I-751 February 2018 Filers

[Aloud 11]

I called USCIS yesterday and they were finally able to give me a receipt number and said my notice was mailed out on 10/25 so hopefully this week  

[Memekm 0]

I'm very late...but received 18 month extension letter on 8/18.

[Danielle and Jake 24]

On 10/30/2018 at 8:20 AM, starsky said:

I received my 12-month extension many months ago, no issues there with that one. The elusive 18-month extension letter, though, is a different story. No courtesy letter, no original letter. @Danielle and Jake if you don't mind, what was the phone number you have been successful reaching a representative on? Thanks.

 

I find it hard to believe that I am one of the few with only the 12-month extension on hand. I figured there were more of us. Perhaps, then, my concerns are justified. 

 

Our apologies for not seeing this sooner, but I think we just called the usual number, which is 1-800-375-5283 and made sure whoever was on the other end understood exactly what I was asking, reiterating multiple times, etc. It may make me sound like a jerk, but this stuff is serious business and it's amazing how frustrating/discomforting some of the various workers were that we've had to deal with along the way (DMV, SSA, etc.). We didn't do the "tier 2 representative" thing that lots of people say they have had success with, just a regular call to that number and going through the menu. I'm not sure if I've ever done the "push random buttons until it takes you to a representative rather than go through the menu" thing with USCIS, but that's always worth a shot if the calling process is as frustrating/annoying to you as it is to me sometimes, haha.

[peetee91 7]

Hello, 

 

Just wanted to share my travel experience. 

 

I went on vacation to Colombia - Cartagena last week with my extension letter and it went very smooth. I was flying to New York City with connection in Atlanta. The officer just looked at my green card and extension letter and just asked me how long i stayed there. And that was it. 

 

 

[Fer00 7]

3 hours ago, peetee91 said:

Hello, 

 

Just wanted to share my travel experience. 

 

I went on vacation to Colombia - Cartagena last week with my extension letter and it went very smooth. I was flying to New York City with connection in Atlanta. The officer just looked at my green card and extension letter and just asked me how long i stayed there. And that was it. 

 

 

I am going to Bogota this coming weekend. Hope not to have problems either. I went to Madrid in Sept and everything was pretty easy 

Edited November 3, 2018 by Fer00

[starsky 99]

On 11/1/2018 at 11:45 AM, Memekm said:

I'm very late...but received 18 month extension letter on 8/18.

Thanks! Good to add you to the list of those confirmed. 

 

On 11/3/2018 at 10:24 AM, peetee91 said:

Hello, 

 

Just wanted to share my travel experience. 

 

I went on vacation to Colombia - Cartagena last week with my extension letter and it went very smooth. I was flying to New York City with connection in Atlanta. The officer just looked at my green card and extension letter and just asked me how long i stayed there. And that was it. 

2

Thanks for sharing your experience. I've got some travel coming up to Costa Rica in two weeks. This will be my first occasion traveling on the extension letter, so definitely nice to hear that others have had a seamless experience. 

 

Updated tracking table is below. It had been several weeks since I updated this, let me know if I overlooked anything.

 

I am keen to hear from these Vermont filers to see if you guys have received your 18-month extension letters yet: @leisli @LinaHugo @Farrieress @JennsenS2 @jennah  @ChuckandBoram @ollieda1 @Eagles82

