i551 STAMP

[Camia07 1]

Hello, I’ve been waiting for my green card since 2019. And gotten the i551 / ADIT stamps few time already. 
When it got closer to the expiration date I contacted the USCIS to book an info pass appointment and was told it would be directly mail to me. 
I’ve been waiting but I still haven’t received it. Called them many times about it and had they apparently sent twice since I didn’t get the first one. Now they believe the issue comes from my mailing address even though I have the confirmation number of the address change.

 
When I first called them I specifically told them that I was planning on leaving the country at the end of the year which would give them over 1month to proceed my request.
i gotten confirmation by mail that my extension was approved and granted and should get to me whitin the next 10days. Unfortunately I had no choice but to leave the country for an emergency. Now, I find myself abroad with an expired stamp…

 

does anyone know what would be the next step to cross the border back? 
 

Sorry for the confusion! And thank you for your help.

[Crazy Cat 41,836]

Sounds as if you have an I-751 pending.  Where are you right now?  If you can get to Canda or Mexico, you could enter by land. Otherwise, maybe a boarding foil from local consulate/embassy.  Just my thoughts

[Camia07 1]

17 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

Sounds as if you have an I-751 pending.  Where are you right now?  If you can get to Canda or Mexico, you could enter by land. Otherwise, maybe a boarding foil from local consulate/embassy.  Just my thoughts

Hi! Thank you for your quick response! 
I’m currently in Cairo, Egypt! 
I was thinking about the embassy as well hoping they got some type of temporary options just to fly back into the states.
I’m planning on calling the embassy asap so they have time to proceed my request… do you have any details on what I should ask specifically…?
This is very new to me! I appreciate your help! ( I’m going to looking into the « boarding foil » )
Thank you so much!!!!!

[OldUser 6,633]

2 hours ago, Camia07 said:

Hi! Thank you for your quick response! 
I’m currently in Cairo, Egypt! 
I was thinking about the embassy as well hoping they got some type of temporary options just to fly back into the states.
I’m planning on calling the embassy asap so they have time to proceed my request… do you have any details on what I should ask specifically…?
This is very new to me! I appreciate your help! ( I’m going to looking into the « boarding foil » )
Thank you so much!!!!!

Boarding foil is what you need. It's not free however. Filing fee is $575 at the moment of writing.

[mindthegap 2,590]

2 hours ago, Camia07 said:

Unfortunately I had no choice but to leave the country for an emergency. Now, I find myself abroad with an expired stamp…

 

Oops

 

2 hours ago, Camia07 said:

does anyone know what would be the next step to cross the border back? 

 

Quickly invent a time machine, go back, and then request an urgent appointment with imminent travel within the next few days, meaning you would get given an in person appointment as a highest priority (the urgency of the travel dictates the speed).

 

Failing that, your only options right now are:

1) Wait and see if it does arrive while you are away, and get it FedEx'ed to you there. It's only a small piece of card. 

2) Fly to Canada or Mexico, and enter via a land border. They won't be happy, and will let you know they aren't happy, will take you to secondary to verify, but you will eventually be admitted.

3) Embassy for an I-131A boarding foil. Circa $600, plus a wait and a load of hassle. 

 

 

 

[OldUser 6,633]

8 minutes ago, mindthegap said:

1) Wait and see if it does arrive while you are away, and get it FedEx'ed to you there. It's only a small piece of card. 

This depeneds on the risk tolerance. Knowing how often packages meant for Austria get shipped to Australia by mistake via FedEx, UPS etc...

[Chancy 6,241]

*** Moved from ROC General Discussion to Working & Traveling During US Immigration, where similar topics about requirements for US re-entry with expired I-551 are discussed ***

 

[Camia07 1]

On 12/8/2023 at 5:55 PM, OldUser said:

Boarding foil is what you need. It's not free however. Filing fee is $575 at the moment of writing.

