1-551 Stamp

[Kymberli and Ben 0]

Hi Guys, we have a infopass coming up on the 20th and we are hoping they will give us the Stamp because my GC expires on sunday! We have not got our NOA1 and i need to renew my drivers license. Does anybody know how long the Stamp is good for and do they normally give it to you without too much hassle? Thanks

[Immigrant2009 0]

Hi Guys, we have a infopass coming up on the 20th and we are hoping they will give us the Stamp because my GC expires on sunday! We have not got our NOA1 and i need to renew my drivers license. Does anybody know how long the Stamp is good for and do they normally give it to you without too much hassle? Thanks

Hi Kymberli and Ben,

Looks like CSC is overloaded with applications. I guess the transfers of May-October'08 plus H1B application in April must have added to the extra load on CSC. I am seeing a lot of folks at CSC with approval and recent applicant begining march are waiting for some kind of response from CSC. I have a feel CSC might have laid off some workers due to the poor state economic situation. So don't worry a lot of folks didn't receive the NOA. But it's been almost a month since you applied you should have gotten some kind of correspondence from them.

Now to your question. Yes the immigration officer will stamp your passport with I-551 which is equivalent to your expired GC since you didn't get the NOA. If you look at the back side of your GC at the bottom with green fine print, it says I-551. So the stamp is indeed extension of your GC which is basically extension of your legal status in US ( your can work,stay and travel outside of US and can come back).

Please remember few things to ensure the stamp.

1-Be at the Immigration office before your appointment no matter what, if you are late for some reason they might get pissed and might not give you stamp. IO are known to be moody.

2- I am sure you might have some proof that you did apply for I-751. like cashed check or delivery cofirmation by USPS (if you used express mail or just used delivery confirmation), take a print out of your cashed check from your bank's online banking service if possible, if you can't do that, then print the statement showing USCIS cashed your check.

Also if you used delivery confirmation by USPS. go to http://trkcnfrm1.smi.usps.com/PTSInternetWeb/index.jsp Enter your tracking number it will show you the status, underneath that it will show "Delivery Confirmation" button if you click it and provide your info they will send you an email with delivery confirmation PDF. Take a print out of it as well.

3- Be polite and tell them that you applied and it's been a month and you didn't get NOA and you need a stamp for legal purposes.

They should give you without any problem. If they try to give any excuses ask them to talk to their supervisor.

I got my NOA but after 30 days went to get a stamp, the IO (Immigration Officer) was in a bad mood told me he can't give me stamp cause i already have NOA. He said had i not received the NOA he would love to give me stamp.

Hope it helps.

Good Luck

[milimelo 4,477]

I just want to say that Chicago local office straight out refuses to give 1-year stamps - the most one can get is 60 days and only after your GC expires.

I hope other offices have better I-551 stamp policies.

[Kymberli and Ben 0]

Great advice as always immigrant, Thankyou

[a&o 4]

We were able to get O's stamp with no hassle at all at the Jacksonville infopass office. It is good for one year. They did take the expired green card, though.

Edited May 15, 2009 by a&o

[Immigrant2009 0]

Great advice as always immigrant, Thankyou

You are most welcome , I am glad my advice looked sound to you. I will be very glad if you get stamp.

Good Luck Again.

Please come back and update us on what happened.

Edited May 15, 2009 by Immigrant2009