I-751: 2yr Green Card Expires Today (11/14)!!!

[antda 13]

Hi Everyone,

Just to let you all know that my 2yr Conditional Green Card expired today (11/14/18)!

Lol...And from this date on I officially rely on my NOA1 extension, on a flimsy piece of paper, folded up in 20+ creases, crammed inside of my wallet, ocassionally exposed through snowy and rainy weather, for the next year or so, to prove my "legal residency" here in the USA...

I hope that that piece of NOA paper is not lost and/or doesn't fall apart from its constant and long-time use before I actually receive my 10yr card in God-know-when from the VSC...

Ok, some humour aside, now that I'm carrying my NOA1 extension, I was wondering the following:

1) Instead of carrying the original NOA1 extension, can I carry a colour copy of it and instead have that colour copy in my wallet? I don't want the original NOA to be lost (Where did I put it again?), or stolen (Take the money, but don't take my NOA1!), or fallen apart (I swear, the dog ate it!) while it is "in use" in my wallet, and would much rather keep the original in a "safer place" so "the worst case scenerio" doesn't happen there.

2) If by some chance (which can be happen) that I have to wait more than a year for the VSC to approve my application and: a) My 2yr green card is expired B) MY NOA1 extension is expired c) My Foreign (Canadian) passport is expired....

Then what should I do? Will I be considered "illegal", as I would have no other paperwork way to prove my status here? The I-551 extension stamp with an expired passport is out of the question (and no, I'm not renewing it). So what's next? Do I just stay at home, in constant fear, hoping that nobody checks on my current legal status while my I-751 is pending for more than a year?

Alternatively, I've heard here on VJ that there is the "I-94 and Passport photos" option in lieu of an "I-551 passport stamp". Does this actually work? Has anyone ever tried this before and were they successful with it? How is this done? What other paperwork and/or documents is required to have such done? If so, did they give you any problems for doing such? Where on the USCIS website and/or anywhere else online does it state that this is an option (as I would like to print a copy of it out, just in case)? If it comes to this option, and this can be done for sure after my NOA expires, that would definitely help me worry a lot less there...

Anyways, sorry to have to vent that here, but when you're whole life for the next year is dependent on a flimsy piece of NOA1 extension paper and an expired card...yeah, you'd be pessismistic too...

Regardless, thanks in advance for any suggestions, ideas, advice, etc. (and maybe a few laughs in between, to cheer us all up) is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Good luck to everyone on their immigration journey! And may your I-751 approvals be speedy too!

Ant (Still waiting at the VSC, officially "NOA1 extension dependent"...)

[lawrencetoland 3]

I would make a copy of it and if it is lost, go into your local office and let them know what happened (they might want a Police Report) and they would likely stamp your passport.

[antda 13]

Hi Everyone,

By the way, I forgot to mention about the following grammatical and spelling errors for my previous post for this message thread. Lol...I guess when I'm venting and typing quickly, I don't notice such things until later on. Oh well, at least I caught the errors now and corrected them here:

-Error: (11/14/18)--->Corrected: (11/14/08)

-Error: ocassionally--->Corrected: occasionally

-Error: scenerio--->Corrected: scenario

-Error: pessismistic--->Corrected: pessimistic

Ant

Hi Everyone,

Just to let you all know that my 2yr Conditional Green Card expired today (11/14/18)!

Lol...And from this date on I officially rely on my NOA1 extension, on a flimsy piece of paper, folded up in 20+ creases, crammed inside of my wallet, ocassionally exposed through snowy and rainy weather, for the next year or so, to prove my "legal residency" here in the USA...

I hope that that piece of NOA paper is not lost and/or doesn't fall apart from its constant and long-time use before I actually receive my 10yr card in God-know-when from the VSC...

Ok, some humour aside, now that I'm carrying my NOA1 extension, I was wondering the following:

1) Instead of carrying the original NOA1 extension, can I carry a colour copy of it and instead have that colour copy in my wallet? I don't want the original NOA to be lost (Where did I put it again?), or stolen (Take the money, but don't take my NOA1!), or fallen apart (I swear, the dog ate it!) while it is "in use" in my wallet, and would much rather keep the original in a "safer place" so "the worst case scenerio" doesn't happen there.

