I-751 January 2019 Filers

[H-M 169]

1 hour ago, Divya MV said:

Definitely don’t go out of the country without I-551 stamp. A family friend went without it and showed the NOA for this petition and they wouldn’t let her on her connecting flight back to the US. They said the NOA paper was not enough proof. She had to go back to the country she started from and go to the embassy to get I-551 stamp. After she got it, they allowed her to transit back to the US. 

 

41 minutes ago, Divya MV said:

I think it must be easier when you’re coming from Canada. This family friend was connecting through Dubai and they refused to let her clear and board. 

Hi @Divya MV! Did your friend show only the NOA paper OR expired 2yr GC + NOA?

[jmbiz18 3]

Filed ROC on 1/22/19, uscis received it on the next day 1/23/19. Just got the 18th month extension letter in the mailbox today. 

[H-M 169]

15 minutes ago, tortugarouge said:

The mail came...I didn’t include the biometric fee. I’m the real dunce here! Just to be extra careful: is it one check (680) or two separate checks (595+85)? I believe it’s just one but now I have to dig around to be sure. Thanks!

Either one combined check or two separate checks are ok, as long as they are for the exact correct amounts.

We used one combined check of $680 in our ROC package.

Here are the USCIS guidelines for paying fees:

https://www.uscis.gov/fees

[AstroCanada 206]

1 hour ago, H-M said:

 

Hi @Divya MV! Did your friend show only the NOA paper OR expired 2yr GC + NOA?

This is an important detail, and best not to make sure incorrect information circulates in these forums.

 

Either the expired 2 green card + I-797 receipt extending status or an I-551 stamp is sufficient for travel.  Airlines may occasionally be bit confused, but you'll see plenty of people successfully traveling with either option.

[H-M 169]

10 minutes ago, AstroCanada said:

This is an important detail, and best not to make sure incorrect information circulates in these forums.

 

Either the expired 2 green card + I-797 receipt extending status or an I-551 stamp is sufficient for travel.  Airlines may occasionally be bit confused, but you'll see plenty of people successfully traveling with either option.

I agree. I would like the OP to clarify further her friend's experience at Dubai airport.

 

I fly connecting via Dubai airport frequently. My current 2 yr GC has worked with no issues so far. The travel documents have always been checked both at the departing airport and again at the connecting airport (Dubai).

 

However, if the OP's friend was denied boarding even though she had the expired GC + NOA (I am speculating here), then it is clearly a case of misinformed airline employee. More information from the OP would be helpful. I might avoid connecting via Dubai or this particularly airline next time I fly with the NOA + expired GC.

 

Getting an I-551 stamp is also an option. However, I have read a few experiences on this forum where they got flagged for secondary screening by CBP at the POE.

[Cryssiekins 976]

According it Informed Delivery, I have a letter in the mail today from USCIS (figures it comes on the day I work late so I can’t stalk the mailbox haha).  

 

My case is in Vermont, so likely the letter for biometrics, but it’s something!  

[Divya MV 6]

7 hours ago, H-M said:

I agree. I would like the OP to clarify further her friend's experience at Dubai airport.

 

I fly connecting via Dubai airport frequently. My current 2 yr GC has worked with no issues so far. The travel documents have always been checked both at the departing airport and again at the connecting airport (Dubai).

 

However, if the OP's friend was denied boarding even though she had the expired GC + NOA (I am speculating here), then it is clearly a case of misinformed airline employee. More information from the OP would be helpful. I might avoid connecting via Dubai or this particularly airline next time I fly with the NOA + expired GC.

 

Getting an I-551 stamp is also an option. However, I have read a few experiences on this forum where they got flagged for secondary screening by CBP at the POE.

Again I can only tell her experience but she showed both her expired GC and the letter and they refused to let her board. They told her her GC is expired and that the letter wasn’t enough proof. I agree that it was probably a misinformed employee but unfortunately that was all it took to cause a hassle and a setback. Personally, I’m not going to travel with the stamp but if the rules say you don’t necessarily need it, then it’s up to you, I’m just sharing her experience so you guys can be aware that such a thing has happened. 

