USCIS Application Support Center

So I am going to be honest and say I was quite nervous to go to my appointment here. My past experiences in Elizabeth have been a little scary and the posts about lack of parking made me even more nervous, not to mention having to deal with potentially rude staff. I had done biometrics with my kids in Newark years ago and that was a horrible experience all around. I checked Google maps to see where I could potentially park and how far those places were from the office.
I decided to park at a meter, 25 cents per 10 minutes as has been mentioned before, but you can do 4 hours — expensive but I preferred to be close and legally parked. I had no trouble finding a spot around the corner on Chestnut. Put in for 2 hours and went in 40 minutes before my timed appt. The place was huge and 90% empty (Tuesday after lunch). Went to the first desk, showed them that my cell was OFF, showed my appt. letter and was given a short form to fill out, showed it to the woman at the first desk and was sent to the Receptionist, who checked my photo ID (Green Card or passport). She sent me to the final waiting area with a number (like at the grocery store), in 10 minutes I was called by a staff, we reviewed my info on a computer, I signed a screen, got finger printed (after my hands were wiped and sanitized) twice for each finger — a full on print and a rolling print. The computer tells the staff if the prints are good or not. Then my picture was taken and I was even given the chance to check it before it was submitted. I then was given a «comments card» to fill out and was on my way.
I had been given a package for studying for the next interview — with a booklet and 2 CD’s, as well as a form with a correction to one of the questions (new speaker of the house — Ryan). In all, less than 30 minutes, everyone was cordial if not very pleasant — and I was on my way.
I did find out some days are very busy and things can move slowly and I am sure staff can be in bad moods at times, but you have the «comments form» to fight this and other venues such as Unilocal.There is also a number on the USCIS site to report any issues. Bring a book or magazine if you cannot sit without something to do while waiting!
My only negative is the parking issue, you can take the train, but otherwise a huge improvement on the old Newark location and experience! Now onto the studying!

USCIS in general is one of the most opaque, inefficient and unscrutinized institution, from where we have never seen any accountability or audit of how or wheater the public money is being best served (if at all). Can any news media pick this up and dig a little more into what happens behind the doors of this institution?

Went there for photo and finger prints today. Was in at 12:50pm and out at 2:30pm. The security guard was nice but that’s where nice and customer service ended. You must turn off your phone if not you will get ejected. I seen one man who was at the final area before he was about to get processed he got put back to stage 1 again.
After i had seen the security guard I was asked to join yet another line for a woman to give me a number. The woman didn’t seem interested in the people who were in line she also checked the form the security man had given me. This step in the process is a bit pointless as security also checked my form they could issue numbers at the first desk and check the forms were completed. The woman took her time and talked to other staff members like we were not even there.
I then was asked to take a seat outside the biometics area. After 15 mins they called my group of numbers and we went into the final waiting area before I was processed i waited there for an hour. There’s a TV there with a tape about eVerify playing on a loop. They could put something better on that TV as people had nothing to do other than look at the 4 walls and wait their turn. I was then called and the lady that handled me handled me like I was a prisoner, when my fee and taxes pay her salary. She took my prints which i know its her job but she was very rough with me and acted like i wasnt even there. This place is worse than the DMV at least my local DMV are friendly.
There is a parking garage near the train station its $ 4 for 2 hours at Elizabeth Parking Authority
Parking Lot
Address: 233 Commerce Pl, Elizabeth, NJ 7 201

My appointment was at 3pm, but I could have gone anytime as they just take you in the order you arrive and it is first come first serve type of thing.
I enter the place by 2.22pm, and left at 3.25pm.
The guard will make you turn off you cellphone at the entrance, and don’t even think about turning it on before you’re outside.
Once it was my turn, the whole biometrics were taken in 5 minutes and was simple. The person working was very nice and courteous, explained what he was doing and what I should expect after.
The place is conveniently close to the Elizabeth Train Station and at a very short walking distance.
Though the neighborhood is a bit rough due to the homeless people everywhere, it is a fairly safe place to go during the day.
If you’re thinking of driving there, good luck for parking. You might be able to park at the post office across the street or the Saving’s Bank, but chances are that your car might get a ticket as they have security people making sure the parking is reserved to customers.

(2 stars is average) One star was subtracted because all I could find was street parking. 10 minutes for 25 cents.
The staff here is courteous and friendly, and appear more intelligent than the average government worker. The management and hiring here must be done well, as their exists a polite culture amongst the workers.
No cell phones is supposedly allowed due to electromagnetic interference with the fingerprint scanner.
The wait can be long however depending upon your appointment time. I would plan for a three hour wait, but you can get lucky and be out in 30 minutes.