2) If by some chance (which can be happen) that I have to wait more than a year for the VSC to approve my application and: a) My 2yr green card is expired B) MY NOA1 extension is expired c) My Foreign (Canadian) passport is expired....

Then what should I do? Will I be considered "illegal", as I would have no other paperwork way to prove my status here? The I-551 extension stamp with an expired passport is out of the question (and no, I'm not renewing it). So what's next? Do I just stay at home, in constant fear, hoping that nobody checks on my current legal status while my I-751 is pending for more than a year?

Alternatively, I've heard here on VJ that there is the "I-94 and Passport photos" option in lieu of an "I-551 passport stamp". Does this actually work? Has anyone ever tried this before and were they successful with it? How is this done? What other paperwork and/or documents is required to have such done? If so, did they give you any problems for doing such? Where on the USCIS website and/or anywhere else online does it state that this is an option (as I would like to print a copy of it out, just in case)? If it comes to this option, and this can be done for sure after my NOA expires, that would definitely help me worry a lot less there...

Anyways, sorry to have to vent that here, but when you're whole life for the next year is dependent on a flimsy piece of NOA1 extension paper and an expired card...yeah, you'd be pessismistic too...

Regardless, thanks in advance for any suggestions, ideas, advice, etc. (and maybe a few laughs in between, to cheer us all up) is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Good luck to everyone on their immigration journey! And may your I-751 approvals be speedy too!

Ant (Still waiting at the VSC, officially "NOA1 extension dependent"...)

[antda 13]

Hi Lawrencetoland,

Thanks for your reply. What you mentioned in your post before is good for everyone else on VJ to know also, in case their NOA and/or other USCIS doucmentation ever gets lost and/or stolen too.

Yes, if my NOA is ever lost, I will definitely have a copy of it (in fact, I made 2 colour copies of it already) and will show these copies, along with a police report, to the local office (how I will get to this office is another challenge, as it's not too local for me). Depending on the timing, if this were to happen, they may or may not stamp my passport, as again, my passport expires soon. Oh well, I'm sure they can think of something for me if this situation were to happen (maybe a replacement NOA or a stamp?). And yes, I'll be prepared for that, as you never knew what could happen to a wallet and an NOA extension notice in a year from now...lol...(the dog ate it, perhaps?)

Good luck on the rest of your immigration journey too!

Ant (Still waiting at the VSC...)

I would make a copy of it and if it is lost, go into your local office and let them know what happened (they might want a Police Report) and they would likely stamp your passport.

Edited November 15, 2008 by AntandD

[antda 13]

Hi Everyone,

By the way, I forgot to mention about the following grammatical and spelling errors for my previous post for this message thread. Lol...I guess when I'm venting and typing quickly, I don't notice such things until later on. Oh well, at least I caught the errors now and corrected them here:

-Error: (11/14/18)--->Corrected: (11/14/08)

-Error: ocassionally--->Corrected: occasionally

-Error: scenerio--->Corrected: scenario

-Error: pessismistic--->Corrected: pessimistic

-Error: you're--->Corrected: your

Ant

Hi Everyone,

Just to let you all know that my 2yr Conditional Green Card expired today (11/14/18)!

Lol...And from this date on I officially rely on my NOA1 extension, on a flimsy piece of paper, folded up in 20+ creases, crammed inside of my wallet, ocassionally exposed through snowy and rainy weather, for the next year or so, to prove my "legal residency" here in the USA...

I hope that that piece of NOA paper is not lost and/or doesn't fall apart from its constant and long-time use before I actually receive my 10yr card in God-know-when from the VSC...

Ok, some humour aside, now that I'm carrying my NOA1 extension, I was wondering the following:

1) Instead of carrying the original NOA1 extension, can I carry a colour copy of it and instead have that colour copy in my wallet? I don't want the original NOA to be lost (Where did I put it again?), or stolen (Take the money, but don't take my NOA1!), or fallen apart (I swear, the dog ate it!) while it is "in use" in my wallet, and would much rather keep the original in a "safer place" so "the worst case scenerio" doesn't happen there.

2) If by some chance (which can be happen) that I have to wait more than a year for the VSC to approve my application and: a) My 2yr green card is expired B) MY NOA1 extension is expired c) My Foreign (Canadian) passport is expired....

