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I filed for a I-129F in July 2021. On September 28 2022, I received NOA2 form I-797 saying it's "Valid From 09/28/2022 to 01/27/2023". On December 20, 2022, I received an email notice from NVC saying they have forwarded the petition to the Canadian US Consulate in Montreal. However my partner is still waiting to receive the packet from the US Consulate via mail. Do I need to file an extension on the I-797, since that date is in less than 3 weeks? If that date passes, does USCIS drop the case? I'm finding conflicting information, some saying that it's automatically extended, some saying that it doesn't matter as soon as the NVC processes the case, and both of us worried that we should try to extend it anyway. And I don't know the best way to do that.

I had some PTO left over from this year which I can roll over till January (only), so I thought I'd use it to go home and visit family. The flight is booked and paid for already, I am due to leave on 1/12. On 12/13, a friend (also British) called me to ask about some visa stuff, which prompted me to check my old I-797s; and to my horror I saw that the 24 month extension period had already expired. I logged onto USCIS straight away and checked online and saw that my case was approved, so had a huge sigh of relief. Now I am back on the roller coaster ride of emotions again - the language on the website led to believe that I would receive my actual I-551 in the post before Christmas. However, I actually received another I-797 that says my request was approved, but also that I should not travel. Has anyone else here experienced a similar issue? Did you have to get an I-551 stamp at the local USCIS office? Are appointments easy to get? Are you able to travel with just this I-797 (I travelled many times on my old extension letters)? Does the GC actually arrive way before 60 days? I am transferring in Dublin if it counts for anything - they were very good with traveling with the extension letters in the past. I'm also hopeful that should not travel is not must not travel.... Any information and advice is greatly appreciated!