[Divya MV 6]

9 hours ago, jmbiz18 said:

Filed ROC on 1/22/19, uscis received it on the next day 1/23/19. Just got the 18th month extension letter in the mailbox today. 

Which service center did you get it from?

[thetrademark 38]

1 hour ago, Cryssiekins said:

According it Informed Delivery, I have a letter in the mail today from USCIS (figures it comes on the day I work late so I can’t stalk the mailbox haha).  

 

My case is in Vermont, so likely the letter for biometrics, but it’s something!  

Sounds like biometrics appointment or the extension letter if you are lucky!? 

[Cryssiekins 976]

39 minutes ago, Divya MV said:

Again I can only tell her experience but she showed both her expired GC and the letter and they refused to let her board. They told her her GC is expired and that the letter wasn’t enough proof. I agree that it was probably a misinformed employee but unfortunately that was all it took to cause a hassle and a setback. Personally, I’m not going to travel with the stamp but if the rules say you don’t necessarily need it, then it’s up to you, I’m just sharing her experience so you guys can be aware that such a thing has happened. 

No it’s definitely good to hear these stories.  I’ve read them before too.  Seems like it’s just misinformed airline employee, but definitely a nightmare for the person who experienced it.  

[gregcrs2 1,778]

7 minutes ago, Cryssiekins said:

No it’s definitely good to hear these stories.  I’ve read them before too.  Seems like it’s just misinformed airline employee, but definitely a nightmare for the person who experienced it.  

Just in case, carry a copy of the Carrier Information Guide or an electronic copy when traveling with laptop.  Page 10 tells what is needed to enter the USA.  It clearly states expired conditional green card with extension letter is accepted.

 

https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2017-Nov/carrier-information-guide-english.pdf

 

 

[Cryssiekins 976]

1 hour ago, thetrademark said:

Sounds like biometrics appointment or the extension letter if you are lucky!? 

I’m never lucky, but from zooming in on the picture (bc of course I’m going to irrrationally obsess over this all day) it looks like it’s two pages long. 

 

Optimistic me is hoping 1 page is an extension and 1 page is the biometrics appointment.

 

Pessimistic me is feeling like it’s a really robust RFE, even though I logically know that I included more than enough quality evidence and secondly, there’s NO way they’re already flipping through those pages to demand something else.

 

21 months with nothing pending with USCIS was a gift!  Haha 

[gregcrs2 1,778]

1 minute ago, Cryssiekins said:

I’m never lucky, but from zooming in on the picture (bc of course I’m going to irrrationally obsess over this all day) it looks like it’s two pages long. 

 

Optimistic me is hoping 1 page is an extension and 1 page is the biometrics appointment.

 

Pessimistic me is feeling like it’s a really robust RFE, even though I logically know that I included more than enough quality evidence and secondly, there’s NO way they’re already flipping through those pages to demand something else.

 

21 months with nothing pending with USCIS was a gift!  Haha 

From our envelope, we can see it states page 1 of 2.  At least you can see the contents tonight.   Our mail is on hold for another 2 weeks.   I'm thinking it's an extension letter.  We already did biometrics.  Perhaps someone who already received their extension letter can chime in if it was one or two pages.

[uppercasedee 15]

24 minutes ago, gregcrs2 said:

From our envelope, we can see it states page 1 of 2.  At least you can see the contents tonight.   Our mail is on hold for another 2 weeks.   I'm thinking it's an extension letter.  We already did biometrics.  Perhaps someone who already received their extension letter can chime in if it was one or two pages.

My extension letter was 2 pages!

[Cryssiekins 976]

37 minutes ago, uppercasedee said:

My extension letter was 2 pages!

Awesome!  

 

Maybe they’re starting to cleanup the backlog.  👍👍