Hello. My mom filed a I-751 form if I'm not mistaking to remove condition of permanent residence or something like that. I have this letter saying that my green card is extended for one year. The problem is that that letter (one year extension) is about to expire too. So I made this appointment through Infopass for this coming Thursday. I heard that you can extend that letter for longer time and be able to travel outside US while they process your petition. Is this true? How long does it take to extend that letter?

My condolences.

Its not a case of extending the letter, but rather getting an I-551 stamp in your passport in order to prove continued permanent residence.

They can do this at your infopass appointment - you will need to take your letter, your passport, and (if you still have it) your expired greencard with you.... they will then stamp your passport to 'extend' your proof of permanent residence status.

From then on, the stamp in your passport is all that you need to travel until the stamp expires.

chances are at your InfoPass appointment they will stamp your passport for one more year. As I understand the process, you are able to travel after getting said stamp. But let's see if other members have more accurate and pertinent information.

This info is correct.


Edited to add the link to the memo that the OP should take to the INFOPASS.

Oh my god. My native countries passport expired a year ago. And I cannot get a new one until I come back to my native country. My embassy said that they can issue me a temporary passport, but I'm not sure if they accept that?

How were you going to travel without a passport?

oh man, this really stinks. My sister was in same situation and she got her green card approved for 10 years. And I received to wait for an interview which I've been waiting for 4 months.

The alternative is you need to take two passport-style photos along with you also, along with everything else (and your expired passport)

The officer will issue you an I-94 with your photo on it, and an I-551 stamp in order to allow you to prove your status when leaving/entering the country.

You would then keep this along with your temporary (or once you finally get it, your permanent) passport in order to be able to travel.

So all is not lost.

Embassy said they would give me a temporary passport to travel back to my country. In there I would be able to get normal passport


Thank you so much for info. For minute I was frozen

One more question. I am only 17, can I travel by myself?

In most cases yes, but check with your airline - it is they who descide.

So yeah I went for my appointment today. The lady that checked my case said that she can't give me I-94 because I have a passport even though it is not valid(expired). So yeah she told me to go to office where all my case documents are and see what's up with my case because we haven't received a scheduled interview date. How long any of you guys, have been waiting for an interview schedule date, after you received the letter saying that your petition is being forwarded to your local district Office? My notice to await an interview schedule date came in on Dec31,2007. Still no further notice.
Edit: I got my fingerprints done already like 6 months back

Most I-751s are approved without an interview, so you're won't necessarily get an interview date. However, if you're extension letter is expiring it means your case has been pending for more than a year. I would call the 1-800 number, give them the receipt number that's on the extension letter, and ask them if they have any updates on your case. It's weird that they couldn't give you more information at the Infopass...

No, I got a notification letter to await for an interview date.Anyways, my sister filed that I-751 at the same time and got her 10 year visa without an interview. My case has been sent to local office for a review and for a possible interview like it said in notification letter. So yeah I'm going to other location following Friday,where all my case documents are and see what's up with it. So your saying this is too long of a wait just for interview date?

Did you bring a copy of the memo that I posted a few posts back? She should have given you an I-94 with the stamp on it.

no I did not see your edited post. I did not bring that memo, but I will bring it to my next appointment. That memo explains if I understand it correctly, that if a person does not have a valid passport they must issue a I-94 correct?

What if she cannot confirm that this memo is valid? What do I tell them where I got it from?

hm?