On 12/8/2023 at 6:08 PM, mindthegap said:

Oops

 

 

Quickly invent a time machine, go back, and then request an urgent appointment with imminent travel within the next few days, meaning you would get given an in person appointm as a highest priority (the urgency of the travel dictates the speed).

 

Failing that, your only options right now are:

1) Wait and see if it does arrive while you are away, and get it FedEx'ed to you there. It's only a small piece of card. 

2) Fly to Canada or Mexico, and enter via a land border. They won't be happy, and will let you know they aren't happy, will take you to secondary to verify, but you will eventually be admitted.

3) Embassy for an I-131A boarding foil. Circa $600, plus a wait and a load of hassle. 

 

 

 

Hi ! Thank you for your help. 
I just called the embassy of Cairo and was told they’ve never heard of a Boarding foil before… and why not applying for an ESTA …? 

The guy gave me an email to reach to explain my case… 

 

 

Everything is so confusing !!! 
 

Thanks guys

[Crazy Cat 41,836]

8 minutes ago, Camia07 said:

I just called the embassy of Cairo and was told they’ve never heard of a Boarding foil before…

I would love to know to whom you spoke.  Call back and give the person this link from the US Embassy in Cairo:

 

Boarding Foil - U.S. Embassy in Egypt (usembassy.gov)

Edited December 11, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[Crazy Cat 41,836]

35 minutes ago, Camia07 said:

and why not applying for an ESTA

You don't qualify.

[OldUser 6,633]

58 minutes ago, Camia07 said:

and why not applying for an ESTA …? 

 

Permanent residents cannot get visas or ESTA to the US. Visas are for foreign travellers without permanent residence.

[mindthegap 2,590]

4 hours ago, Camia07 said:

I just called the embassy of Cairo and was told they’ve never heard of a Boarding foil before…

 

HUCA - hang up and call again. Not all agents are created equal. 

 

The info on an I-131A (commonly known as a boarding file) is HERE . You pay and fill in the form before taking it in person to the embassy - the instructions are there in that link. 

 

4 hours ago, Camia07 said:

 and why not applying for an ESTA …? 

 

This alone demostrates the person you spoke to knows absolutely nothing.

Permanent residents are not eligible for ESTA, and if you tried, would more than likely be denied, and if not, it would almost certainly get picked up by the API.

This is not an option for you.

 

[Camia07 1]

On 12/11/2023 at 3:37 PM, Crazy Cat said:

I would love to know to whom you spoke.  Call back and give the person this link from the US Embassy in Cairo:

 

Boarding Foil - U.S. Embassy in Egypt (usembassy.gov)

 

On 12/11/2023 at 7:58 PM, mindthegap said:

 

HUCA - hang up and call again. Not all agents are created equal. 

 

The info on an I-131A (commonly known as a boarding file) is HERE . You pay and fill in the form before taking it in person to the embassy - the instructions are there in that link. 

 

 

This alone demostrates the person you spoke to knows absolutely nothing.

Permanent residents are not eligible for ESTA, and if you tried, would more than likely be denied, and if not, it would almost certainly get picked up by the API.

This is not an option for you.

 

  
 

 

Hi! Thank you for those precious infos! I emailed as he recommended but still haven’t heard from them. 
I’m running out of time soon. 
So I looked into the link y’all provided! Thank you!
I’m planning on going tomorrow to the embassy to fill out the form! 

However sorry again for asking all these questions. 
I’m looking at that section.. I’m not sure which one I am… the first one «  lawful permanent resident, including with LOR conditions… »? Even tho my i551 stamps already expired..?

 

 

And then here… ? returning from temporary travel outside…. But None of my documents were lost, stolen nor destroyed and my EAD (Employment Authorization Document)  HAS expired already… 

I’m not sure which of these three categories I fall into…

 

That statement make me slightly nervous too «  if you are a LPR, you must have been an LPR when you left the US and still be LPR when you return to the US » 

 Am I still a LPR even tho the stamp expired…? 

