When your 2nd NOA extension is close to running out, when should you seek an InfoPass appointment? (merged)

[Barry and Mila 5]

I get the impression, from both this community and from USCIS correspondence, that it is possible to call the USCIS "customer service" number and reach a person who can schedule an InfoPass appointment for you.  But my reality seems different.  Can anyone confirm they've reached an actual person at the 800 number and scheduled an InfoPass appointment?  As far as I can tell, all that happens is you get a recorded message directing you to the web site.  Thanks.

 

--Barry

[EandH0904 1,184]

I scheduled an info pass appointment online. Is that no longer an option?

[C90 376]

1 minute ago, Barry and Mila said:

I get the impression, from both this community and from USCIS correspondence, that it is possible to call the USCIS "customer service" number and reach a person who can schedule an InfoPass appointment for you.  But my reality seems different.  Can anyone confirm they've reached an actual person at the 800 number and scheduled an InfoPass appointment?  As far as I can tell, all that happens is you get a recorded message directing you to the web site.  Thanks.

 

--Barry

Every time I called USCIS I spoke to a person (never scheduled info pass, but that doesn't matter). Just keep pressing 0 until the system gives up, and you will speak to a person

Edited April 12, 2019 by C90

[millefleur 5,047]

Just now, EandH0904 said:

I scheduled an info pass appointment online. Is that no longer an option?

Some field offices are not accepting appointments online. It just depends on the FO.

[Barry and Mila 5]

I-751 sent Oct 2017, 2nd NOA extends I-551 until June 20th 2019.  InfoPass appointments, as far as I can tell, are only available within a 2-week window.  When is the right time to make an InfoPass appointment to get a stamp?  Is there a risk of making one too soon, when you'll go there and get told no stamp because the I-551 isn't close enough to expiration?  Is there a risk of making one too late?  Any thoughts on the timing?  Assuming I can even get one online ...  

 

Thanks!

--Barry

[millefleur 5,047]

**Similar threads merged. Please keep all questions related to your case regarding Infopass appointments to this thread.**

 

VJ Moderation

[Barry and Mila 5]

9 minutes ago, C90 said:

Every time I called USCIS I spoke to a person (never scheduled info pass, but that doesn't matter). Just keep pressing 0 until the system gives up, and you will speak to a person

Thanks, I will give that a try.

[pochemuchka 2]

Barry, this is a good question that I was actually wondering tonight myself. My husband's situation is a little different than yours. Filed I-751 July 23, 2018 got the letter stating case was processing. His green card expired the end of October 2018 and we needed to travel, so we called USCIS and was told that he should make an infopass appointment and get a stamp in his passport. Well my husband went down there, without me unfortunately because I had to work and they gave him the stamp. They also took his green card from him and told him, you won't be needing this, it's expired. We were both kind of frightened by that, but what can you do? And it was expired regardless so whatever, right? Well the I-551 stamp in his passport says it was only good thru 07/31/19, the person who stamped it literally crossed out the printed text that says "valid for 1 year" and wrote in a expiry date of 6 months? #######. So now we are traveling to Russia and need to be out of the country right in between the time the stamp expires. I called USCIS tonight, spoke to a person and she told me oh if you have the letter from USCIS and your expired green card it's no problem. I told her, lol they threw his green card out. She told me don't worry, come back in to an infopass appointment in July and get a new stamp. I said sorry we are extremely anxious people and that will not do, POSSIBLY getting a stamp a week before we leave the country... and months after purchasing extremely expensive plane tickets. So she said, no problem come in June if you'd like. So we will go in June for a new stamp. Thank god he can apply for citizenship in July and we will hopefully be done with this burden soon enough. 

[pochemuchka 2]

Oh and the options I pressed to get a real person were 1 for english, 2 I believe for schedule and infopass appointment, then I think 1 and then it asks you for your zip code then it says if you'd like to be connected to a representative press something, then after waiting on hold for 30 minutes I was in-fact connected to a live person, at 8:14 PM (even though they close at 8:00 woo-hoo).

[Juniper 62]

1 hour ago, pochemuchka said:

Barry, this is a good question that I was actually wondering tonight myself. My husband's situation is a little different than yours. Filed I-751 July 23, 2018 got the letter stating case was processing. His green card expired the end of October 2018 and we needed to travel, so we called USCIS and was told that he should make an infopass appointment and get a stamp in his passport. Well my husband went down there, without me unfortunately because I had to work and they gave him the stamp. They also took his green card from him and told him, you won't be needing this, it's expired. We were both kind of frightened by that, but what can you do? And it was expired regardless so whatever, right? Well the I-551 stamp in his passport says it was only good thru 07/31/19, the person who stamped it literally crossed out the printed text that says "valid for 1 year" and wrote in a expiry date of 6 months? #######. So now we are traveling to Russia and need to be out of the country right in between the time the stamp expires. I called USCIS tonight, spoke to a person and she told me oh if you have the letter from USCIS and your expired green card it's no problem. I told her, lol they threw his green card out. She told me don't worry, come back in to an infopass appointment in July and get a new stamp. I said sorry we are extremely anxious people and that will not do, POSSIBLY getting a stamp a week before we leave the country... and months after purchasing extremely expensive plane tickets. So she said, no problem come in June if you'd like. So we will go in June for a new stamp. Thank god he can apply for citizenship in July and we will hopefully be done with this burden soon enough. 

It seems very consistent nowadays that the I-751 interview is very low on the USCIS priorty list, making us jump through hoops (infopass stamps) , and USCIS just waiting for the usually inevitable N-400 interview to get scheduled where they will conveniently adjudicate the I-751 interview and then N-400 interview all in one interview visit.  Wala, no need to spend government money on actually getting you that 10 year green card since now you will getting a certificate of naturalization. You did pay that I-751 fee, but their keeping the money and making us jump through infopass hoops.  I don't see this situation changing soon.