I-751 timing question

[vince_w 0]

Our situation is as follows:

• My green card expires on 4June2009
• We live in Miami Beach but are currently abroad
• We need to send in our I-751 application (to VSC)
• We're trying to minimize our time in the US

After reading people's timelines we decided on the following:

• We bought tickets so we arrive in Miami on 24May and leave Miami on 22June
• We're sending the I-751 package so it arrives at the VSC on 7May

We basically want to make sure the biometric appointment is no earlier than 24May and no later than 22June. Can people confirm that this is a good plan? We're a little nervous about the biometric appointment being scheduled before 24May especially since we don't have someone checking our mail. Thanks for any thoughts and suggestions.

[heathius 0]

I don't think you should count on the USCIS fitting such tight restrictions with their processing. Theoretically, that might work, but I wouldn't bet on things like processing times. You never really know how long things will take when it comes to USCIS. Some people get lucky, some don't. I would have a contingency plan in place if you are going to take that risk.

[ELW 5]

You picked a good timeline for when many cases get the Biometrics notice and appointment, but really there is no guarantee when it will come! The danger is not in them scheduling too early, but some people have had trouble in it arriving weeks and weeks later than they expected.

Remember that you can always go early to the Biometrics (but of course not miss the date!). Many people have gone successfully for earlier appointments, one person even three weeks earlier than the scheduled appointment! I have heard that you can go in for Biometrics anytime after you get the notice and they will accept you, unless there are more than 10 people waiting in the office at the time.

Good Luck!

[SENKA 0]

If you are lucky, it can all work out, but I wouldn't bet on it. They are a bit unpredictable. For example, when I got my 2 year GC, it arrived a week after approvel. This time, I got approval letter dated 04/07/09, but no sign of GC yet. So it is kind of risky to count on their processing times.

Good Luck.

[heathius 0]

Good point about the walk-in biometrics ELW. You may want to check to see if the Miami office allows walk-ins for biometrics. That might decrease your risk a bit as far as getting everything done in the time window that you have. I would still have a contingency plan in case that doesn't work out. You just never know.

[vince_w 0]

Cool! We will definitely try the walk in after getting the NOA - will let you all know how that works out.

The backup plan is to reschedule our flight so we leave Miami later. What makes me most nervous is getting the biometric appointment too EARLY because we wouldn't even know we missed it since we don't have someone checking our mail. We couldn't figure out a way to check biometric dates online (can someone tell us if this is possible?) and USCIS told us we couldn't call to find out either.

So I guess my main concern boils down to this: Is it possible to get a biometric appointment in less than 18 days of the VSC receiving our application?

[ELW 5]

When you talk about mail it makes me think... what about the totally unpredictable approval time, what if your green card comes in the mail and is sent back because no one is there to check? Or what if you get an RFE and never know about it, or can't get to the physical RFE because you are abroad? Don't you have an alternate address to use where family lives, so they can collect your mail?

As for biometric notice time, anything is really possible. However not likely to get it so soon after. Haven't done massive research on the timings myself, others with experience will hopefully comment.