I-751 July 2017 Filers

[Trenz 52]

1 hour ago, Rexchi said:

Anyone from Phoenix get their I-551 stamp recently? Did you have to surrender your GC? We are still waiting on the 18 months extension letter as well. 

Impeccable timing on your question, as I was just at the Phoenix office earlier today getting my I-551 stamp. My experience:

 

The time I arrived it was very quiet and I made it through security no problem at all. I provided the worker at the intake desk my appointment paper and a brief explanation for my appointment and she typed this in and gave me a number in line.

 

After only about 10 minutes I was summoned to one of the desks. The worker I encountered was very kind and very understanding why I had a desire to get the stamp and he had indicated he was aware of the backlog (more on that momentarily). I gave a brief explanation about my case and indicated I was within the 3 month window for expiration of my extension letter and over the one year mark since I received my NOA1. He asked to see my green card, passport, and extension letter. After some typing into the computer, he said it wouldn't be a problem for me to get the stamp today.

 

I was told I would need to have my picture and fingerprints taken again (apparently to prevent identity theft); this was all done at his desk.

 

He stamped a rectangular I-551 stamp onto a page in my passport book and wrote down the required information. Key to this part is they said they did need to keep my green card but I was free to keep my extension letter. I was made a colored photocopy of my green card for my records (I highly recommend making your own digital copy before hand though).

 

My passport was taken to a back office area where it was punched with the official USCIS seal onto the I-551 stamp. After that, the process was done.

 

Other noteable information in my appointment:

• I was told that our cohort would probably see our cases reviewed sometime between January and March 2019 due to the current backlog of cases.
• I was not outright told to not file my N-400 while my I-751 was being reviewed, but I felt I was being hinted that in my instance it might be best if I waited. I was of course told I could if I wanted to and was told there was nothing wrong with that overall. Why I was being told this, I am unsure.

[Rexchi 4]

Thanks, that was great information. We will submit our N400 anyway at the end of the month, but get stamp later.

[pherNfer 20]

19 hours ago, adj07 said:

Anybody here trying to get an InfoPass from USCIS Atlanta?

I tried last month, set up VisualPing on the site to notify me of availability, tried everything, and checked at all hours and never saw an appt. I went up there at 10 am and they let me in but the window was closed with a hurricane shutter and there was a handwritten note saying they were taking no more walk-ins for the day. The security guard then told me that they are opening earlier (maybe 6:30 am?) and they had had people get in line as early at 2:30 am to get in for a walk-in appt. It may be worth trying to get an appt at another field office; we considered making a party out of it and taking lawn chairs and a picnic. Sorry, wish it wasn't such a cluster. Are you trying to get a 551 stamp?

[mrs thb 331]

12 hours ago, Trenz said:

Impeccable timing on your question, as I was just at the Phoenix office earlier today getting my I-551 stamp. My experience:

 

The time I arrived it was very quiet and I made it through security no problem at all. I provided the worker at the intake desk my appointment paper and a brief explanation for my appointment and she typed this in and gave me a number in line.

 

After only about 10 minutes I was summoned to one of the desks. The worker I encountered was very kind and very understanding why I had a desire to get the stamp and he had indicated he was aware of the backlog (more on that momentarily). I gave a brief explanation about my case and indicated I was within the 3 month window for expiration of my extension letter and over the one year mark since I received my NOA1. He asked to see my green card, passport, and extension letter. After some typing into the computer, he said it wouldn't be a problem for me to get the stamp today.

 

I was told I would need to have my picture and fingerprints taken again (apparently to prevent identity theft); this was all done at his desk.

 

He stamped a rectangular I-551 stamp onto a page in my passport book and wrote down the required information. Key to this part is they said they did need to keep my green card but I was free to keep my extension letter. I was made a colored photocopy of my green card for my records (I highly recommend making your own digital copy before hand though).

 

My passport was taken to a back office area where it was punched with the official USCIS seal onto the I-551 stamp. After that, the process was done.

 

Other noteable information in my appointment:

• I was told that our cohort would probably see our cases reviewed sometime between January and March 2019 due to the current backlog of cases.
• I was not outright told to not file my N-400 while my I-751 was being reviewed, but I felt I was being hinted that in my instance it might be best if I waited. I was of course told I could if I wanted to and was told there was nothing wrong with that overall. Why I was being told this, I am unsure.

Great post Tranz.  Very similar to my experience in Reno.

 

Glad you sailed through.  Did the IO mention the processing time for N-400 at that office?

 

[adj07 8]

20 hours ago, mrs thb said:

If you can't get one then try to make an infopass appt at another field office nearby.  Might be worth the drive.

 

Note: some offices that are super, super busy have drop in appt but you need to get there super early as these offices only have a limited number available.  I have read that people have camped out to ensure they get an appt that day.  

 

 

 

19 hours ago, Lara7 said:

Me!!!! Please help!!! I have no clue what to do... nothing available. 

