been a long time

[junglee069 0]

I haven't posted on here for so long that it almost feels intimidating - wow - how quickly time flies. Seems just like yesterday I stumbled across this site, and it's been well over 2 years.

Nevertheless - my wife entered the US on March 13, 2004 - which means March 13 2006 her GC expires and we must go through the process of removing conditions. She's planning a trip back home for approximately 2 months sometime in early January - returning in March. I am assuming that we can't apply to have conditions removed until 90 days prior to March 13, 2006 - which would be around mid December.

Here's the million dollar question - that I guess someone on here would be able to answer being a lot more familiar with the timeline of this procedure than I.

Would it make more sense to apply as soon as we are able to, send her off on her vacation, and have her back before the 13th of March 2006, or should we wait until she returns (prior to March 13 2006) then apply?

My worst fear is sending her off w/out applying and as her return date is so close to the expiration of her GC - if for whatever reason her return is delayed - we'll get screwed. So, it almost makes more sense to apply beforehand, however I'm not sure if applying before hand would restrict her from traveling or cause any unneccesary complications - and do we need to send her passport off as well?

Lots of questions, I gues I should get back to reading the boards to understand and answer some of my own questions!

[Jasman0717 9]

You need to file 90 days before the conditional card expires. I believe they will send you something that will extend the card and your wife would need that to re-enter. Did you take a look at the guide for removing conditions here on VJ? http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;page=751guide

Good luck

[junglee069 0]

You need to file 90 days before the conditional card expires. I believe they will send you something that will extend the card and your wife would need that to re-enter. Did you take a look at the guide for removing conditions here on VJ? http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;page=751guide

Good luck

thanks - yeah i did read that - i am thinking that it is best that i go ahead and apply as soon as possible - dec 13ish or so, and let the paperwork take its time, while she's off vacationing.

as long as she returns before the 13 of March 2007, we're safe. in the event that her return is delayed, atleast we'll have documentation detailing that her card has been extended.

[lucyrich 20]

Because of that "worst fear", I'd say it's probably safer to apply beforehand.

When you file the I-751, you don't need to send anything like a passport. Everything you send can be a photocopy except the I-751 itself, which has to have original signatures. Both of the two of you need to sign and date the I-751, and I think the dates of signing should be sometime during that 90 day window.

The only possible problem with filing and then travelling would be if they approved the form very quickly and wanted to see her for an interview or biometrics while she was still out of the country. You might guard against this slim possibility by preparing the whole package, putting it in the envelope, holding on to it, and dropping it in the mail around the end of Febrary or first of March or so. Or just check with the processing timeline of your service center -- the scenario might be so unlikely that it's not something worth considering.

[buckeye6976 0]

Hi, Welcome back. I've missed your comments. Hope things are going well for you. I would agree that it is best to file as soon as you are able to. It may be that an interview will not be required. Come back!!

[lucyrich 20]

You need to file 90 days before the conditional card expires.

No, it's often misstated that way, but the actual requirement is that you file sometime during the 90 day period before the GC expires. You can file on the first day of that window, the last day of that window, or any of the other days within that window. A lot of people recommend filing near the beginning of the window for most circumstances. The way I understood the original question, Junglee was trying to figure the optimal time during that window for their circumstances.

[junglee069 0]

Hi, Welcome back. I've missed your comments. Hope things are going well for you. I would agree that it is best to file as soon as you are able to. It may be that an interview will not be required. Come back!!

thanks, i've missed being on here!! this site used to consume every moment of free time i had!! good to see some old names!! hope things are going well for everyone!

Because of that "worst fear", I'd say it's probably safer to apply beforehand.

When you file the I-751, you don't need to send anything like a passport. Everything you send can be a photocopy except the I-751 itself, which has to have original signatures. Both of the two of you need to sign and date the I-751, and I think the dates of signing should be sometime during that 90 day window.

