Traveling after filling for GC renewal

[Rainbow007 0]

Hello Friends,

We'll be sending in the packet in few days for my wife's GC renewal. I understand the process is normally:

1- Mail the packet

2- Within 2/3 days of mailing the packet, NOA is received stating 1 year extension

3- Appointment for biometrics

4- Interview ???

5- GC received

My situation:

I'm currently working on a project in Switzerland that's where I'll be staying for next few months. My wife's current GC expires on August 26th. I've applied for my wife's schengen visa and she'll be joining me here in Swiss in couple of weeks and she'll return back to US a week before the GC expires (this is the plan).

I see the trends for Biometrics which is called in 3-4 weeks after receiving NOA. Now the question is; when letter for Biometrics is received, can we re-schedule it for a date range in August? and would the is be advisable?

Also, is there an interview called at/after biometrics?

Thanks!

[v333k 59]

Hello Friends,

We'll be sending in the packet in few days for my wife's GC renewal. I understand the process is normally:

1- Mail the packet

2- Within 2/3 days of mailing the packet, NOA is received stating 1 year extension

3- Appointment for biometrics

4- Interview ???

5- GC received

My situation:

I'm currently working on a project in Switzerland that's where I'll be staying for next few months. My wife's current GC expires on August 26th. I've applied for my wife's schengen visa and she'll be joining me here in Swiss in couple of weeks and she'll return back to US a week before the GC expires (this is the plan).

I see the trends for Biometrics which is called in 3-4 weeks after receiving NOA. Now the question is; when letter for Biometrics is received, can we re-schedule it for a date range in August? and would the is be advisable?

Also, is there an interview called at/after biometrics?

Thanks!

Although you are correct with the timeline, or the steps on getting the ROC approved, it is really not advisable to assume it is true for you. Many people have gone through different situations and here are some.

Usually, it takes 1-2 weeks for you to receive the NOA with the 1 year extension. Personally, I recommend for your wife to schedule an infopass appointment and get her passport stamped with an I-551 stamp which serves exactly like the NOA - but since she will be traveling, it is much safer to have it in the passport and not a sheet of paper tucked between many important sheets of paper. Some people had issues with not receiving NOA extensions so the stamp will cover this scenario.

As for biometrics, yes, they can be rescheduled but we, as applicants, do not have any say on the new date. It will be assigned based on how busy the ASC is. If you do get a biometrics letter before leaving, your wife can go for an early walk-in biometrics and see if the ASC can accommodate her. This way, she will not have to reschedule and her ROC application will not have to be delayed.

As for interviews, rarely people get called for them but I've heard several different stories. Some people got their biometrics then an interview and others had their interview and biometrics at the same time. It totally depends on the ASC you go to.

Finally, something most probably you are aware of but I would like to mention it, which is the amount of time your wife is spending out of the US needs to be carefully calculated as it could hinder her residency as well as could delay her eligibility to apply for naturalization (if she is planning on it).

Hope this helps.

[Rainbow007 0]

Thanks v333k, this certainly clarifies things. No idea what this infopass thing is and how to get appointment from them but will research....

This travel duration is going to be less than 3 months however after she returns back to the US and if my duration is extended in Swiss then I may invite her again. Sure, she'd be going to citizenship as soon as the time comes. Is there any rule that prevents her stay outside US and for how long? and what happens if the total duration is broken into several trips back and forth ?

Many thanks in advance!

[Rainbow007 0]

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