your first left on to Orchard Street. This is the closest you can get to 970 Broad by CAR. There is a public parking lot on Orchard Street. It will cost you a maximum of $11 there.
Park at this lot. TRUST me it's worth every dollar to be close to you car after the long wait you will endure at 970 Broad.
2. Stand in the Line:
As soon as you reach there, you will find a long line –depending on what time you reach. Find the end of the line and get yourself parked.
The office opens at 8:00 AM and, the guards check the approval letters for all who are standing in the line, their approving nod, just means that you are allowed to stand in the line today. One person in the line informed me that he was sent back after standing in the line for 2 hours last time since they finished the quota of “no. Of people who can enter the building on a particular day “ So keep your fingers crossed.
3. Keep moving
Till you reach the entrance. (It took me 2 hours in the line –from 8:00 AM in the morning) Kill time – by whatever means available to you.
4. The Entry
Guard will give customary warning about not carrying drugs, arms bla ..bla . He will also give you a “Green –color” (Or whatever is the color of day J) piece of paper as entrance pass –preserve that, you will have to show it when you reach the 3rd floor.
You have to go through the metal –detector, once it is your turn to enter.
Empty your pockets, watch, cell phone etc – hand it over to the
Guard and go through the metal-detector.
Collect your belongings and proceed to the elevator. Please note that all elevators do not go to 3rd floor read the signs and get into
“right “ elevator. When you reach 3rd floor, hand over the “green-pass” to the guard, proceed to left side entrance and stand in another line.
Generally this line should be short.
When you are called, you are required to show your approval letter, provide your right-hand index finger print on the Form (given by immigration officer, sign the Form and receive a NUMBER for your next
interface with an immigration officer.
The WAIT:
Now the wait starts –till you see your NUMBER displayed on the LED displays.
Comforting part is, at least you get a seat to watch the hours go by.
Tip – If the place is too full – try the seats on the far right corner – EAD Section.
I waited from 10:30 – 2:30, when my number was called. So Duration of your wait depends on the day/time/luck/which side of the bed you got up etc.
. TIP – you can utilize this time by going to Social Security Office – 10th Floor, Cafeteria – (I forgot the Floor, ask the guard)
Your Turn:
WOW! Finally it is your turn!
Go the counter – hand over the stuff asked of you
The officer checks everything and again asks you to sit, till your number or name is called
Another Wait:
They do your final background check, while you are seated
Waiting anxiously and frustratingly, you will expect this to be shorter, yes it is! But very agonizing! It took 50 minutes for my name to be called.
Finally:
One Officer will attempt to call your name – try to figure out your name in his/her accent (difficult task!) So try to be seated in a nearby seat within an earshot distance from the place where passports are being handed over.
Officer, hands over the duly stamped passport with temporary Green card.
This is your moment of triumph! But you hardly realize it or have the energy to look happy. Relax! You are done!
If you still have some time/energy/willingness left in you, you can visit the Social Security office (10th) floor and apply for New Social Security Card with “ Authorized to work only by INS permission “ (something like this which is written on your social security card) removed and have new card mailed to you. Or you can always go to your nearest Social Security Office and do this formality at a later date.
Hope you enjoyed reading this, and this helps you better prepare for the stamping.
MahatPurush
General Tips:
If you are going without appointment (info-pass) try to reach early, it seems they allow some, limited number. Of people to walk –in , as soon as that number is reached, others are asked to come on other day.
I reached at 8:00 am, was lucky to enter the building without any problems, I would recommend reaching latest by 7:00 am
Read my post on “Info Pass Tips”
Kids are generally not required to have their passports stamped, they should get the “Welcome Letter “
My kid got the Actual Green Card, even before we went for the stamping.
Mentally prepare to be there whole day, take off from work, arrange for baby sitters (if you have kids).
Unless you enter the building, approx. 2 hours wait outside. There is no rest-room facility outside.
TIP – If you really have to go, enter from the main Entrance, where it says “entrance for people with appointments “ you will go through the security – they do not check the appointments at that time, take the elevator to 11th floor (I did that ), show your approval letter to the guard, he will ask you to go to the 3rd floor, request him to allow you to use the restroom!
Same trick can be tried by going to any other floor – but this worked on 11th!
If you have not received the green-card for your kid and need his/her passport stamped, you do not need to take your kid along with you, only his/her passport and approval letter would be sufficient for getting the stamp on his/her passport
What should you carry?