Updated 11/5/2018
California Service Center (47 applicants, 2 approved - 4%)
VJName	I-751 Date (submission)		NOA 1 Received	Biometrics	18m Extension	Interview	Approved	Notes
KiRille	2/1/2018		2/5/2018	5/25/2018		—/—/—	—/—/—
redstripe54	2/1/2018		2/5/2018	5/4/2018*	8/16/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—	* Reusing biometrics
DreamCatcher77	2/1/2018		2/5/2018	5/5/2018*	8/18/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—	* Reusing biometrics
MandMB	2/2/2018		2/10/2018	5/11/2018*	8/18/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—	* Reusing biometrics
Alex08	2/4/2018		2/12/2018	5/12/2018*	8/20/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—	* Reusing biometrics
LPK	2/5/2018		2/7/2018	5/12/2018*		—/—/—	—/—/—	* Reusing biometrics
Kim&Jeff	2/5/2018		2/12/2018	6/25/2018*	8/25/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—	* Rescheduled
EmilyRosePF	2/5/2018		2/16/2018	5/12/2018*	8/24/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—	* Reusing biometrics
3rd	2/5/2018		2/9/2018	5/12/2018*	8/18/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—	* Reusing biometrics
mjiang	2/5/2018		2/12/2018	5/12/2018*		—/—/—	—/—/—	* Reusing biometrics
A--dawg	2/5/2018		2/9/2018	5/12/2018*	8/18/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—	* Reusing biometrics
starsky	2/6/2018		2/17/2018	5/12/2018*	8/25/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—	* Reusing biometrics
bonzaigirl	2/6/2018		2/9/2018	5/12/2018*	8/11/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—	* Reusing biometrics
Slowloris	2/7/2018		2/12/2018	5/11/2018*	8/25/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—	* Reusing biometrics
Cosmos22	2/8/2018		2/26/2018	5/25/2018	8/17/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—
lululola	2/8/2018		2/15/2018	5/25/2018		—/—/—	—/—/—
Amber&Seba	2/9/2018		2/19/2018	5/12/2018*	8/17/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—	* Reusing biometrics
mcfrl	2/9/2018		2/20/2018	5/5/2018*		—/—/—	—/—/—	* Reusing biometrics
bms	2/9/2018		2/17/2018	5/25/2018	8/24/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—
ELJ	2/10/2018		2/14/2018	5/12/2018*	8/17/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—	* Reusing biometrics
Tween	2/10/2018		2/20/2018	—/—/—	8/18/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—
Seebec	2/12/2018		2/20/2018	5/24/2018		—/—/—	—/—/—
Patchie	2/12/2018		2/26/2018	5/12/2018*	8/25/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—	* Reusing biometrics
Tux_1987	2/12/2018		2/26/2018	—/—/—	8/18/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—
hrkk	2/12/2018		3/24/2018	—/—/—		—/—/—	—/—/—
i_love_rain	2/12/2018		2/16/2018	—/—/—	8/18/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—
GerryC327	2/14/2018		2/26/2018	5/18/2018*	8/18/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—	* Walked-in early
Danielle and Jake	2/15/2018		2/21/2018	—/—/—	8/24/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—
ThisIsCat	2/16/2018		2/22/2018	—/—/—	8/24/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—
SigAnd	2/19/2018		2/21/2018	5/14/2018		—/—/—	—/—/—	* Reusing biometrics
stevebg14	2/19/2018		2/27/2018	5/12/2018*	8/25/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—	* Reusing biometrics
Sean and Kristina	2/20/2018		3/2/2018	5/12/2018*	8/24/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—	* Reusing biometrics
ALIENRJ187	2/20/2018		3/2/2018	5/12/2018*	8/27/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—	* Reusing biometrics
xvixiiex	2/20/2018		2/24/2018	5/5/2018*		—/—/—	—/—/—	* Reusing biometrics
GT&RAC	2/21/2018		3/12/2018	—/—/—		—/—/—	5/23/2018*	* Military
Starrgirl	2/21/2018		3/9/2018	n/a		6/6/2018	6/20/2018*	* B1/B2 visa
dosmode	2/22/2018		3/1/2018	5/12/2018*	8/25/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—	* Reusing biometrics