 

3 hours ago, Jenny & Chris said:

I tried last month, set up VisualPing on the site to notify me of availability, tried everything, and checked at all hours and never saw an appt. I went up there at 10 am and they let me in but the window was closed with a hurricane shutter and there was a handwritten note saying they were taking no more walk-ins for the day. The security guard then told me that they are opening earlier (maybe 6:30 am?) and they had had people get in line as early at 2:30 am to get in for a walk-in appt. It may be worth trying to get an appt at another field office; we considered making a party out of it and taking lawn chairs and a picnic. Sorry, wish it wasn't such a cluster. Are you trying to get a 551 stamp?

Thank you so much guys. And yup, I am trying to get the I-551 stamp. I've been checking online too but no luck. My plan is- If I still haven't receive the new extension letter by end of August, we might consider camping outside their office and get it over with. Hopefully, I will get approved before then. It'll be my 1 year anniversary tomorrow since I sent my RoC.

 

[MadeForEachOther_ 42]

On 7/16/2018 at 11:04 AM, Jenny & Chris said:

Just an update on the new notification system at the USCIS dhs website (the one where you sign up for an account). After you get the notification that your card is being produced, it changes to this notification and they send the card USPS Priority Mail; it only took 4 days from approval to getting the card:

July 12, 2018

We mailed your card to you. The U.S. Postal Service will deliver it.

You do not need to do anything at this time

The post office will deliver your card to your current mailing address. If your mailing address changes, update your address with us.

If you do not receive your card by August 11, 2018, send us a case inquiry and select that you did not receive your card by mail.

Congrats......

[pherNfer 20]

1 hour ago, adj07 said:

 

 

Thank you so much guys. And yup, I am trying to get the I-551 stamp. I've been checking online too but no luck. My plan is- If I still haven't receive the new extension letter by end of August, we might consider camping outside their office and get it over with. Hopefully, I will get approved before then. It'll be my 1 year anniversary tomorrow since I sent my RoC.

 

We filed last year on July 10th and looks like they are processing lots of end-of-June filers right now. If you need an extension on your GADL (because my husband's GADL expired 1 year from the ROC and not the 12 month letter extension which was Sept 29th), then the DDS offices have been instructed to issue 4 month paper extensions if you bring in your Green Card and extension letter. My husband did that and it was $50 but at least his DL was not expired. He got approved for his 10 year green card on July 10 (just last week) so it looks like they've started picking up the pace again and hopefully you won't have to camp for an I-551.

[mrs thb 331]

2 hours ago, adj07 said:

 

 

Thank you so much guys. And yup, I am trying to get the I-551 stamp. I've been checking online too but no luck. My plan is- If I still haven't receive the new extension letter by end of August, we might consider camping outside their office and get it over with. Hopefully, I will get approved before then. It'll be my 1 year anniversary tomorrow since I sent my RoC.

 

You are welcome.  We are all here for each other.  Don't know what I would do without VJ!

 

[gc@gc 184]

25 minutes ago, mrs thb said:

You are welcome.  We are all here for each other.  Don't know what I would do without VJ!

 

 

 

hire an attorney?  hahaha, just kidding 

[tommybear 12]

Hello guys! I’m a July filer too waiting for my 10 year GC to arrive so I can apply for citizenship . It’s been a year now since I filed for my ROC. Kinda frustrated because my 1 year extension is about to expire on September, anybody could tell me where to file the I551 stamp? Is it in local USCIS office? Thanks a lot! 

[janet&adonis 57]

I just realized something and maybe i didnt put much thought into it. When we got the biometrics letter, the wac number on there i thought was the actual case number. There has been no movement since 7-6-17.

 

There is a different wac number on the one year extension letter. I put this into the system and it says back in march that the case was transferred to my local office. I am guessing this really dont mean anything. Which number is the correct one?

[gc@gc 184]

41 minutes ago, janet&adonis said:

I just realized something and maybe i didnt put much thought into it. When we got the biometrics letter, the wac number on there i thought was the actual case number. There has been no movement since 7-6-17.

 

There is a different wac number on the one year extension letter. I put this into the system and it says back in march that the case was transferred to my local office. I am guessing this really dont mean anything. Which number is the correct one?

 

the one for i-751

 

[janet&adonis 57]

Does it mean anything that back in march our case was transferred to the local office? No paper notification was received

[gypsyqueen 103]

7 hours ago, janet&adonis said:

Does it mean anything that back in march our case was transferred to the local office? No paper notification was received

Yup. Almost everybody got that same notification beginning this year. Might be a glitch in their system.

[mrkrabbs 30]

Hi guys, 

Has anyone received an email stating " we are still reviewing your case. There are no updates at this time" ? 

It also states the last action taken was on July 6, 2018. Not sure if that means anything as if an indication there might be a decision soon or just a useless update generated by the system