Rescheduling I-751 interview? Stuck overseas :(

[mindthegap 2,590]

1 hour ago, dunebuggy said:

Thank you @gregcrs2, the 18 mo extension letter has already expired.... I read this is not a huge deal due to COVID but have you heard otherwise?

Oof, in that case, you have MUCH bigger problems.

 

 

You need that letter in conjunction with an expired 2 year card to be able to board a carrier to the US, and to re-enter the US. You needed to make an infopass appointment to get a stamp when the letter expires which replaces the letter + expired combo. You cannot get the stamp overseas.

 

 

Re-entering perhaps not such a big deal as they can verify in secondary, but they don't have that facility at overseas airports (aside from ones that have dedicated pre-clearance facilities) so being permitted to board will be an issue. Airlines get HUGE fines for this and are strict with verification (see the carrier information guide - https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2019-Mar/2019 Carrier Information Guide - ENGLISH.pdf )

 

All you have as proof of your permanent resident status is a 2yr card that expired over 18 months ago, and no valid proof of current permanent residence.  You can board with an expired 10yr card but NOT an expired 2yr card without the letter. This is why the stamp is so important.

 

You may get lucky, you may have to wait while they contact the RCLG to verify, but at present you have a MAJOR issue to overcome before you can even get to the interview.

 

 

Edited March 15, 2021 by mindthegap

[dunebuggy 18]

3 minutes ago, mindthegap said:

Oof, in that case, you have MUCH bigger problems.

 

 

You need that letter to be able to board a carrier to the US, and to re-enter the US. You needed to make an infopass appointment to get a stamp when the letter expires. You cannot get the stamp overseas.

 

Re-entering perhaps not such a big deal as they can verify in secondary, but they don't have that facility at overseas airports (aside from ones that have dedicated pre-clearance facilities) so being permitted to board will be an issue. Airlines get HUGE fines for this and are strict with verification (see the carrier information guide - https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2019-Mar/2019 Carrier Information Guide - ENGLISH.pdf )

 

You may get lucky, you may have to wait while they contact the RCLG to verify, but at present you have a MAJOR issue to overcome before you can even get to the interview.

 

 

Uh oh we might be in trouble.... we need to talk to a lawyer at this point! Might just need to abandon

[dunebuggy 18]

3 hours ago, mindthegap said:

Oof, in that case, you have MUCH bigger problems.

 

 

You need that letter in conjunction with an expired 2 year card to be able to board a carrier to the US, and to re-enter the US. You needed to make an infopass appointment to get a stamp when the letter expires which replaces the letter + expired combo. You cannot get the stamp overseas.

 

 

Re-entering perhaps not such a big deal as they can verify in secondary, but they don't have that facility at overseas airports (aside from ones that have dedicated pre-clearance facilities) so being permitted to board will be an issue. Airlines get HUGE fines for this and are strict with verification (see the carrier information guide - https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2019-Mar/2019 Carrier Information Guide - ENGLISH.pdf )

 

All you have as proof of your permanent resident status is a 2yr card that expired over 18 months ago, and no valid proof of current permanent residence.  You can board with an expired 10yr card but NOT an expired 2yr card without the letter. This is why the stamp is so important.

 

You may get lucky, you may have to wait while they contact the RCLG to verify, but at present you have a MAJOR issue to overcome before you can even get to the interview.

 

 

@mindthegap do you by chance have any experience with a boarding foil? Would this be an alternative way to board the flight? https://ec.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/lpr-tbf/

[mindthegap 2,590]

9 minutes ago, dunebuggy said:

@mindthegap do you by chance have any experience with a boarding foil? Would this be an alternative way to board the flight? https://ec.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/lpr-tbf/

I do not, although give it time and I am sure I will have given the way my case is going.

You are and remain a lawful permanent resident, so there is no issue with that - you just have no evidence of that right now, and unfortunately the airlines need to see it.

 

You could try checking in for a flight, you may get lucky. If they notice the issue, then request they speak to the RCLG (regional carrier liaison group - basically CBP hotline for airlines with passengers who may not have the correct documentation, that they then approve to board) to approve you, and if that doesn't work, then go away and try the boarding foil method (which is not free) at the embassy, or some other method they may have for you. 

You could try speaking to the embassy now of course.

 

Or try departing from an airport with pre-clearance, as they have CBP staff and secondary on site so can be dealt with there and then. 