Just want to make sure I’m doing it right and know better than the agent … lol 

Quite confused about this whole new process especially since it’s a $575 non refundable… 

Thank you again for taking the time to guide me through this! 
 

have a great day everyone!

 

 

 

 

 

[Crazy Cat 41,836]

2 minutes ago, Camia07 said:

Am I still a LPR even tho the stamp expired…? 

Yes. Only the evidence of your status has expired.  You are a legal resident until an immigration judge says otherwise.

[mindthegap 2,590]

40 minutes ago, Camia07 said:

I’m planning on going tomorrow to the embassy to fill out the form! 

 

 

Cool, don't forget that with the I-131A, I am fairly sure you need to pay before taking it to file (as written in the 'where to file' box on the link).

 

40 minutes ago, Camia07 said:

I’m looking at that section.. I’m not sure which one I am… the first one «  lawful permanent resident, including with LOR conditions… »? Even tho my i551 stamps already expired..?

 

 

You had your I-551 because you filed an I-751, right? And the extension letter ran out, and you got an I-551 stamp, correct?

Then yes, you are an LPR. A conditional LPR, technically, but thats semantics as a conditional LPR is an LPR. 

 

40 minutes ago, Camia07 said:

Even tho my i551 stamps already expired..?

 

 

The stamp is evidence of your status, not the status itself. Only an immigration judge can terminate your status (or yourself by filing an I-407, which I'm fairly sure you haven't done). 

 

40 minutes ago, Camia07 said:

And then here… ? returning from temporary travel outside…. But None of my documents were lost, stolen nor destroyed and my EAD (Employment Authorization Document)  HAS expired already… 

I’m not sure which of these three categories I fall into…

Well, since there is no 'I'm an idiot who left the US without having proof of status and without consulting VJ first' option, you would select the first one, which is'

"Returning from temporary travel outside the United States of less than 1 year, and your permanent resident card (also known as a green card) has been lost or destroyed".

It technically hasn't but it would result in the same situation you are in - being stuck overseas with no current proof of status. Thats the closest option to your current predicament, the same as if you lost/someone stole your passport with your I-551 stamp in. 

 

The second option is applicable to those LPRs with re-entry permits (confusingly called an I-131, which is very similar to the permit you need which is an I-131A, but is a completely different thing),  who have been (legally) out of the US for more than one year and less than two years. This is not applicable to you. 

 

The third is for those who aren't LPRs and are travelling while on EAD, advance parole and other such similar status. This is not applicable to you.

 

40 minutes ago, Camia07 said:

That statement make me slightly nervous too «  if you are a LPR, you must have been an LPR when you left the US and still be LPR when you return to the US » 

 Am I still a LPR even tho the stamp expired…? 

 

 

Yes. Again, The stamp is evidence of your status, and not the status itself. You are a conditional permanent resident. You are a permanent resident up to and beyond that being adjudicated. Only an immigration judge can terminate your status (or yourself by filing an I-407, which I'm fairly sure you haven't done). 

 

 

40 minutes ago, Camia07 said:

Just want to make sure I’m doing it right and know better than the agent … lol 

Quite confused about this whole new process especially since it’s a $575 non refundable… 

 

In some ways it is designed to be confusing and opaque. How do you think these clowns make money? 

Yes, you do now know more than the agent, but stay humble. Be assertive, and firm is necessary, but humble, and remain calm.

You are a LPR, you have rights enshrined in law, and yes, you now do know more than the average person, thanks to this expensive lesson. 

 

 

Remember, there is still always the option of the cheapest flight to Canada or Mexico and entering via a land border.

Book the cheapest return you can find, to Toronto, Montreal, or Vancouver, find your way to the border, and then when in the US throw away (forget about) the return flight - it would be cheaper than booking a one way. 

 

 

 

 

*yes I know the OP is not an idiot and it is not a personal attack.  I'm posting it to emphasis the very real seriousness of their predicament. Hopefully it will assist someone else in future who searches for it, and prevent them ending up in the same situation. 

 

 

 

Edited December 13, 2023 by mindthegap