1. Approval letter
2. 2 passport size photographs (full frontal profile), ADIT style are no more accepted
(My letter said “ADIT style photographs)
3. Valid passport
4. Any EADs, or Parole documents you have (My letter did not mention this, however the officer asked for it).
5. Social –security card (If you want to apply for new one after the stamping)
6. Kids passport, Green-card- or approval letter (If you want to apply for Social Security Number for your kid)
7. Light reading material - you cannot do any serious reading in that environment, or PDA Games or anything which fancies you. (You will have lots of time to kill)
8. Some food for survival or be prepared to eat lousy food in the cafeteria. Water bottles.
The Process:
1. Getting there and Parking:
Get the directions, using Yahoo maps /mapquest etc.
(Following is taken from, another members post I forgot his name, thanks to him for excellent TIP on directions and parking)
The address of the place is
970 Broad Street
Newark, NJ 07102
assuming that you are driving. Here's what you should do. If you are on Broad Street coming from RT 1/9 and the Newark airport area, this 970 Broad Street is on the RIGHT HAND side. The place is a Mult-Story building, can't really see any SIGNS!
It's between E.KINNEY ST and WALNUT STREET.
The building is not accessible by CAR. Its part of a federal buildings area, plenty of GOVT buildings around it so you cannot drive up to it.
From Broad Street, make a right on to E. Kinney and then make your first left on to Orchard Street. This is the closest you can get to 970 Broad by CAR. There is a public parking lot on Orchard Street. It will cost you a maximum of $11 there.
Park at this lot. TRUST me it's worth every dollar to be close to you car after the long wait you will endure at 970 Broad.
2. Stand in the Line:
As soon as you reach there, you will find a long line –depending on what time you reach. Find the end of the line and get yourself parked.
The office opens at 8:00 AM and, the guards check the approval letters for all who are standing in the line, their approving nod, just means that you are allowed to stand in the line today. One person in the line informed me that he was sent back after standing in the line for 2 hours last time since they finished the quota of “no. Of people who can enter the building on a particular day “ So keep your fingers crossed.
3. Keep moving
Till you reach the entrance. (It took me 2 hours in the line –from 8:00 AM in the morning) Kill time – by whatever means available to you.
4. The Entry
Guard will give customary warning about not carrying drugs, arms bla ..bla . He will also give you a “Green –color” (Or whatever is the color of day J) piece of paper as entrance pass –preserve that, you will have to show it when you reach the 3rd floor.
You have to go through the metal –detector, once it is your turn to enter.
Empty your pockets, watch, cell phone etc – hand it over to the
Guard and go through the metal-detector.
Collect your belongings and proceed to the elevator. Please note that all elevators do not go to 3rd floor read the signs and get into
“right “ elevator. When you reach 3rd floor, hand over the “green-pass” to the guard, proceed to left side entrance and stand in another line.
Generally this line should be short.
When you are called, you are required to show your approval letter, provide your right-hand index finger print on the Form (given by immigration officer, sign the Form and receive a NUMBER for your next
interface with an immigration officer.
The WAIT:
Now the wait starts –till you see your NUMBER displayed on the LED displays.
Comforting part is, at least you get a seat to watch the hours go by.
Tip – If the place is too full – try the seats on the far right corner – EAD Section.
I waited from 10:30 – 2:30, when my number was called. So Duration of your wait depends on the day/time/luck/which side of the bed you got up etc.
. TIP – you can utilize this time by going to Social Security Office – 10th Floor, Cafeteria – (I forgot the Floor, ask the guard)
Your Turn:
WOW! Finally it is your turn!
Go the counter – hand over the stuff asked of you
The officer checks everything and again asks you to sit, till your number or name is called
Another Wait:
They do your final background check, while you are seated
Waiting anxiously and frustratingly, you will expect this to be shorter, yes it is! But very agonizing! It took 50 minutes for my name to be called.
Finally:
One Officer will attempt to call your name – try to figure out your name in his/her accent (difficult task!) So try to be seated in a nearby seat within an earshot distance from the place where passports are being handed over.
Officer, hands over the duly stamped passport with temporary Green card.
This is your moment of triumph! But you hardly realize it or have the energy to look happy. Relax! You are done!
If you still have some time/energy/willingness left in you, you can visit the Social Security office (10th) floor and apply for New Social Security Card with “ Authorized to work only by INS permission “ (something like this which is written on your social security card) removed and have new card mailed to you. Or you can always go to your nearest Social Security Office and do this formality at a later date.
Hope you enjoyed reading this, and this helps you better prepare for the stamping.
MahatPurush