aka586	2/23/2018		3/2/2018	5/5/2018*	8/25/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—	* Reusing biometrics
PerditaD	2/23/2018		3/2/2018	5/12/2018*	8/11/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—	* Reusing biometrics
molongoque	2/25/2018		3/9/2018	5/11/2018*	8/18/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—	* Reusing biometrics
JBEdge	2/26/2018		3/12/2018	5/12/2018*	8/27/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—	* Reusing biometrics
mikenjan	2/26/2018		3/5/2018	5/12/2018*	8/20/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—	* Reusing biometrics
robhat	2/26/2018		3/5/2018	5/12/2018*	8/20/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—	* Reusing biometrics
mfo2018	2/27/2018		3/7/2018	5/22/2018*		—/—/—	—/—/—	* Reusing biometrics
rramirez313	2/28/2018		3/12/2018	5/7/2018*		—/—/—	—/—/—	* Reusing biometrics
mojzte	2/28/2018		3/7/2018	5/8/2018*	8/20/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—	* Reusing biometrics
luna_azul0609	2/28/2018		3/13/2018	5/24/2018	8/18/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—
Vermont Service Center (32 applicants, 0 approved - 0%)
VJName	I-751 Date (submission)		NOA 1 Received	Biometrics	18m Extension	Interview	Approved	Notes
singaporekeith	2/1/2018		2/6/2018	3/26/2018	8/11/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—
Eagles82	2/1/2018		2/10/2018	3/27/2018		—/—/—	—/—/—
ollieda1	2/1/2018		2/10/2018	3/15/2018		—/—/—	—/—/—
Jpheels22	2/5/2018		2/13/2018	3/27/2018		—/—/—	—/—/—
Fr8dog	2/5/2018		2/16/2018	3/26/2018	8/13/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—
ChuckandBoram	2/5/2018		2/15/2018	3/27/2018		—/—/—	—/—/—
PHXU	2/7/2018		2/11/2018	3/29/2018	10/25/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—
Mystik17	2/7/2018		2/12/2018	4/4/2018	8/13/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—
jennah	2/8/2018		2/19/2018	4/2/2018		—/—/—	—/—/—
arthurc	2/9/2018		2/16/2018	4/5/2018	8/13/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—
peetee91	2/10/2018		2/19/2018	4/4/2018	8/13/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—
vdoshi88	2/10/2018		3/20/2018	4/12/2018	8/11/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—
JennsenS2	2/12/2018		2/20/2018	4/2/2018		—/—/—	—/—/—
Farrieress	2/12/2018		2/20/2018	4/3/2018		—/—/—	—/—/—
FrenchKat	2/12/2018		2/24/2018	4/5/2018	8/13/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—
xyuxue	2/13/2018		2/26/2018	4/9/2018	8/13/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—
LinaHugo	2/14/2018		2/27/2018	4/3/2018		—/—/—	—/—/—
leisli	2/16/2018		3/2/2018	4/10/2018		—/—/—	—/—/—
AMII	2/16/2018		3/3/2018	4/20/2018	8/11/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—
fascinating123	2/19/2018		3/5/2018	4/19/2018	8/13/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—
-Shana-	2/20/2018		3/12/2018	5/4/2018	8/13/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—
diezr.albert	2/20/2018		3/22/2018	5/21/2018	8/18/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—
Vzla90	2/20/2018				8/13/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—
klems10024	2/21/2018		3/10/2018	5/4/2018	8/13/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—
BabyJawz	2/22/2018		2/26/2018	4/20/2018	8/13/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—
ameribrazil	2/22/2018		3/16/2018	5/4/2018	8/13/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—
Cross32	2/23/2018		3/16/2018	5/4/2018	8/13/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—
aeviolazo	2/24/2018		3/10/2018	5/4/2018	8/11/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—
Memekm	2/24/2018		3/12/2018	5/4/2018	8/18/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—
Unidentified	2/26/2018		3/5/2018	4/19/2018	8/6/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—
wildnwonderful	2/26/2018		3/10/2018	5/4/2018	8/6/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—
scubagrl	2/27/2018		3/5/2018	4/18/2018	8/10/2018	—/—/—	—/—/—

