HI -- I mailed my I-751 form on September 4, 2007 and I just realized that I mailed an expired form and the wrong amount. They issued an new form on 7/30/07 but I was too studid to double check the money amount and so mailed a check for $275 instead of $545. I can't believe I did this

Should I send a new application with the new amount or should I wait until I hear back from them? I have a VERY important trip planned for the first week of December and I'm afraid I won't get my Notice in time to travel. My residency card is expired so I know that I WILL need the Notice in order to travel.

What should I do???

Your advice is needed and appreciated!!

Hey Mariaclara...
There are several IMPORTANT points to consider here:
1) "My residency card expired ..."
ANSWER: Technically you could be deported! Not wise to travel out of USA now without valid travel (reentry) documents!!
2) "They issued a new form on 7/30/07..."
ANSWER: Actually they issued an even NEWER form on 7/31/07 and you should use that revised one!! Your can download it from the USCIS website.
3) "Mailed a check for $275 instead of $545..."
ANSWER: Your entire package will be returned to you (at some future point in time).
4) "Should I send a new application with the new amount or should I wait until I hear back."
ANSWER: Wait until the entire package returns and then send in new form (dated 7/31/07) and $545. Multiple concurrent filings might send the USCIS into an even greater "tizzy" then they normally are!
5) I don't know where you file(d) your paperwork but some CSC's are quicker on processing I-751 than others....check out what people have to say here on this site. If I had to guess, once you refile the correct paperwork and correct fee, there is a 50-50 chance that your NOA with 1 year extention will appear before you need to travel 1st week in December.

Your situation is somewhat more difficult to address especially since your green card has already expired! If your g.c. was still valid, you could file the I-751 and quickly grab an infopass appointment to get a valid travel stamp in your passport. HOWEVER, I'd personally be concerned that something negative might occur if you personally appeared at a USCIS infopass appointment with an expired g.c.!!!

I sincerely wish you the best of luck as you work your way through these difficult times.

1. weigh the importance of your trip against the importance of continued residence and act accordingly.
2. vow to procrastinate less in the future and plan ahead.

Sometimes there is no good answer for a bad situation.

Thanks for your encouraging words--right!

First off, I admit I completely messed-up. I sent my paperwork to late in the game to give myself time to correct my mistakes. But what's done is done, right? All I can do is move forward and try to find a solution to my problem. The trip I mentioned is in fact VERY important--it's my sisters wedding. But, if I don't get my receipt notice in time I will just have to cancel my trip. This is just something I'll have to learn to accept. Anyway, I talked to a UCSIS customer service person and she said I could try ang get a temporaty I-551 stamp from my local immigration office to travel. I know that the previous blogger warmed me against even trying to go to an immigration office because of what they might do with me. Who should I believe? It seems like I can never get a straight answer from anyone!

I did file on time... BUT I sent the wrong fee. Won't they take this into consideration? I mean can they make this any harder on us?

Sorry--I had to vent