Passport Question...

[somethingnew 0]

Hi Ladies and Gents,

My process is from a F-1 visa to Green Card. On November 1st, I successfully completed my Biometrics appointment, and since then I haven't received any mails, and I'm assuming this will continue until I get my work authorization sometime during February (hopefully sooner!) One thing I know, I couldn't have done it without the help from this community.

My concern is this: I remember reading somewhere that they stamp your passport for AOS? (or maybe it was the work authorization, I can't recall what it was) Nevertheless, if I will be getting a stamp on my passport for whatever reason, my passport is expiring May 2013, and my USA visa expires August 2013 (though I doubt my visa matters at this point). Should I go ahead and apply for a new passport from my consulate? Thank you all for any replies!

[huongkhin 9]

It's called I-551 stamp. At the interview, the IO may stamp your passport if your application is approved and needs no further review.

If you filed form I-765, you should get the EAD card with in 90 days... or much sooner.

Check with your country's consulate but I don't think it's a good idea to mail your passport to the consulate. You will need that passport with the F-1 visa and entry stamp / I-94 at the interview.

Edited November 16, 2012 by huongkhin

[somethingnew 0]

It's called I-551 stamp. At the interview, the IO may stamp your passport if your application is approved and needs no further review.

If you filed form I-765, you should get the EAD card with in 90 days... or much sooner.

Check with your country's consulate but I don't think it's a good idea to mail your passport to the consulate. You will need that passport with the F-1 visa and entry stamp / I-94 at the interview.

Hmm, I see what you're saying. But my passport might have already been expired by the time me and my wife go to the interview though. So that still wouldn't matter, even if they stamp an expired passport, and afterwards, I just apply for a new one? I feel like applying for a new passport after I get a stamp at an old passport might complicate things. However, I do understand the complications if I get a new passport as well, before I get the stamp in the first place, because the new passport will not have my F-1 visa... I have no idea what to do.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

They don't give out the stamps very much anymore. It is not required, and the GC itself is better. Just wait for your GC and renew your passport later. You need your current passport for the interview.

Edited November 16, 2012 by Harpa Timsah

[AnotherLostSoul 167]

Hi Ladies and Gents,

My process is from a F-1 visa to Green Card. On November 1st, I successfully completed my Biometrics appointment, and since then I haven't received any mails, and I'm assuming this will continue until I get my work authorization sometime during February (hopefully sooner!) One thing I know, I couldn't have done it without the help from this community.

My concern is this: I remember reading somewhere that they stamp your passport for AOS? (or maybe it was the work authorization, I can't recall what it was) Nevertheless, if I will be getting a stamp on my passport for whatever reason, my passport is expiring May 2013, and my USA visa expires August 2013 (though I doubt my visa matters at this point). Should I go ahead and apply for a new passport from my consulate? Thank you all for any replies!

Hey Somethingnew:

I would not apply for a passport at this point at all. If you had your biometrics on November 1st, you could be getting your EAD in about a week. Or at least, in my experiences! And after that in about a month you'll get the interview notification for the next month. So in about two months from the date you'll get your EAD you'll have your interview. Which sort of means that you'll probably be knowing if you passed at the interview, or failed by around January, or February. That's when you would get your passport stamped. And from that point, May is still far out! I think only apply for a new passport if you haven't had the interview yet and it is already April. Not before it. Even if you go to the interview say in April (say it's too slow in your case) they will want to see your "old" passport that had the visa in it and the I-94. Now, I am not sure if they still would stamp the "old" passport, or the "new" one...I assume old one, since the new one would not hold a visa, so it would make no sense to show at the border, or anywhere else that your visa has been changed and adjusted to LPR status. The new passport is just an empty passport. But this is my opinion. My passport expired in June 2011. But my consulate and embassy in the US did not issue passports in the US at that time. I called them months before it was about to expire what to do, and at that time they told me they could give me a "temporary passport" (basically a slip of paper) that would allow me to leave the country and have my passport done at my home country. Well, I saw I have no choice, so I applied for it. By the time I was expecting it to come in the mail, I've got a letter stating that the embassy/consulates will be getting the printer in about half a year later, so they no longer issue any "temporary paper" and I should not worry due to having an expired passport. Until I maintain my F1 status with my I-20 and registered (visa still valid for me right now, but they said that would not matter if it was expired as that would be only needed for entry back to US, it is not a proof of legal F1 status) I should be fine. At that time, I had no idea my boyfriend will want to tie the knots with me. Then I flew to the nearest consulate this summer in 2012 to have my new passport as the printer has arrived. In the meantime, I've got married and filed AOS with photos of my old passport biographical page, visa, I-94 page as I did not have my "new" passport yet. Then about a month ago, I just got my new passport. And I will take both passports to my interview which is scary, but in about two weeks away from today! So, I will let you know which one they stamped- if I passed their interview!!! >.< Wish me luck, dude!

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

USCIS does not typically give out the stamps anymore anyway. You will most likely never get a stamp.

[somethingnew 0]

They don't give out the stamps very much anymore. It is not required, and the GC itself is better. Just wait for your GC and renew your passport later. You need your current passport for the interview.