Then what should I do? Will I be considered "illegal", as I would have no other paperwork way to prove my status here? The I-551 extension stamp with an expired passport is out of the question (and no, I'm not renewing it). So what's next? Do I just stay at home, in constant fear, hoping that nobody checks on my current legal status while my I-751 is pending for more than a year?

Alternatively, I've heard here on VJ that there is the "I-94 and Passport photos" option in lieu of an "I-551 passport stamp". Does this actually work? Has anyone ever tried this before and were they successful with it? How is this done? What other paperwork and/or documents is required to have such done? If so, did they give you any problems for doing such? Where on the USCIS website and/or anywhere else online does it state that this is an option (as I would like to print a copy of it out, just in case)? If it comes to this option, and this can be done for sure after my NOA expires, that would definitely help me worry a lot less there...

Anyways, sorry to have to vent that here, but when you're whole life for the next year is dependent on a flimsy piece of NOA1 extension paper and an expired card...yeah, you'd be pessismistic too...

Regardless, thanks in advance for any suggestions, ideas, advice, etc. (and maybe a few laughs in between, to cheer us all up) is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Good luck to everyone on their immigration journey! And may your I-751 approvals be speedy too!

Ant (Still waiting at the VSC, officially "NOA1 extension dependent"...)

[senyorita80 1]

Bahahha! "Take the money, but don't take my NOA1!" is so funny! No one can relate to that except us! haha tnx I had some good laughs

I have no advice as I just sent my renewal and ... my card is also expiring this coming monday...... annnnd I dont have any NOA extension or whatsoever.. I dont know what to do.

[antda 13]

Hi Senyorita80,

Thanks for your reply. You're welcome for the laughs. I figured that if we all on VJ are going through this long I-751 wait together, we might as well laugh about it instead of being frustrated while we all wait...

Lol..yeah, only people that are dependent on an NOA1 can truly understand just how important this $545+ flimsy piece of paper is. So as I said before, "Take the money! But don't take the NOA!".

You should get your NOA within 1-2 weeks or so, as you just sent in your application this week. Hope you get that extension soon. And when you do get it..."Guard it with your life!!!", as you will need it for quite awhile...

Good luck on the rest of your immigration journey too!

Ant (Still waiting at the VSC...)

Bahahha! "Take the money, but don't take my NOA1!" is so funny! No one can relate to that except us! haha tnx I had some good laughs

I have no advice as I just sent my renewal and ... my card is also expiring this coming monday...... annnnd I dont have any NOA extension or whatsoever.. I dont know what to do.

[sj5 4]

Don't take my NOA1 take the wallet.

Just take copy of your NOA1 and if they'll ask you where's your original copy tell them this "I lock it in my safety box"

Isn't funny when you lost something. I lost my DL, GC, SSN, and other important belongings. I get depressed because they seen my information! Fortunately, someone returned it back.

[antda 13]

Hi SJ,

Thanks for your reply. Yup, I'll say, "Don't take the NOA, take the wallet!", if a thief attempts to steal my wallet with my NOA in it. Besides, I don't think that a thief would know what to do with an NOA anyways, even if they did steal it, as they'd be too busy stealing the money there instead (not that I have much money in there anyways, as I've gone broke paying for that NOA in the first place).

That's funny what you said about a thief if they were to demand for an original NOA, in terms of saying to them, "I locked it (the original) in my safety box". Hmm..I wonder what the odds would be that a thief would demand for that? And if they did have the directions/location as to where to get the original NOA from, would they ever attempt to steal such?

Sorry to hear that you lost your DL, GC, SSN, etc. before. Yeah, I would bet that one would be very worried and depressed if that private and personal information would be seen and in the worst case scenerio stolen and used for identity theft purposes. Thank goodness though, that you did get your information back, and I hope that doesn't happen to you again.

Lesson learned: Keep the original NOA letter at home, carry the copy of the NOA in the wallet instead. And loudly say to a thief, "Don't take the NOA, take the wallet!"

Good luck with the rest of your immigration journey too!

Ant (Still waitin gat the VSC...)

Don't take my NOA1 take the wallet.

