Success of getting an Infopass Appt. during pandemic?

[zilchfox 296]

Hey y'all,

 

Has anyone had any success in getting an Infopass appointment during the pandemic?

 

Personally, my ROC 18-month extension letter is about to expire, and thus so is my drivers' license, which will be very problematic come October. I was trying to book an appointment so I can get the I-551 stamp to renew my license ahead of time, however USCIS doesn't seem to count that as an emergency, which I think is ridiculous– I'm trying to avoid it ever becoming a dire emergency (it's already an emergency to get my license renewed very soon as it is), but they seem to be forcing me to wait until it is and I can no longer drive anywhere on my own (including to work!!!).

 

You know what would be great? If they just sent out refreshed 12-month extension letters to everyone who is pending automatically.

Edited August 18, 2020 by zilchfox

[Sukie 1,464]

You may have to wait until about 30 days before your extension expires.  Sometimes getting an InfoPass appointment is difficult if your drop-dead date is too far out. 

 

Best of luck!

 

Sukie in NY

[PickleChips 56]

It's 10 days now. 

[Thegirl 225]

8 hours ago, zilchfox said:

Hey y'all,

 

Has anyone had any success in getting an Infopass appointment during the pandemic?

 

Personally, my ROC 18-month extension letter is about to expire, and thus so is my drivers' license, which will be very problematic come October. I was trying to book an appointment so I can get the I-551 stamp to renew my license ahead of time, however USCIS doesn't seem to count that as an emergency, which I think is ridiculous– I'm trying to avoid it ever becoming a dire emergency (it's already an emergency to get my license renewed very soon as it is), but they seem to be forcing me to wait until it is and I can no longer drive anywhere on my own (including to work!!!).

 

You know what would be great? If they just sent out refreshed 12-month extension letters to everyone who is pending automatically.

You have to be very close to the expiry date. I did get an appointment but not until a few days before my letter expired. As in my app was the Friday and my letter expired the following Tuesday. 

[Cdn_Ali 11]

I just went through this yesterday - you will have to wait until 10 days before your letter expires to make the Infopass appointment. The only exception is if you must travel because an immediate family member is dying. Very inconvenient, I know!!

[mrath5 40]

11 hours ago, Cdn_Ali said:

I just went through this yesterday - you will have to wait until 10 days before your letter expires to make the Infopass appointment. The only exception is if you must travel because an immediate family member is dying. Very inconvenient, I know!!

Wow so you guys are getting stamps? When I called for my husband she told me they are only scheduling to get stamps if you can prove it’s an emergency! 

[vvkat 0]

On 8/19/2020 at 10:51 AM, Cdn_Ali said:

I just went through this yesterday - you will have to wait until 10 days before your letter expires to make the Infopass appointment. The only exception is if you must travel because an immediate family member is dying. Very inconvenient, I know!!

Can i know how long they give you for the stamp? 1 year or 6 months?

[zilchfox 296]

Small update:

 

I *might* be able to get an InfoPass appointment. The USCIS officer called me back yesterday after making a second attempt, and he said he will take my reasons to the local office and give me a call back either today or tomorrow to know the outcome. With all that said, I also spoke to the DMV last week, and they give one-time-exception 120-day extensions to those who do not have proof of status, which would push the validity of my license to the end of January– and there is a chance I could be a citizen by that point, which means after the 120 days are up, I can renew for a full 8-year drivers license without restrictions (finally). The downside? It's one-time, which means I can't just keep pushing it out 120 days at a time, it's only once. I would be on my own after that. They aren't budging or changing any policies as a result of COVID-19. Also the really sucky thing is, each renewal costs $50, regardless of how long the license is valid for, and I'd rather pay $50 for a 1-year license than a 120-day license for the same cost.

Edited September 29, 2020 by zilchfox

[mindthegap 2,599]

On 8/20/2020 at 1:01 AM, mrath5 said:

Wow so you guys are getting stamps? When I called for my husband she told me they are only scheduling to get stamps if you can prove it’s an emergency! 

Be economical with the truth.

Say you need it for continued receipt of covid unemployment benefits - that is the reason I gave and it was listed as a valid reason for one. 

Or imminent emergency travel and book a fully refundable flight, or fake a flight receipt.

No proof was asked from me whatsoever at my appointment last week or when booking it, but I did have genuine proof with me at the appointment, just in case.

YMMV - I know others have been asked to provide letters or email them in. 

 

This 'emergency only' BS is irritating, given you are entitled to a stamp as proof of status (some would argue required to have one) by law.

Play them at their own game.

Edited September 29, 2020 by mindthegap

[mrath5 40]

On 9/29/2020 at 12:49 PM, mindthegap said:

Be economical with the truth.

Say you need it for continued receipt of covid unemployment benefits - that is the reason I gave and it was listed as a valid reason for one. 

Or imminent emergency travel and book a fully refundable flight, or fake a flight receipt.

No proof was asked from me whatsoever at my appointment last week or when booking it, but I did have genuine proof with me at the appointment, just in case.

YMMV - I know others have been asked to provide letters or email them in. 

 

This 'emergency only' BS is irritating, given you are entitled to a stamp as proof of status (some would argue required to have one) by law.

Play them at their own game.

Excellent, thank you! I too find it odd that a person wouldn’t need one. 

[zilchfox 296]

On 9/29/2020 at 1:49 PM, mindthegap said:

Be economical with the truth.

Say you need it for continued receipt of covid unemployment benefits - that is the reason I gave and it was listed as a valid reason for one. 

Or imminent emergency travel and book a fully refundable flight, or fake a flight receipt.

No proof was asked from me whatsoever at my appointment last week or when booking it, but I did have genuine proof with me at the appointment, just in case.

YMMV - I know others have been asked to provide letters or email them in. 

 

This 'emergency only' BS is irritating, given you are entitled to a stamp as proof of status (some would argue required to have one) by law.

Play them at their own game.

I just told them I needed to renew my drivers license to get to work, and they approved that reason (and that is also the truth).

 

Anyways, another update: Just completed my InfoPass appointment– I now have the I-551 stamp! Also, they took away my expired Green Card, guess I won't have that as as souvenir :C

[mindthegap 2,599]

57 minutes ago, zilchfox said:

I just told them I needed to renew my drivers license to get to work, and they approved that reason (and that is also the truth).

 

Anyways, another update: Just completed my InfoPass appointment– I now have the I-551 stamp! Also, they took away my expired Green Card, guess I won't have that as as souvenir :C

Yeah they have a list of currently 'acceptable' reasons - ID, employment and emergency travel basically. 

Glad you got it sorted.

I still have my card...I now don't give it to them when I get my stamps renewed in case it was to be retained. Also seems to speed up the verification at secondary when re-entering the US if I present my expired card along with my stamp.