 

 

 

 

I'm pretty sure they have a log of the stamps issued as well, so you couldn't even get a replacement passport and claim the stamp was in the lost/stolen one. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 15, 2021 by mindthegap

[dunebuggy 18]

Quick update and PSA in case it helps someone: you need at least one completely blank page in your passport for the boarding foil! The last two pages don't count apparently. Perhaps this seems obvious but it wasn't mentioned on the official website instructions... need to get a new passport now and will be cutting it very close🤷‍♀️

[mindthegap 2,590]

Thanks for the update.

 

So you decided to go the boarding foil route....have you already spoken to the embassy?

 

[RamonGomez 271]

On 3/15/2021 at 1:00 PM, mindthegap said:

I do not, although give it time and I am sure I will have given the way my case is going.

You are and remain a lawful permanent resident, so there is no issue with that - you just have no evidence of that right now, and unfortunately the airlines need to see it.

 

You could try checking in for a flight, you may get lucky. If they notice the issue, then request they speak to the RCLG (regional carrier liaison group - basically CBP hotline for airlines with passengers who may not have the correct documentation, that they then approve to board) to approve you, and if that doesn't work, then go away and try the boarding foil method (which is not free) at the embassy, or some other method they may have for you. 

You could try speaking to the embassy now of course.

 

Or try departing from an airport with pre-clearance, as they have CBP staff and secondary on site so can be dealt with there and then. 

 

 

 

 

I'm pretty sure they have a log of the stamps issued as well, so you couldn't even get a replacement passport and claim the stamp was in the lost/stolen one. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wouldn't you need to first get the airline's blessing before passing through customs? 

 

Would flying to Canada/Mexico (if OP is allowed) and trying to cross via land border work in a case like this? As long as OP makes it to the border, I think he should be fine.

Edited March 22, 2021 by RamonGomez

[mindthegap 2,590]

Yes, land border could work. Canada i believe is still basically closed, but Mexico would work - not sure if would have to quarantine there for a couple of weeks before entering the US. You would if you arrived from the Uk for example.

 

Would still have some major hassle and stern words at the border while they verify status though, and still potential for it to go wrong....

[dunebuggy 18]

On 3/22/2021 at 6:05 PM, dunebuggy said:

Quick update and PSA in case it helps someone: you need at least one completely blank page in your passport for the boarding foil! The last two pages don't count apparently. Perhaps this seems obvious but it wasn't mentioned on the official website instructions... need to get a new passport now and will be cutting it very close🤷‍♀️

As an update, we received the boarding foil and fly out tomorrow morning. Port of Entry will be SFO. Our removal of conditions interview is Friday. Crossing fingers we make it 🤞🤞🤞

[mindthegap 2,590]

Glad to hear that the boarding foil worked out. An expensive lesson for you!

 

Good luck...

 

Edited April 14, 2021 by mindthegap

[dunebuggy 18]

So here's how it went... the theme of unnecessary drama continued....

 

Immigration at SFO - the CBP agent was nice but pretty skeptical of our story. She asked if we're planning on living here, we said yes and that we're trying to move back but it was delayed due to Covid-19... She asked a few more questions and don't think she totally bought it but she let us in anyway. I showed her our i-551 travel document but because it expired in 2019 she kept it, no worries I suppose. 

 

USCIS ROC "Interview" (Portland, Oregon) - showed up a bit early, they told us to come back 15 mins before the appointment time. Once we came back, before going through security, there was a sheet of paper with several declarations we needed to make, including that we had not been outside the US within the last 10 days. When we declared that we had, they wouldn't let us pass security and told us our appointment would be automatically rescheduled. This was NOT what we wanted to hear, especially after a looooooong flight. 

 

Then, about three hours later, I received an email that the new card was being produced! USCIS truly works in mysterious ways... we already had an interview before receiving the initial GC, so we were a bit disappointed we were called for another one. I suppose all's well that ends well, but you won't catch us celebrating until we have that little green card in our hot little hands! Thanks to everyone for your assistance and wishing others a less dramatic process

 

Application Type: I751, PETITION TO REMOVE CONDITIONS ON RESIDENCE

 

Your Case Status: Card/ Document Production

 

On April 16, 2021, we ordered your new card for Receipt Number MSCXXXXXX, and will mail it to the address you gave us. If you move, go to www.uscis.gov/addresschange to give us your new mailing address.