Its been a while since Ive been on these forums. I just mailed in my I-751 petition to remove conditions today. I had two questions:

1) How good is Vermont Service Center at sending the one year green card extension letter?

2) We are planning on going to Europe in end of August. I need a visa for that. Has anyone had trouble obtaining a visa with an expired green card and extension letter from USCIS?

I can only respond to your first question - we filed with TSC, were transferred to VSC and they sent us the extension letter...so we got one.

Hopefully someone else can address the second one!

I can also answer the first question. We applied in December '07 (directly to VSC) and prompty got the extension letter.
Sorry, I have no answer for your second question, either.

Our case was transferred from TSC to VSC and we got the extension letter within 2 weeks of applying.

if you need a visa to enter any europen countries, there is nothing to do with uscis.
uscis isn't the one issues you the visa you need.

Many consulates since you are asking the visa from here, required that you show proof of residency in the US, that is why the unexpired green card is needed. So in some way yes, in the other way is a no because to Europe most of their entry rules are based in your nationality not in your residency, except Mexico and Canada that once you are a US resident holder then you are free to enter without a visa restriction.

If you are going to several countries in Europe, remember the rules with the Schengen countries. Asked the one where you going to enter if that so, if not then asked directly to each consulate and see what is their answer here in the US. Most probably would be good that you obtain the I-551 stamp in your passport to process a visa if its required.

Example, when I checked/and later asked for a visa to India both statements were that I need to show proof of US residency e.g. Green card along with my unexpired passport for visa processing.

Good luck.

Thank you for the replies. I was a little unclear on my second question. Im not asking USCIS for a visa. One condition for visa approval is showing proof I can come back to the USA. So I guess my question is has someone been through the process of applying for a visa through the extension letter.