One year extension passed & waiting on response to RFE

[Matmat 8]

Hi everyone,

I applied for i751 over a year ago and received the NOA last November (2015). Like everyone else, my temporary green card was extended 1 year while they processed the application. I did the biometrics and waited. Then I got a RFE about a month ago, so I put together more evidence as quickly as possible and sent it about 3 weeks ago.
As of today, the 1-year extension of my green card has passed, but I am still waiting to hear from USCIS. I have planned to travel abroad in 3 weeks and I'm concerned that I won't have the new card by then.
Is there anything I can or should do to ensure that I can travel and get back into the country without a problem?

Thank you!

[Mollie09 1,543]

If your extension (which is one year from the exp. date on your green card) is expired, you need an InfoPass to get a stamp.

[zmaster 6]

DO NOT leave the country with an expired green card and expired extension letter. Get an info pass appointment to get your passport stamped, they'll give a one-year stamp on your passport while your I-751 is still pending. I'm on the same boat as you, I had to get my passport stamped on Nov 3rd, cuz my I-751 has been pending since Nov 2015.

Hopefully you can get an Info Pass appointment before your trip, otherwise you may need to reschedule your flight. Once again, DO NOT leave the country if BOTH the GC and the extension letter are expired, you don't have a valid reentry, and you may find yourself stuck out of the US. I'm not sure if leaving in these circumstances also quality as forfeiting your case, only an experienced lawyer would be able to advise you there. Just make sure to get that stamp on your passport and you'll be fine.

[Matmat 8]

DO NOT leave the country with an expired green card and expired extension letter. Get an info pass appointment to get your passport stamped, they'll give a one-year stamp on your passport while your I-751 is still pending. I'm on the same boat as you, I had to get my passport stamped on Nov 3rd, cuz my I-751 has been pending since Nov 2015.

Hopefully you can get an Info Pass appointment before your trip, otherwise you may need to reschedule your flight. Once again, DO NOT leave the country if BOTH the GC and the extension letter are expired, you don't have a valid reentry, and you may find yourself stuck out of the US. I'm not sure if leaving in these circumstances also quality as forfeiting your case, only an experienced lawyer would be able to advise you there. Just make sure to get that stamp on your passport and you'll be fine.

Thank you so much for your reply. Very helpful.

How did you manage to schedule an appointment? I just tried using the website (https://my.uscis.gov/appointment), but there are no available appointments at all. Is this the only way to schedule one?

How long did it take you?

Thanks again!

[zmaster 6]

Thank you so much for your reply. Very helpful.

How did you manage to schedule an appointment? I just tried using the website (https://my.uscis.gov/appointment), but there are no available appointments at all. Is this the only way to schedule one?

How long did it take you?

Thanks again!

Ufta! I'm not sure if you can schedule an appointment over the phone, you'd have the call USCIS number and see if there's an option for it, or if an agent can do it. But I believe it's only online. Also, I don't believe walk-ins or same-day InfoPass appointments are possible. My FO is St Paul, MN which is very busy, so it took me about 1 month to find an appointment, I had to check every day. And when slots are open, you have to be fast. Sometimes appointments will get taken by someone else while you're trying to decide. But once again, that's my FO. It depends on where you live and how busy they are.

Just check every day a couple times a day until slots open up. Hopefully something becomes available before your trip. Just bring your valid passport, expired GC, and extension letter, and a copy of your itinerary, and they'll give you an I-551 stamp on your passport for one year. They'll probably take away your GC, they took mine. If you want you can also ask and try to find out what's taking so long with your I-751. I did, and the next day they sent out a letter for an interview. Annoying, but at least the case is moving again.

[Matmat 8]

Ok thank you. I am in NYC so I imagine it's as busy as it can get. I am looking at other locations within a few hours drive, and I am finding a few open slots, so there is hope. I'm going to keep trying for NYC for a day or two, and if it doesn't work out I'll just make an appointment somewhere in NJ.

So, I am assuming they give you the stamp right there during your interview, no need to wait?

And is it just valid once? If I still haven't received the new card by next time I travel, I'll have to get a new stamp?

Thank you again for your precious advice.

Ufta! I'm not sure if you can schedule an appointment over the phone, you'd have the call USCIS number and see if there's an option for it, or if an agent can do it. But I believe it's only online. Also, I don't believe walk-ins or same-day InfoPass appointments are possible. My FO is St Paul, MN which is very busy, so it took me about 1 month to find an appointment, I had to check every day. And when slots are open, you have to be fast. Sometimes appointments will get taken by someone else while you're trying to decide. But once again, that's my FO. It depends on where you live and how busy they are.

Just check every day a couple times a day until slots open up. Hopefully something becomes available before your trip. Just bring your valid passport, expired GC, and extension letter, and a copy of your itinerary, and they'll give you an I-551 stamp on your passport for one year. They'll probably take away your GC, they took mine. If you want you can also ask and try to find out what's taking so long with your I-751. I did, and the next day they sent out a letter for an interview. Annoying, but at least the case is moving again.

[zmaster 6]

Ok thank you. I am in NYC so I imagine it's as busy as it can get. I am looking at other locations within a few hours drive, and I am finding a few open slots, so there is hope. I'm going to keep trying for NYC for a day or two, and if it doesn't work out I'll just make an appointment somewhere in NJ.

So, I am assuming they give you the stamp right there during your interview, no need to wait?

And is it just valid once? If I still haven't received the new card by next time I travel, I'll have to get a new stamp?

Thank you again for your precious advice.

Yeah, if you have the option to go to a different kiosk for an appointment, that works too.

Just to clarify, an InfoPass is not the same as an interview. I think it was just a "typo". But yes, they'll take your passport and put a stamp (embossed seal) on a full 2-sides page. So make sure your passport has a full page clean on both sides. It takes about 20 min as they have to run a quick background check I think. And you don't have to get another one every time you travel. That "stamp" is basically a temporary GC while your I-751 case is adjudicated.

[RodDetroit 118]

Hi everyone,

I applied for i751 over a year ago and received the NOA last November (2015). Like everyone else, my temporary green card was extended 1 year while they processed the application. I did the biometrics and waited. Then I got a RFE about a month ago, so I put together more evidence as quickly as possible and sent it about 3 weeks ago.

As of today, the 1-year extension of my green card has passed, but I am still waiting to hear from USCIS. I have planned to travel abroad in 3 weeks and I'm concerned that I won't have the new card by then.

Is there anything I can or should do to ensure that I can travel and get back into the country without a problem?

Thank you!

your extention letter date is base on your Green card expiration date instead of your noa letter when you send your RCO package. Vermont is quiete busy so im not surprised its taking them over a month to answer, you may also apply for citizenship in the meantime .

[Hypnos 6,576]

New Infopass slots open daily.

[meowmie 0]

Hello Matmat!

I am also based in NYC and I thought getting an info pass app was hopeless because there were absolutely no available time slots. However I managed to get a time the same day for 1.30pm when I checked the website around 10 am in the morning. I read somewhere on this forum about someone rented a car and went 1,5 hours away from his home town to just find out they would not serve him. So I recommend you trying to get an appointment at least within NY state, otherwise they might not help out out.

Wishing you all the best!

Ok thank you. I am in NYC so I imagine it's as busy as it can get. I am looking at other locations within a few hours drive, and I am finding a few open slots, so there is hope. I'm going to keep trying for NYC for a day or two, and if it doesn't work out I'll just make an appointment somewhere in NJ.

So, I am assuming they give you the stamp right there during your interview, no need to wait?

And is it just valid once? If I still haven't received the new card by next time I travel, I'll have to get a new stamp?

Thank you again for your precious advice.