I-551 Passport Stamp now requiring Job Offer Lette

[kgardnr 5]

Our I-485 was approved in 2021 but the physical green card was lost in the mail. We applied for a replacement and are still waiting.

 

We didn’t renew the work permit because we thought we would get the GC and didn’t need to.

 

We applied for lifting of conditions at 2 years, earlier this year. Estimated date is into 2025.

 

We have been trying to get the passport stamp (I-551) but been told we need a job offer and then they can turn it around in 4 days. 
 

Is anyone else having this experience? We are based in California.

 

If so, does anyone know if the job offer has to contain certain information or general info is fine?

 

Thank you!

[Mike E 11,727]

Have you tried this?

 

https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-announces-additional-mail-delivery-process-for-receiving-adit-stamp
 

?

[kgardnr 5]

Thanks Mike! They’ve said we need to come to an in-person appointment unfortunately.

[mindthegap 2,543]

This is not correct. You are entitled to an I-551 stamp by law, and the standard procedure right now is to call, the tier 1 escalates to a tier 2, who will (eventually) call you back, and schedule an appointment. 

They are saying you need proof of a job offer in order to expedite the appointment. They designate the callback in a grading system - super urgent callbacks within 24hrs/same day, slightly less urgent within 72hrs, less urgent within 5 days, and standard within 30 days. The urgent ones generally require proof or urgency - which is infuritating - and this is what they are asking. 

 There is no requirement to have a job, so why you would need such proof of it to obtain a stamp you are legally entitled to is, frankly, bizarre.

 

 

You could book a (fully refundable) ticket out of the country, call up, say you are travelling in the next few days/week on a family related matter or something important, send them proof of the ticket if they ask for it (some offices do require it via email upfront, some only request you bring it to the appointment, others simply don't care) and you will should an appointment quickly. It's significantly easier than their stupid standard 'we will call you back within 30 days' rubbish. 

[Mike E 11,727]

12 hours ago, kgardnr said:

Thanks Mike! They’ve said we need to come to an in-person appointment unfortunately.

 

14 hours ago, kgardnr said:

We have been trying to get the passport stamp (I-551) but been told we need a job offer and then they can turn it around in 4 days.

The link I gave you says:

 

”Lawful permanent residents are entitled to evidence of status ”

 

Capture a screen shot of them telling you that you are not entitled to evidence of status. Then file a WoM.

 

 

[powerpuff 5,982]

The latest news on the block is that you can book an appointment for an ADIT stamp now 

 

https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-launches-online-appointment-request-form

[Crazy Cat 39,654]

21 minutes ago, powerpuff said:

The latest news on the block is that you can book an appointment for an ADIT stamp now 

 

https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-launches-online-appointment-request-form

Looks pretty straightforward.  I hope it actually works as designed.  

[root_root_user 20]

Was about to post this. Seems easy to fill, but I am afraid it will also get overwhelmed in few days, just like the call center. I guess USCIS could reduce a lot of calls and Emma chats if they provided more fine-grained case status information, but I digress.

[OldUser 5,090]

6 minutes ago, root_root_user said:

I guess USCIS could reduce a lot of calls and Emma chats if they provided more fine-grained case status information, but I digress.

E.g. "Officer Bob put your case on the shelf to deal with 300 other cases"? I think the case statuses are pretty fine grained as they are.

6 minutes ago, root_root_user said:

Was about to post this. Seems easy to fill, but I am afraid it will also get overwhelmed in few days, just like the call center.

That I agree with. However, OP can use this window of opportunity to get the stamp while not many people know this avenue.

Edited August 24, 2023 by OldUser

[root_root_user 20]

8 minutes ago, OldUser said:

E.g. "Officer Bob put your case on the shelf to deal with 300 other cases"? I think the case statuses are pretty fine grained as they are.

Haha. I agree, but looking at posts on reddit, people seem to chat with Emma every other day, wanting to know location of case etc. At the same time, I feel case statuses before were a bit better (e.g., case ready for interview, biometrics completed). However, now it seems like cases go into 'actively reviewing' after biometrics and stay that way until either interview is scheduled or case is adjudicated, which seemed like a black box. Anyway, people will always want more information I guess. 

 

11 minutes ago, OldUser said:

That I agree with. However, OP can use this window of opportunity to get the stamp while not many people know this avenue.

Definitely. OP should take advantage of this while it is still new.

 

OP: Please update with your experience if you end up using the online appointment form.

[kgardnr 5]

First off thank you for the wonderful responses! I love this community, this journey has been so long and arduous and it's just so nice to feel like we aren't alone 😄

 

We submitted the online form (thank you @powerpuff!!) last night at 6pm and after submitting it said it would be 3-5 business days for a call back. We got the Tier 1 call at 9am this morning. They told us we would get a call from the San Jose Field Office in 15 calendar days and if eligible, they would mail us the stamp to affix in my husband's passport ourselves. That's the call where we've gotten the "you need a job offer, etc" stories for months, so we'll be taking a different tack this time - namely thanks to the reminder from @mindthegap that it is the law and we have a right for evidence of status - so this time we will be (politely) not taking no for an answer.

 

@Crazy Cat @OldUser @root_root_user I think you're right, no one knows about this form yet, so maybe we were able to get in early here and this will be the break we need.

 

I will keep everyone posted when we do hear back and what they say.

 

As an aside, to @Mike E's point, we have thought about WoM, but that feels like a last resort. I've also read that it's best to have a lawyer file that for you, so it feels like a lot of money and work, it feels like restarting another cycle of paperwork and broken hearts.

 

I also know we can write to our Senators and the USCIS Ombudsman office, which will likely be our next step if we don't get this stamp. 

 

This has been so frustrating and we just want the physical evidence of what we've worked so hard to get and what has, quite frankly, been already approved for years at this point.

 

Thanks again everyone 🖤

 

19 hours ago, powerpuff said:

The latest news on the block is that you can book an appointment for an ADIT stamp now 

 

https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-launches-online-appointment-request-form

 

[Mike E 11,727]

47 minutes ago, kgardnr said:

As an aside, to @Mike E's point, we have thought about WoM, but that feels like a last resort. I've also read that it's best to have a lawyer file that for you, so it feels like a lot of money and work, it feels like restarting another cycle of paperwork and broken hearts.

Hiring a lawyer to file WoM to get an ADIT is over kill.

Doing a DIY WoM for $400 is not.

 

In the past year USCIS has announced new processes for getting an ADIT. It is pretty clear that USCIS lied, again.
 

Anyway, you’ve rejected the most effective tool. Thus, I’ve contributed all I can, and I don’t wish to argue or bicker, so I won’t post more in this thread.