I agree. If I start the renewal process, I won't have the passport that I applied for my GC.

Hey Somethingnew:

I would not apply for a passport at this point at all. If you had your biometrics on November 1st, you could be getting your EAD in about a week. Or at least, in my experiences! And after that in about a month you'll get the interview notification for the next month. So in about two months from the date you'll get your EAD you'll have your interview. Which sort of means that you'll probably be knowing if you passed at the interview, or failed by around January, or February. That's when you would get your passport stamped. And from that point, May is still far out! I think only apply for a new passport if you haven't had the interview yet and it is already April. Not before it. Even if you go to the interview say in April (say it's too slow in your case) they will want to see your "old" passport that had the visa in it and the I-94. Now, I am not sure if they still would stamp the "old" passport, or the "new" one...I assume old one, since the new one would not hold a visa, so it would make no sense to show at the border, or anywhere else that your visa has been changed and adjusted to LPR status. The new passport is just an empty passport. But this is my opinion. My passport expired in June 2011. But my consulate and embassy in the US did not issue passports in the US at that time. I called them months before it was about to expire what to do, and at that time they told me they could give me a "temporary passport" (basically a slip of paper) that would allow me to leave the country and have my passport done at my home country. Well, I saw I have no choice, so I applied for it. By the time I was expecting it to come in the mail, I've got a letter stating that the embassy/consulates will be getting the printer in about half a year later, so they no longer issue any "temporary paper" and I should not worry due to having an expired passport. Until I maintain my F1 status with my I-20 and registered (visa still valid for me right now, but they said that would not matter if it was expired as that would be only needed for entry back to US, it is not a proof of legal F1 status) I should be fine. At that time, I had no idea my boyfriend will want to tie the knots with me. Then I flew to the nearest consulate this summer in 2012 to have my new passport as the printer has arrived. In the meantime, I've got married and filed AOS with photos of my old passport biographical page, visa, I-94 page as I did not have my "new" passport yet. Then about a month ago, I just got my new passport. And I will take both passports to my interview which is scary, but in about two weeks away from today! So, I will let you know which one they stamped- if I passed their interview!!! >.< Wish me luck, dude!

Your story is interesting as well. I'm not going to renew my passport anytime soon then, because I should have it at my disposal if I get called in for an interview. You have to let me know what happens with your two passports situation! I will be replying back to this thread in about two weeks. Good luck!

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

if I get called in for an interview.

You will be called for an interview. An interview is mandatory for someone with a concurrent I-130/I-485 AOS case.

[AnotherLostSoul 167]

I agree. If I start the renewal process, I won't have the passport that I applied for my GC.

Your story is interesting as well. I'm not going to renew my passport anytime soon then, because I should have it at my disposal if I get called in for an interview. You have to let me know what happens with your two passports situation! I will be replying back to this thread in about two weeks. Good luck!

I will definitely let you know the outcome of the passport thing... Good luck to you also!

[somethingnew 0]

I will definitely let you know the outcome of the passport thing... Good luck to you also!

I said I'd be replying back to this thread after it's been a little more than two weeks, so... what happened?

Also, we got the interview letter, they scheduled us on the last week of December!

[AnotherLostSoul 167]

I said I'd be replying back to this thread after it's been a little more than two weeks, so... what happened?

Also, we got the interview letter, they scheduled us on the last week of December!

Hey Somethingnew: Funny, I was just looking for this thread as I remembered I promised to report to you what happened. So I had my interview yesterday (approved) and guess what? I brought both the old passport (expired but holds the visa, the I-94 ad has the I-20 attached in an envelope to that passport) and as well as the new passport (has nothing in it, not even a visa, or any sort of stamp as I just got it a couple month ago via mail). And the officer asked for the passport that has the visa in it for verification that it is me, as well as for my driver's license, again just for verification purposes. Ad she approved me, and USCIS website already states card production is in order, but she did NOT stamp any of my passports at all. So I guess, don't worry too much. Good luck to you!

[somethingnew 0]

Hey Somethingnew: Funny, I was just looking for this thread as I remembered I promised to report to you what happened. So I had my interview yesterday (approved) and guess what? I brought both the old passport (expired but holds the visa, the I-94 ad has the I-20 attached in an envelope to that passport) and as well as the new passport (has nothing in it, not even a visa, or any sort of stamp as I just got it a couple month ago via mail). And the officer asked for the passport that has the visa in it for verification that it is me, as well as for my driver's license, again just for verification purposes. Ad she approved me, and USCIS website already states card production is in order, but she did NOT stamp any of my passports at all. So I guess, don't worry too much. Good luck to you!

That helps out a lot, thank you for sharing!

[AnotherLostSoul 167]

You're more than welcome! Good luck to you!

[bordeauxol999 0]

Is it a requirements to have a valid passport for the interview? Wondering what if the newly ordered one doesn't arrive by the time of the interview? I always that they stamp something into it.... So aren't they? Please let me know if you can help me with this dilemma? Every help would be greatly appreciate...

[Tanja08 11]

Your passport doesn't have to be valid. They usually don't stamp it anymore! And they want to see your entry stamps