Expediting infopass appointment for employment while ROC pending

[MyNameIsEarl 13]

Here is my timeline - SRC and waiver

Receipt - 01/28/2020

Biometrics reused - 05/03/2020

Status change - 07/09/2021 - 'Case transferred to local office'

Waiver Applied - 11/01/2021

Interview- 01/20/2022 

RFE Received - 01/25/2022

RFE Submitted - 02/22/2022

 

I received I-551 stampings twice (each 6 months) after the expiration of my 18 month receipt and the latest stamping is about to expire on 21st of September. I called USCIS on August,23 and requested for another appointment. I am starting a new job on Sep, 19th and they asked me to submit unexpired i-551. The hiring company also mentioned if I don't have i-551 I can submit my DL and unrestricted social security card but I don't have unrestricted social security card. I called USCIS early this week and explained the situation but the agent said that he can't do anything and I am not supposed to work after 21st and I should just wait like every other person in the queue. I called again on Sep 14th morning around 10am and this time a nicer and knowledgeable agent picked up the call and changed my request to emergency and told me to expect a call within 72 hours and I have to bring my offer letter during info pass appointment. I did not receive the call yet. I am not sure if USCIS works on Saturdays. 

 

In case, if I don't get a call by Monday morning is there anything I can do to expedite my request as I only have stamping until Wednesday? 

 

[Mobius1 175]

Why don’t you have the unrestricted social security card, I assume by unrestricted you mean the card that doesn’t say “work authorization only with DHS permission”.

 

You can go to the SS office and have your precious SS card converted to an “unrestricted” one. I did that and ID renewal to remove that “Temporary” stain as one of the first things after getting my GC. 
 

Very slim chance that your expedite request will be entertained as ROCs are among the bottom of the totem pole of priorities. 
 

Get your SS and ID renewed to reflect permanent residency even if it’s conditional. 

[MyNameIsEarl 13]

6 minutes ago, Mobius1 said:

Why don’t you have the unrestricted social security card, I assume by unrestricted you mean the card that doesn’t say “work authorization only with DHS permission”.

 

You can go to the SS office and have your precious SS card converted to an “unrestricted” one. I did that and ID renewal to remove that “Temporary” stain as one of the first things after getting my GC. 
 

Very slim chance that your expedite request will be entertained as ROCs are among the bottom of the totem pole of priorities. 
 

Get your SS and ID renewed to reflect permanent residency even if it’s conditional. 

Thank you. You are right, I meant removing the 'work authorization only with DHS authorization'. I did check that today but it says the process takes 10 days and I have to have i-551 receipt to get it. Isn't it? Can I get unrestricted SSN the same day if I walk in to the SS office if I explain my situation?

[Mobius1 175]

40 minutes ago, MyNameIsEarl said:

Thank you. You are right, I meant removing the 'work authorization only with DHS authorization'. I did check that today but it says the process takes 10 days and I have to have i-551 receipt to get it. Isn't it? Can I get unrestricted SSN the same day if I walk in to the SS office if I explain my situation?

I doubt that you will get SS the same day even after explanation. I gets mailed to you. Same goes with ID, unless its a very hi-fi office that has the ID printing machine on premises. 

 

But the takeaway here is, you must understand that govt has it difficult to accommodate your or anyone else's troubles. They go by the book to the letter to satisfy their checks, documentation, and policies.

[OldUser 6,660]

Agreed with @Mobius1

You may need to try harder to get I-551 stamp, try different field office if your local one doesn't work. Alternatively, negotiate your start date a little later if possible and get SSN card / DL sorted.

And next time, remember to stay on top of your documentation updates as you go through immigration journey.

[MyNameIsEarl 13]

13 minutes ago, Mobius1 said:

I doubt that you will get SS the same day even after explanation. I gets mailed to you. Same goes with ID, unless its a very hi-fi office that has the ID printing machine on premises. 

 

But the takeaway here is, you must understand that govt has it difficult to accommodate your or anyone else's troubles. They go by the book to the letter to satisfy their checks, documentation, and policies.

 

2 minutes ago, OldUser said:

Agreed with @Mobius1

You may need to try harder to get I-551 stamp, try different field office if your local one doesn't work. Alternatively, negotiate your start date a little later if possible and get SSN card / DL sorted.

And next time, remember to stay on top of your documentation updates as you go through immigration journey.

Thanks guys. I have the ID and I just need the SSN and SS website says they need I-551 stamping to get unrestricted one. Looks like I should get it right after I get my stamping so that I don't have problem next time.

 

True, they have to go by the book but that's the problem. USCIS doesn't allow making appointments for infopass before 30 days of expiration date and I tried calling earlier during last 2 stamps and it din't work. Their website and the email they sent me clearly mentioned they call with in 30 days and schedule appointment for normal and within 72 hours for emergency. I am definitely not asking them a special favor as I am already waiting for 33 months for my i-751 extension. Also, they can give 1 year i-551 stamps but they didn't. I did not have good experience during my 1st stamping, during SR  and when I called earlier week. Their website mentioned they process the cases in the order they receive but they don't. I am just tired and all I want is they doing what they mentioned on their website or emails. What if it's not my job..maybe my parents are seriously not well back home and I have to travel? No point in thinking all this though.Maybe they will call right in the 72nd hour..hopefully! Even if they don't, looks like there is nothing I can do.

 

I will do what you guys said, I will request PTO for few days after 21st or move join date further and I keep calling uscis regularly until I get the appointment. 

[OldUser 6,660]

Good luck @MyNameIsEarl (love that show lol)!

Let us know how it goes. Also remember to update your citizenship status with SSA if you decide to naturalize in the future.

[MyNameIsEarl 13]

50 minutes ago, OldUser said:

Good luck @MyNameIsEarl (love that show lol)!

Let us know how it goes. Also remember to update your citizenship status with SSA if you decide to naturalize in the future.

Thank you. Sure. I will remember about updating citizenship status. 
 

Hahahaha. It’s a very good show. 

[Rocio0010 5,579]

Lesson to be learned for all conditional gc holders who held a SS card: as soon as you receive the gc, go to your local FO to update your status

[MyNameIsEarl 13]

Forgot to update here guys...I called uscis again and the agent I spoke to said that the previous agent made a mistake. She never changed my request to emergency, she just added a comment 'it's emergency' instead of changing it in the system. Then the new agent changed it and I received a call next day but the officer called me said Houston has no openings until next 30 days and Dallas has one in 3 weeks. I told them I can fly to anywhere in US and they gave me an appointment for the next day in Detroit. 

 

The officer in the Detroit is super nice, she said she was waiting for me as she read about my case already and asked how is Detroit?, what made this stamping urgent etc. She said i-751s are not their focus now as government asked them to work on I-40 or I-45 (not sure). She said i-751s will move quicker starting Jan,2023.

 

I came back with stamping and immediately I got unrestricted ssn. So, it's a very good idea to get unrestricted ssn especially if you are planning to switch jobs. I was not aware of it, so I want to tell everyone who reads this post...get that unrestricted ssn asap!