I-551 Stamping needed due to EMERGENCY - Please help

[bluehills73 2]

Hi Experts,

I have a question. I filed ROC (CR-189)form on Sept 16th 2011 to remove condition on GC. I had taken the Biometrics on 10/12/2011. I've received the extenstion letter with receipt for one year.

I haven't received anything from Vermont service center. Now my mom is unwell and got hospitalized in India due to Heart problem. So I need to go to india in another week. I am planning to go to nearest service center with Infopass to get the I-551 stamping in my passport so I can travel with that stamping and receipt extension letter from USIS.

All Sept 2011 filers who filed in vermont service cetner did any one get their card production ordered? Did any one had emergency situation like mine? Please advice.

Thank you

[aleful 1,905]

Hi Experts,

I have a question. I filed ROC (CR-189)form on Sept 16th 2011 to remove condition on GC. I had taken the Biometrics on 10/12/2011. I've received the extenstion letter with receipt for one year.

I haven't received anything from Vermont service center. Now my mom is unwell and got hospitalized in India due to Heart problem. So I need to go to india in another week. I am planning to go to nearest service center with Infopass to get the I-551 stamping in my passport so I can travel with that stamping and receipt extension letter from USIS.

All Sept 2011 filers who filed in vermont service cetner did any one get their card production ordered? Did any one had emergency situation like mine? Please advice.

Thank you

they won't stamp your passport, that's why they sent you a letter extending your residency for 1 more year. with copy of the letter and GC you are good to travel and work.

[canadian_wife 1,808]

I traveled to Canada without that stamp. I carried my expired green card and my extension letter permitting me to travel and work for a year. Why do you need the I551 stamp?

Good luck

[bluehills73 2]

I traveled to Canada without that stamp. I carried my expired green card and my extension letter permitting me to travel and work for a year. Why do you need the I551 stamp?

Good luck

Many of my friends saying when they returned they had problem asking the Parole and I-551 Stamping. So should I require the stamping to go to India now? Please help me.

Thank you.

[mr and mrs 187]

you should be able to travel without the stamp but with the original (not a copy) letter. you could also pose the question in the india regional forum and see what experiences others have had traveling pre-ROC but post-gc expiry.

no september VSC filers have reported being approved. (nor august, nor july, nor, june).

best wishes for your mothers health.

[cdneh 3,112]

Many of my friends saying when they returned they had problem asking the Parole and I-551 Stamping. So should I require the stamping to go to India now? Please help me.

Thank you.

No you don't need the stamp. You have your original year extension letter, and your expired Green Card. That is all you need.

[bluehills73 2]

you should be able to travel without the stamp but with the original (not a copy) letter. you could also pose the question in the india regional forum and see what experiences others have had traveling pre-ROC but post-gc expiry.

no september VSC filers have reported being approved. (nor august, nor july, nor, june).

best wishes for your mothers health.

Thank you so much Mr and Mrs. This support meant a lot to me. I will make my travel arrangments ASAP.

Yes I do have a original extension letter along with Receipt and expired GC.

Thank you.

[ceadsearc 516]

As mentioned you do not need the stamp. Make sure you bring the original letter though. Someone here recently traveled with a copy and that was not accepted to return.

It's true some workers with CBP aren't familiar with the extension letter but at worst it'll just be a little more time consuming when you clear customs on the way back and they need to get a supervisor to get you through. You will be let back in.

[bluehills73 2]

As mentioned you do not need the stamp. Make sure you bring the original letter though. Someone here recently traveled with a copy and that was not accepted to return.

It's true some workers with CBP aren't familiar with the extension letter but at worst it'll just be a little more time consuming when you clear customs on the way back and they need to get a supervisor to get you through. You will be let back in.

I do have a original extension letter but my husband was saying better to get the stamping and he doesn't want me to get stuck in customs when he is here with our 2 yr old daughter.

I am not sure even if they stamp I-551 on my passport if I choose to go to Field service center in Jacksonville. Some gentlemen in this thread mentioned they don't put the stamping when we have the extension letter.

