I-751 Submitted - Not Received I-797

[SandyKay 5]

Hello, Visajourney-ers!

 

Immigrant-half of this account posting here, so "I" means the person with the green card.

 

We submitted my I-751 back in early December, along with the G-1145 (E-notification of application/petition acceptance) to get notifications via text and e-mail. On December 13th I received a text to the tune of:

 

Quote

USCIS: Your case was received. Receipt # ABC1234567890. Official Receipt Notice (Form I-797) to follow in mail.

The check for the processing fee and biometrics fee was cashed on the 14th.

 

Note that I did not get an e-mail notification of the above (just the text), despite putting my e-mail address on the G-1145 (I've verified that the e-mail address I used is accurate on my copy of the packet, which was a printed copy rather than a hand-written copy so I'm sure it's accurate).

 

My green card (with conditions) expires on January 13th.

 

Based on what I've read so far, the proper approach would be to get an InfoPass appointment at my local USCIS office, but here's the catch...

 

Quote

This office is not accepting walk-in requests or scheduling InfoPass appointments.

 

There are still ways to get basic information about immigration services and ask questions about your case online without an office visit or a phone call. If you have a question about a pending application, you can:

 

<list of very generic online services>

 

I'm currently planning on calling up USCIS tomorrow (their opening hours are apparently 8am-9pm Mon-Fri), but wanted to get some thoughts as to anything I can do or what specifically I need to ask for before that.

 

One last point that might be relevant: entering the receipt number I received in the text tells me:

 

Quote

• My Case Status does not recognize the receipt number entered. Please check your receipt number and try again. If you need further assistance, please call the USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283.

 

Sorry for the information dump above, hopefully gives as much context as needed to explain the situation. My questions are as follows:

 

• Is there anything specific I should say/ask on the phone with USCIS tomorrow?
• Is there anything I need to do to make sure I'm not going to run into any problems (e.g. my green card expires in a week, if I haven't received it by then, what should I do?)
• I'm planning on calling USCIS tomorrow, and will likely have to talk to my work's (generally understanding) HR department to give them a head's up. Am I right in thinking that, legally, I shouldn't be able to be working after my green card has expired if I haven't received the I-797?
• What's the deal with the receipt number not being recognized?
• Any general advice for this situation?

 

Thanks in advance, trying not to worry too much about it! 😅

[Kiolas 102]

@SandyKay Hello, I totally understand your frustration with a long processing time. I am in the same boat as you are. I also did not receive e-mail notification, only text message AND my receipt number is not recognized on the USCIS web-site, when I input the number into "Check Case Status" section. 

 

However, when I logged in https://myaccount.uscis.dhs.gov/ I was able to add the case number and it does recognize the case number. It says: "We received your case. You do not have to do anything at this time. We will let you know if we need anything else from you as we continue to review your case."

 

In addition, I heard on this forum that it takes some time to receive NOA in the mail due to backlog. I am suggesting to wait a reasonable amount of time (around 45 days from when you got text message) and then go to https://egov.uscis.gov/e-request/Intro.do and complete section "Did not receive notice by mail".

Edited January 7, 2019 by Kiolas

[SandyKay 5]

Hi @Kiolas, thanks for your response.

 

While it's a little selfish to say, glad to see others are having the same problems!

 

I logged into the site your recommended above, and see the same thing you do. ("We received your case...")

 

Only concern for me now is whether I can work if I don't receive my NOA by the time my green card expires. 45 days would put me at a week or two after my green card expires (yes, we left it a little late in the 3 month window, gathering that evidence took a while!). I'll take it up with USCIS tomorrow when I give them a call.

[Kiolas 102]

@SandyKay That's a good idea to call USCIS, they can schedule your InfoPass via the phone to stamp your passport (it is an alternative while you are waiting for NOA to arrive via mail). Just explain them your situation with your job. 

[684117 15]

I know someone who had the exact same issue, they went to USCIS anyway and explained to the security guard their case, he then called a USCIS officer and spoke to the person outside, took their passport, stamped in an I-551 and let them go. 

 

Now that we're beyond the 13th, what happened? did you manage it? 

[SandyKay 5]

Hi, happy to follow up.

 

I phoned USCIS on the number given in my original post the following morning. I gave my case number to the automated system, and spoke to an agent, explaining the situation and asking for advice.

 

She stated that because they had received my forms (as confirmed by the fact that I had received that text and had a case number) that even though I didn't have the physical I-797 in my possession, from their standpoint my status as a legal permanent resident was extended as if I had, and that getting a passport stamp was unnecessary from their point of view. I made sure to note the time and date of my call, and the number of the agent I spoke to (she stated this upon answering the call), in case I need to refer back to it.

 

She did say that if I needed to get one, she could book an appointment for me (so via phone, rather than online). The only reasons I'd need one (at least, currently) are if I was planning on leaving the country or if I required one to prove my status as a permanent resident for e.g. starting a new job so requiring something to indicate I had a right to work in the US. Neither of those applied to me, and I talked to my HR department at work that day to confirm if they needed anything - explaining if they did I could arrange to get my passport stamped. They were unsure, but got back to me a few hours later confirming that, from their point of view, I was fine to work (essentially, they didn't need to see an updated green card, and that such a thing was only needed when hiring rather than regularly checking when it expired, but obviously if they did need to see it at a later date it'd be important to have still).

 

As of this post, my I-797 has still not arrived. My current plan, given that I received the text on the 13th of December, is to wait 45 days from receiving it to follow up with USCIS about it not arriving, so something like the end of this month.

 

Hope that helps any other VJers out there! I'd recommend still doing your due diligence and phoning USCIS yourself to confirm, as your circumstances may be different from mine.

 

 

[TabeaK 516]

Get the stamp. God forbid you have an emergency and need to leave the country or something. ROC takes 12 months+ these days - a long time to be without proof of residence.

[Kiolas 102]

Hi @SandyKay!

I'd like to correct my previous post. So you have to only wait 30 days from the time USCIS received your package (not from the time they sent you text!). Go to:

https://egov.uscis.gov/e-request/Intro.do

and select "Did not receive notice by mail".

 

Therefore, you can file e-Request now!

I have submitted e-Request and 12 days later received e-mail that they would send NOA via mail within 30 days of their e-mail.

 

I hope this helps!

[prasha 0]

hello everybody, 

I am in same boat as you are too. I got completed my bio metric in January 11. But I am still waiting for my extension letter.  I want to go to my country back for 3 weeks to see my mom because she is sick. But i can not go without extension letter. I called to USCIS for that. the guy was on phone, he told me that make an appointment or go walk in to uscis office. i went there to get i551 stamp on my passport. Man was in office, he told me to file i 131.  i can not understand what should i have to do now. I want to go to my country in emergency. I made an another appointment after one week. please help me.

thanks in advance.   

[Candice cccc 0]

On 1/27/2019 at 8:01 AM, Kiolas said:

Hi @SandyKay!

I'd like to correct my previous post. So you have to only wait 30 days from the time USCIS received your package (not from the time they sent you text!). Go to:

https://egov.uscis.gov/e-request/Intro.do

and select "Did not receive notice by mail".

 

Therefore, you can file e-Request now!

I have submitted e-Request and 12 days later received e-mail that they would send NOA via mail within 30 days of their e-mail.

 

I hope this helps!

Hi Kiolas,

Im in the same boat as you are.  Just e-mail USCIS a few days ago and got an reply today, said they would send out within 30 days by mail. 

So, Are you finally got NOA by mail within the days ?