 

 

 

[Cross32 21]

N-400 name change question?

 

Any one planing on filling for citizens when the time comes.

 

will be eligible for citizenship in June 2019, now my question is,:

 

Can I change my name from married name back to my maiden name without any red flags 🚩, we are still married but I don’t like my husband last name. 

 

But am afraid it gonna affect my i751 pending now with USCIS. 

 

I know now you can change your name when filling out the forms, am afraid of it outcome. 

 

Please ideas. Thanks 🙏🏽 

[starsky 99]

17 hours ago, Cross32 said:

Can I change my name from married name back to my maiden name without any red flags 🚩, we are still married but I don’t like my husband last name. 

 

I think this has an easy answer; stick it out until you're done with this process. Why would you risk the additional scrutiny?

[Cross32 21]

👍🏽, thanks 

 

Good advice. Taken 

 

will leave it like that. 

[Fr8dog 312]

Just checked the dates, and I guess I'll be filing for the N-400 on December 27th. Let's see if we can jump start this thing.

 

[starsky 99]

My wife and I visited Costa Rica and returned to the US yesterday without issue using the I-751 extension. I did have a delay while checking-in for my United flight in Costa Rica, the agent seemed a little bemused by the letter and seemed to think it should come with a photo. I think she was confusing it with a Visa, which obviously this extension letter is not. I assured her that this letter along with my passport and the expired green card is all I was required to bring and should suffice. 10 excruciatingly stressful minutes later, she returned from speaking with a border agent and told me everything was in order. I then had no other issues, even returning back into Houston, which almost always leads to additional scrutiny and questioning went seamlessly. I'd go on another trip in a heartbeat! Roll on January when I can apply for citizenship. 

[ALIENRJ187 43]

19 hours ago, starsky said:

My wife and I visited Costa Rica and returned to the US yesterday without issue using the I-751 extension. I did have a delay while checking-in for my United flight in Costa Rica, the agent seemed a little bemused by the letter and seemed to think it should come with a photo. I think she was confusing it with a Visa, which obviously this extension letter is not. I assured her that this letter along with my passport and the expired green card is all I was required to bring and should suffice. 10 excruciatingly stressful minutes later, she returned from speaking with a border agent and told me everything was in order. I then had no other issues, even returning back into Houston, which almost always leads to additional scrutiny and questioning went seamlessly. I'd go on another trip in a heartbeat! Roll on January when I can apply for citizenship. 

Glad your trip went well.  When you came back to the US did you and your wife both go through the same line in customs despite one of you being the US citizen?  We have a trip planned in March and I figured we both would just go through the same line at customs "for noncitizens I think", despite one of us being the USC who could go through the electronic checks section on our own.  Don't want to be away from her in case something happens you know?

Edited November 25, 2018 by ALIENRJ187
Additional info

[EmilyRosePF 34]

1 minute ago, ALIENRJ187 said:

Glad your trip went well.  When you came back to the US did you and your wife both go through the same line in customs despite one of you being the US citizen?  We have a trip planned in March and I figured we both would just go through the same line at customs "for noncitizens I think", despite one of us being the USC who could go through the electronic checks section on our own.  Don't want to be away from her in case something happens you know?

I have no idea what the official policy is, but the last time my wife and I travelled internationally, I waited with her and didn't go through the USC queue. We were coming back from the UK and were told at Heathrow that they want families together regardless of immigration status for passport control (she's a UKC), so we just did the same thing coming back into the US. The CBP officer didn't bat an eye at my presence there.

[ALIENRJ187 43]

8 minutes ago, EmilyRosePF said:

I have no idea what the official policy is, but the last time my wife and I travelled internationally, I waited with her and didn't go through the USC queue. We were coming back from the UK and were told at Heathrow that they want families together regardless of immigration status for passport control (she's a UKC), so we just did the same thing coming back into the US. The CBP officer didn't bat an eye at my presence there.

That's good to know.  That sounds like a perfect plan then, thank you!

 

Now just to wait for April so we can file for her N-400

Edited November 25, 2018 by ALIENRJ187
Additional info

[Tee1000 0]

On 11/12/2018 at 11:19 PM, Cross32 said:

N-400 name change question?

 

Any one planing on filling for citizens when the time comes.

 

will be eligible for citizenship in June 2019, now my question is,:

 

Can I change my name from married name back to my maiden name without any red flags 🚩, we are still married but I don’t like my husband last name. 

 

But am afraid it gonna affect my i751 pending now with USCIS. 

 

I know now you can change your name when filling out the forms, am afraid of it outcome. 

 

Please ideas. Thanks 🙏🏽 

I worked for immigration lawyers and sent cases to the USCIS where people had criminal records and they were still able to get US citizenship. I say that to say you are not breaking any laws by wanting your maiden name back. The citizenship form is a good opportunity to change your name (either to your husbands or to your old one) so that you have an  official certificate that has your chosen name, which will impact your passport... you can change your name whenever you get a driver's license as long as you have the marriage or birth certificate as proof but the passport lasts much longer so it's best to get it right unless you want to explain and carry extra documents when you travel, it's all about your convenience. It really isn't a big deal. They won't deny your case because of that. But if you are under some extra scrutiny for other reasons then every little thing will be used against you, this is rare but I've seen people do everything right and still be denied that kind of bias you can't do anything about.