Extension Letter expiring

[smallgirlbigworld 46]

Hello,

I have submitted my ROC paperwork in 2019 and the letter that is extending the green card for 18 month is about to expire!!

We are currently stationed in Germany and are due to move back to America right during the time this letter expires.

 

Does anybody have exprience with this and knows what I need to do to get another extension? In the US you schedule an infopass but unsure how it is in Germany.

When I called USCIS she told me due to me not having a stateside phonenumber there was nothing she can do for me... 

 

Help anybody?

Thank you!

[mindthegap 2,590]

When your initial extension letter expires you will require an I-551 stamp in your passport.

You cannot get this stamp outside of the US - it requires an infopass appointment to get one, which are not available outside of the US. 

 

If your letter expires when outside of the US you will require a boarding foil from the US embassy in order to re-enter the US, which is something like $600 and a boat load of hassle to sort out.

 

 

Edited May 4, 2021 by mindthegap

[mushroomspore 3,044]

23 minutes ago, smallgirlbigworld said:

Hello,

I have submitted my ROC paperwork in 2019 and the letter that is extending the green card for 18 month is about to expire!!

We are currently stationed in Germany and are due to move back to America right during the time this letter expires.

 

Does anybody have exprience with this and knows what I need to do to get another extension? In the US you schedule an infopass but unsure how it is in Germany.

When I called USCIS she told me due to me not having a stateside phonenumber there was nothing she can do for me... 

 

Help anybody?

Thank you!

If you were inside the US, you could get the I-551 stamp. But since you can't, one option is to return to the USA by yourself before your letter expires. You can try getting a boarding foil but I believe you must get that through the embassy or consulate where you reside. With COVID, I am guessing that the embassy or consulate has very limited availability or no availability at all right now. So you're probably better off just coming back to the USA alone.

[smallgirlbigworld 46]

32 minutes ago, mindthegap said:

When your initial extension letter expires you will require an I-551 stamp in your passport.

You cannot get this stamp outside of the US - it requires an infopass appointment to get one, which are not available outside of the US. 

 

If your letter expires when outside of the US you will require a boarding foil from the US embassy in order to re-enter the US, which is something like $600 and a boat load of hassle to sort out.

 

 

That sounds awful! We are stationed here with the Military and because USCIS is not processing my case in a timely manner I have to sort it out by paying a huge fee? 

Thank you for the information I will have to see what we can do about that.

[mindthegap 2,590]

2 hours ago, smallgirlbigworld said:

That sounds awful! We are stationed here with the Military and because USCIS is not processing my case in a timely manner I have to sort it out by paying a huge fee? 

You are a permanent resident which means you are supposed to reside primarily in the US.

Thats not having a dig at you, that is just a fact and consequence of your status.

USCIS do not care about the cost to applicants either, as I have unfortunately experienced myself - they will gladly take every dollar proffered in their direction. 

 

However, there is some potentially good news for you. 

As you are the spouse of an active US military member currently stationed overseas on orders, you may actually be eligible for expedited naturalization under INA 319(b), which may be beneficial to you to investigate.

https://www.uscis.gov/military/citizenship-for-military-family-members

 

 

Edited May 4, 2021 by mindthegap

[HRQX 4,145]

21 minutes ago, mindthegap said:

As you are the spouse of an active US military member currently stationed overseas on orders, you may actually be eligible for expedited naturalization under INA 319(b), which may be beneficial to you to investigate.

https://www.uscis.gov/military/citizenship-for-military-family-members

Actually, they should instead do it via regular processing through "Overseas Naturalization under INA Section 319(e)" https://www.jag.navy.mil/legal_services/documents/RLSO_EURAFSWA_N-400_Packet_for_Spouse_(April_2016).pdf OP became a LPR in early 2018: https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=230417

 

The process for INA 319(e)(2) is done completely abroad: https://www.uscis.gov/military/citizenship-for-military-family-members

Overseas Naturalization for Spouses of Service Members

Under section 319(e)(2) of the INA and 8 U.S.C. section 1443a, a lawful permanent resident (LPR) who is married to a U.S. service member can naturalize outside the United States without traveling to the U.S. In general, to be eligible for naturalization abroad under section 319(e)(2) of the INA and 8 U.S.C. section 1443a, you must:

• Be the spouse of a U.S. service member who is stationed outside the United States in that capacity;
• Be authorized to accompany your spouse outside the United States by your spouse’s official orders;
• Reside outside the United States in marital union with your spouse; and
• Meet the requirements of either section 316(a) or 319(a) of the INA at the time you file your naturalization application.

Section 316(a) applies to you if you have been:

• An LPR for at least five years immediately before the date you file the naturalization application; and
• Physically present in the U.S. for periods totaling at least two and a half years. 

Section 319(a) applies to you if:

• You have been an LPR and have resided in the United States for at least three continuous years immediately before the date you file your naturalization application;
• You have lived in marital union with your U.S. citizen spouse for at least three years immediately before you file your naturalization application;
• Your U.S citizen spouse has been a U.S. citizen for at least three years immediately before you file your naturalization application; and
• You have been physically present in the U.S. for periods totaling at least 18 months out of the three years immediately preceding the date you file your application. Time spent living in marital union with your spouse who is abroad under military orders counts toward the continuous residence and physical presence requirements.

You can file for naturalization up to 90 calendar days before you meet the time requirement for being an LPR. For example, if you are filing under section 319(a), you can file when you have been an LPR for two years and 275 days. However, if you file early under section 319(a):

• You must have been married to your U.S. citizen spouse for at least three years at the time you file;  
• Your spouse must have been a U.S. citizen for at least three years at the time you file; and
• You must meet all other eligibility requirements (such as good moral character).

Use our early filing calculator to determine your earliest filing date for naturalizations. For more guidance on naturalization for qualifying spouses of U.S. military personnel, including a quick reference chart on overseas naturalization and filing tips, please see our policy manual.

Edited May 4, 2021 by HRQX

[Mike E 11,740]

Even after your extension letter expires you are still an LPR until there is a negative decision (and perhaps not even then as you get to have your day in court).    
 

Therefore if you don’t want the boarding foil or return early options, you can fly to Mexico and walk into the USA from say Juarez into El Paso.  

Edited May 5, 2021 by Mike E