Just take copy of your NOA1 and if they'll ask you where's your original copy tell them this "I lock it in my safety box"

Isn't funny when you lost something. I lost my DL, GC, SSN, and other important belongings. I get depressed because they seen my information! Fortunately, someone returned it back.

Edited November 17, 2008 by AntandD

[sj5 4]

I read my statement again. It is funny . I mean if the authority or anyone that has right to ask your original document just tell them "Its in your safety box"

"Don't take the NOA, take the wallet!"

Hi SJ,

Thanks for your reply. Yup, I'll say, "Don't take the NOA, take the wallet!", if a thief attempts to steal my wallet with my NOA in it. Besides, I don't think that a thief would know what to do with an NOA anyways, even if they did steal it, as they'd be too busy stealing the money there instead (not that I have much money in there anyways, as I've gone broke paying for that NOA in the first place).

That's funny what you said about a thief if they were to demand for an original NOA, in terms of saying to them, "I locked it (the original) in my safety box". Hmm..I wonder what the odds would be that a thief would demand for that? And if they did have the directions/location as to where to get the original NOA from, would they ever attempt to steal such?

Sorry to hear that you lost your DL, GC, SSN, etc. before. Yeah, I would bet that one would be very worried and depressed if that private and personal information would be seen and in the worst case scenerio stolen and used for identity theft purposes. Thank goodness though, that you did get your information back, and I hope that doesn't happen to you again.

Lesson learned: Keep the original NOA letter at home, carry the copy of the NOA in the wallet instead. And loudly say to a thief, "Don't take the NOA, take the wallet!"

Good luck with the rest of your immigration journey too!

Ant (Still waitin gat the VSC...)

Don't take my NOA1 take the wallet.

Just take copy of your NOA1 and if they'll ask you where's your original copy tell them this "I lock it in my safety box"

Isn't funny when you lost something. I lost my DL, GC, SSN, and other important belongings. I get depressed because they seen my information! Fortunately, someone returned it back.

[lawrencetoland 3]

Hubby and I had a good laugh over the wallet thing.

Actually when we were in England, a group of 7 punk kids tried to jump my husband while we were coming out of the movie theater. They were about 12-14 yo. Well the reason they were mad was because I had gone to the manager to let them know they were throwing stuff, making noise, etc. So on the way out, they recognized him as being one of the people who was in the movie theater. Well, I went to the restroom, he said he would wait in the lobby at the end of the movie. They waited around the whole movie to jump him. So he comes out and he is 6'3 and 200 lbs. And three of them surrounded him and started harassing him. Well I saw them and walked outside saying "What the hell is going on?" and I guess I was intimdating enough because they all shoved their hands in their pockets and left mumbling. It wasn't until we got home that I realized I had on a neon pink sweatshirt that has a massive face of Marie from the Aristocats from Disney on it. We were laughing so hard because they must have thought I was mental.

[Thai family 0]

I've wondered about the laws that require one to carry those original, expensive and hard to replace documents around (even if they are just look like something out of a copy machine).

Is it okay to carry copies? Most law enforcement officers would be a bit empathetic (I hope) if they realized what expense and effort it takes to replace the originals.

I understand needing them to transact official business, but what about the rest of the time? I'm just trying to figure out how best to advise my DIL since she'll be here in less than a month. As some one pointed out, for many, getting to the 'local' office can require a 500 hundred or more mile trip. Hopefully she can can get a DL or permit right away since she already has a SSN.

I have a friend who is a long time LPR and never carries her green card. She spaced it out once and went to Canada for the weekend. She made it back into the US, but not until the BP had her seriously quaking in her boots. They really had to earn their pay to do that, as she is a rather unshakable type.

My son would have lost his passport several times while in Thailand if he had always carried it with him. He managed to lose credit and debit cards, but never his passport.

Thai Mom

[lawrencetoland 3]

The documents aren't that hard to replace. USCIS would be more than likely to replace it, especially with a police report. They might give you a harder time if you had lost it, rather than being mougged.

[cookiee 0]

i never carry my green and now expired green card or NOA in my purse.. can't risk loosing them

just carrying my driver licence, that's it

[Thai family 0]

Thanks for the feedback. Keep an eye on those wallets! (Your own, not those of others).

Thai Mom