The only possible problem with filing and then travelling would be if they approved the form very quickly and wanted to see her for an interview or biometrics while she was still out of the country. You might guard against this slim possibility by preparing the whole package, putting it in the envelope, holding on to it, and dropping it in the mail around the end of Febrary or first of March or so. Or just check with the processing timeline of your service center -- the scenario might be so unlikely that it's not something worth considering.

here's my concern with applying late.

let's stick with a date of march 13 for the expiration (not sure if that is truely what it is, but for arguements sake). if she's scheduled to return on march 7th, and i decide to drop the papers off by march 1 - the slight possibility exists that her return is delayed - beyond march 13. in that event, we'd be absolutely screwed, as i'd have no paperwork stating that i had applied and we'd have to wait until we got that THEN send it off to her then have her return.

another risk i run is the fact that she is traveling to pakistan. the immigration officials there are very particualr about paperwork and expiration dates - i remember a couple of years ago my mothers green card had expired. upon applying for a renewal, they simply stuck a sticker on the back of her expired green card stating that it had been extended for a year. the immigration officials in pakistan seemed to have a huge issue with sticker - stating they had no way of validating whether it was legitimate or not. they almost refused boarding, and after a long arguement made her sign some paperwork stating that she takes all responsibility in the event that her documents are falsified and will pay any fees incurred by the airlines, and her return ticket back to the point of origin. evidently, if an individual comes to the united states with falsified papers/visa's or expired documentation, and US immigrations denies them entry - the airline responsible for granting them passage is fined, and the immigration officials at the point of departure are also fined. so in an attempt to cover their a$$es, they don't take kindly to documents that they claim could have easily been forged.

that worries me - i'd rather not deal with them!!

[~Jackie~ 30]

Nothing to add to your topic, but just wanted to say WELCOME BACK! It is always nice to see old names appear and hear that they are doing well. Good to see you again.

Jackie

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Just want to clarify . . . your wife received her Green card March 13, 2004 and you are seeking removal of conditions prior to March 2006? I hope those dates are typos and you really meant March 13, 2005 and March 13, 2007 - because March 13, 2006 is long past. If that was your date, you probably have other worries than travel outside of the country . . .

(I am assuming it is supposed to be 2005 and 2007; I sure hope so!)

[Marilyn. 340]

Just want to clarify . . . your wife received her Green card March 13, 2004 and you are seeking removal of conditions prior to March 2006? I hope those dates are typos and you really meant March 13, 2005 and March 13, 2007 - because March 13, 2006 is long past. If that was your date, you probably have other worries than travel outside of the country . . .

(I am assuming it is supposed to be 2005 and 2007; I sure hope so!)

according to his time-line it is 2005.... prolly just a typo....

[kofuku 0]

I'd apply ASAP and hope the NOA1 comes before she departs so that she has it with her on her return trip in case she is questioned at the POE about the March 2007 expiration date. You never know with these POE guys what could happen if she returned without an extension.

[alexandra 0]

My husband actually wants me to go home this December to see my family but I'm not even gonna try without waiting for my papers to get done. That is just too risky for me considering all the things that I've been through just to be able to come here. My card exprires on February 23, '07 and I'm filing my petition this month.

Just try to weigh everything... advantages and disadvantages.

[Feliz 0]

My card expired Oct 20 2006, we both left US in September, our friend mailed package Oct 11, receipt date is Oct 12, Biometrics appoinyment came in for Nov 15 (ONE MONTH AND 2 DAYS LATER), AND YOU HAVE FULL RIGHT TO RESCHEDULE IT, so i don't understand why do you think it's a "screw up".

[mdunlap24 0]

My husband actually wants me to go home this December to see my family but I'm not even gonna try without waiting for my papers to get done. That is just too risky for me considering all the things that I've been through just to be able to come here. My card exprires on February 23, '07 and I'm filing my petition this month.

Just try to weigh everything... advantages and disadvantages.

There is no reason you can't go. You still are a Permanant Resident even after your card expires. Would you be going for more than two months? Are you worried that you'll be out of the country when you card expires and you won't have the I-551 stamp? My husband arrived back to the country from working overseas a few weeks before it expired, got the stamp and left the country a few days after his card expired, but with the stamp in his passport and will be gone for 6 weeks.

[Aussielad 37]

well i hope you get a fast approval by all means! good luck