[mr and mrs 187]

you will have to take the information you have and make a decision about what you think is best.

this post might be helpful, though its not in the right neck of the woods for you:

traveling while waiting

by fairandfoul

For what it's worth, I just wanted to share my experience in using the I-551 stamp (the endorsement you get in your passport, typically at an INFOPASS appointment, to confirm US residency at foreign and US ports)and expired Green Card with the Extension Letter

Foreign Departure Ports: I have entered the United States several times since my Green Card expired. These entries are typically from Europe and Central & South America. For some reason, the I-551 stamp in the passport really throws off the airline officials at the departure ports. To test the stand-alone efficacy of the I-551 stamp, I always present my passport only (no Green Card, no Extension Letter) and point to the stamp. The airline staff always look at it in confusion, make a few phone calls, and then ask me for my Green Card. Upon handing that over, they seem much more satisfied and then ask if I have an Extension Letter. Upon seeing this, I get waved through, or asked to wait for a quick computer check which typically takes an additional 2-3 minutes. The I-551 stamp by itself has NEVER worked, and I ALWAYS get asked for the Green Card even after showing the valid stamp.

At US Entry Ports: I adopt a different tactic. When I get to Immigration, I simply hand over my passport and Green Card (no Extension Letter). The processing is identical to when my Green Card was valid. I do the fingerprints, my card gets swiped, my passport gets stamped and I get waved through. No officer at an immigration port has EVER asked me to produce the Extension Letter.

I guess what I'm saying is:

a) weigh the usefulness of surrendering your expired Green Card at an INFOPASS appointment just because you're getting a valid I-551 stamp. Not all INFOPASS interviews end in the surrender of the Green Card, but be aware of its limitations (which may be unique only to my case) at foreign ports in the event that you are in a situation where you may need to surrender it and

b) the residency extension information is available for US officers to review simply by swiping your card. They do not seem to need the Extension Letter to confirm your status. The Letter seems to serve the greatest use at the foreign port of departure

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Hi Experts,

I have a question. I filed ROC (CR-189)form on Sept 16th 2011 to remove condition on GC. I had taken the Biometrics on 10/12/2011. I've received the extenstion letter with receipt for one year.

I haven't received anything from Vermont service center. Now my mom is unwell and got hospitalized in India due to Heart problem. So I need to go to india in another week. I am planning to go to nearest service center with Infopass to get the I-551 stamping in my passport so I can travel with that stamping and receipt extension letter from USIS.

All Sept 2011 filers who filed in vermont service cetner did any one get their card production ordered? Did any one had emergency situation like mine? Please advice.

Thank you

You have the extension letter. My wife entered the US several times using her expired green card and extension letter. Never a problem. That is WHY they give you the letter

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I do have a original extension letter but my husband was saying better to get the stamping and he doesn't want me to get stuck in customs when he is here with our 2 yr old daughter.

I am not sure even if they stamp I-551 on my passport if I choose to go to Field service center in Jacksonville. Some gentlemen in this thread mentioned they don't put the stamping when we have the extension letter.

Your husband is wrong and they will not give you the stamp because you do not need it.

Alla handed over green card, passport and extension letter and never had a problem. During the time between her green expiring and her new green card arriving she entered the US probably 4-5 times and never had a question regarding her documents.

As mentioned you do not need the stamp. Make sure you bring the original letter though. Someone here recently traveled with a copy and that was not accepted to return.

It's true some workers with CBP aren't familiar with the extension letter but at worst it'll just be a little more time consuming when you clear customs on the way back and they need to get a supervisor to get you through. You will be let back in.

YES, absolutely, use the ORIGINAL letter

[vip1 8]

As other have stated you do not need the stamp, however it is not true that they won't stamp your passport just because the extension letter. Since there are plenty of stories here of how people were asked to go into secondary inspection or simple were held longer at customs because the immigration officer was unfamiliar with the extension letter I decided the stamp in my passport along with the extension letter so I would minimize my probability of this happening. I made a infopass appointment in my local service office and the lady who helped me was very happy to give me the stamped, I was in an out in 10 min. She even told me she encouraged anyone that was going to travel to get the stamp. I'm not sure if that's just the police of the service center in Miami, but I do know it's possible. If you're like me and likes to have all your bases covered I think it doesn't hurt to give it a try.

[GnBnL 50]

I hope your mother gets well soon and that you can be with her very soon.

[bluehills73 2]

I hope your mother gets well soon and that you can be with her very soon.

Thank you ALL very much. My mom had a mild heart attack and I am preparing to go now to be with her. I got an info pass appointment in Tampa where I am right now on a project but my local service center is Jacksonville.

Does it really matters? or should I go to Jaksonville?