Just received a Second I797 one year after the first one (?), what does that mean? What about traveling with I551 in such scenario

[GJF 5]

Hi everyone. I would like to ask if anyone encountered a similar situation and ask a couple questions.

 

I applied for removal of conditions in JUN 2017 and at that time I received my first I 797 in about 2 weeks and I had biometrics done in about 4 weeks.

 

Like 2 weeks ago I went to a local USCIS field office to get a I551 stamp in my passport because I may have to travel overseas for vacation. My GC was retained at that occasion (standard procedure according to the USCIS officer). The I551 stamp that the officer put there mentions being valid for a year or so.

 

Now, a year after the application and pretty much three weeks after visiting the field office, I am pretty much surprised to see in the mail a second form I 797 which says that "Your conditional status has been extended for 18 months from the expiration date on your form I-551, Permanent Resident Card". It also says that "This notice, presented with your expired Permanent Residency Card, is proof of your status"... but I obviously don't have a physical card anymore because the physical green card was retained by the USCIS officer when I went there for the I-551 stamp.

 

I know that legally the I-551 stamp is pretty much a Green Card, however I imagine my headache trying to explain this to an airline employee for instance, because the I-797 notice says "Your expired Permanent Resident Card", not "Your valid I-551 stamp". So now thanks to USCIS lack of clarity I am afraid to travel overseas.

 

I do have two questions regarding this messy situation.

 

1. What does the second I 797 means exactly? I did check the receipt number from this I797 online and apparently it says that "Case Was Received At My Local Office; On April, 2018 (remember that I applied a year ago), we received your Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence", this means that my case is no longer in Vermont (where it was supposed to be in the first place)? Additionally, the receipt number I was checking before (the one from the biometrics notice) still says the information from last year "Case Was Received
On June, 2017, we received your Form CRI-89, Petition to Remove Conditions of Permanent Resident Status Received". Which number should I be checking regularly, the one from the biometrics notice from one year ago or the one from this new I797? I am very confused at this point.

 

2. Second question is: Has anyone traveled overseas with the I-551 stamp and no physical green card whatsoever (because it was retained when obtaining the I551)? If so, did you have any trouble with the airline staff? I heard reports of people being denied boarding and things like that. I don't want my vacation to become a headache.

 

Thank you all guys.

 

[mindthegap 2,590]

This is the second letter that was announced a few days ago - giving 18months proof of status extension rather than 12. It is being sent to anyone who applied recently as well. 

Unsure as to why they have further complicated it by giving it a new receipt number though....

 

Unfortunately, the letter by itself is useless - it only works in conjunction with the expired card.

This is precisely why when I filed my second I-751 last year, the letter was completely useless for me, as my card had expired almost 2,5 years previously at that time. A quick visit to an infopass for a new stamp, and all was legal and well.

 

You have the stamp now which will be fine for travel. However, it wouldn't be a bad idea to carry the letter and a copy of your expired card as well (assuming you copied it before it was taken!)

 

 

 

10 minutes ago, GJF said:

 

Second question is: Has anyone traveled overseas with the I-551 stamp and no physical green card whatsoever (because it was retained when obtaining the I551)? If so, did you have any trouble with the airline staff?

 

Yes, and no.

When you land (or at pre-clearance) a quick visit to secondary (or primary as they referred to it for me last week) to verify your LPR status will probably be required but nothing to be worried about.

Edited June 14, 2018 by mindthegap

[PositiveThinker 40]

39 minutes ago, GJF said:

 

Now, a year after the application and pretty much three weeks after visiting the field office, I am pretty much surprised to see in the mail a second form I 797 which says that "Your conditional status has been extended for 18 months from the expiration date on your form I-551, Permanent Resident Card". It also says that "This notice, presented with your expired Permanent Residency Card, is proof of your status"... but I obviously don't have a physical card anymore because the physical green card was retained by the USCIS officer when I went there for the I-551 stamp.

 

 

I have a question. So how long did it extend it for? I know it says 18 months but is it from the GC expiration date or from the I551 stamp date? Because i am also experiencing a similar situation. upon getting my i551 stamp they took my expired GC and i also need to travel internationally in the next month or so.. 

[GJF 5]

14 minutes ago, PositiveThinker said:

I have a question. So how long did it extend it for? I know it says 18 months but is it from the GC expiration date or from the I551 stamp date? Because i am also experiencing a similar situation. upon getting my i551 stamp they took my expired GC and i also need to travel internationally in the next month or so.. 

It extends for 18 months, and I assume they take into consideration the date of the original Green Card (because apparently they are sending these new letters regardless of you having a I551 stamp or not). This means that, according to this letter, I had 12 (that already passed) + 6 more months in which I can use this to prove my status.

 

HOWEVER the I551 stamp itself that I got a couple weeks ago is valid for 12 months... I know, very confusing.

Edited June 14, 2018 by GJF

[PositiveThinker 40]

1 hour ago, GJF said:

It extends for 18 months, and I assume they take into consideration the date of the original Green Card (because apparently they are sending these new letters regardless of you having a I551 stamp or not). This means that, according to this letter, I had 12 (that already passed) + 6 more months in which I can use this to prove my status.

 

HOWEVER the I551 stamp itself that I got a couple weeks ago is valid for 12 months... I know, very confusing.

ok thanks. this extension letter wouldn't do much for me then. even if i get it it would be valid till September. i guess i would just use my i551 to travel which is valid till next year feb .  

[CJKylie 161]

Use the stamp for travel, and just carry the I-797 and a copy of your green card as a backup.