CAN I GET A COPY OF THE EXTENSION GRANTED IN 1995, 1996 AND 1997?

[Frida 0]

DEAR ALL,

I would like an answer regarding this matter.

I am a Peruvian citizen and in 1995, I was granted a visa for 10 years (1995 to 2005)in Lima, Peru. I travelled to the USA that year, but during my stay I asked for a six month extension, which I was granted as well as the following years 1996 and 1997, and I was granted a six-month extension each time.

Now, after so many years, when I wanted to get a visa to travel the US not long ago, I was asked by the Immigration Officials that I needed to bring a copy of the extension granted. Otherwise, they wouldn't give it to me. But I got those important documents stolen together with my passport.

What can I do about it?

A lawyer, who I have contacted to, has told me that I need to remember the dates of the times I was granted those extensions to obtain a copy. I was thinking then that getting a report of my travel overseas printed by the Peruvian Immigration Service may be helpful so as to remember the day I first loeft Peru to go to the US.

However, another lawyer has told me that it would be a waste of money since they will refuse to give me a copy because it is almost impossible to get those documents from Memphis, Tennessee. Most cases, they think the petitioner is lying. How could this be possible since they must have a record of my stay there?

Who shall I trust? What shall I do if any?

I loook forward to hearing from you.

Thank You.

Frida

[CC90 90]

You can try filing a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)/Privacy Act request with USCIS for your alien file and related records. You don't need the *exact* dates of such travel, but a date range will likely expedite your search.

See form G-639 for instructions on how to do this (on www.uscis.gov). If your extensions were in fact granted, copies of those documents will be returned to you with a valid FOIA/PA request.

Edited August 20, 2011 by CC90

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Let me get this straight, you came for 6 months, then extended your stay for six months (a year total). Then went home and came back shortly thereafter, stayed six months, and got an extension for another six months (stayed another year), and then you went home a third time, and came back shortly thereafter, and stayed another six months, and got another extension for 6 months (staying a third year in a row)?

[Harsh_77 718]

I could be wrong but personally I dont think there is a way you can get those records from 95. 96, 97 that you were granted the extension.

Also its kinda hard to believe you were able to pull 3 years in a row and you got extended each time, but I would still believe it as it was much easier to extend B1/2 before 9/11.