nyc123

@rodeo,

Means we should leave "family/relative" section BLANK / NA on in his DS-160 ?

Thanks.

@rodeo,

Thanks for the reply, As you mentioned a friend is NOT considers as " family/relative" in the eye of interviewer, what should we use in his DS-160 for family/relative section?

Thanks.

@rodeo,

Thanks for the prompt answer. I have another question & would appreciate if you can answer:

On the DS-160 form it inquires about family/relative information & I am wondering if a friend is considers as " family/relative" in the eye of interviewer.

Thanks.

Hi,

I am a US citizen & a friend of will be applying for US Tourist Visa from Bangladesh. What i believe, the embassy usually issues a 5 year multiple entry visa to tourists. I Would appreciate if someone can extend a helping hand to answer below questions:

• Whether or not he can use my US address & contact information on the DS-160 form? He will be staying in hotels for few days upon arrival & then will be on his own.
• Will the US embassy contact me in anyway before granting/denying him VISA?
• If he denies to return home after 6 months on a tourist visa will it cause any problem for me?
• Will i be accountable if he violates law while in the US?

Many thanks in advance.

I have known people who just made an Infopass & lied that their extension letter is either lost or can't find/still looking for it e.t.c, those folks get what they want. I wanted to do the same but I will be truthful at out Infopass next week. For most folks in VJ this might sound silly but believe me folks when you go to a 3rd world country this is what it comes down to. I just want to get back home with my wife by my side but having the fear of dealing with uneducated customs back home is really making me sick. :( :help:

Can someone please let me know what are the consequences if we surrender the expired GC & NOA1 letter to get the I-511 stamp? We have an Infopass next week & I imagine USCIS will agree to give us I-551 only if we give them the expired GC & NOA1 letter back (which happened to a member of VJ). What are advantages/disadvantages giving up the expired GC & NOA1?

Thanks.

Hey,

The officer was ready to give the I551 stamp but he wanted to keep the expired green card in order to stamp the password. We opted out. I don't know if we made the correct decision, I guess time will tell but we decided to keep the expired green card and extension letter and not get the stamp.

The USCIS officer had the typical USCIS officer attitude, we tried to explain to him that we plan on traveling to countries that may or may not recognize the letter and he said in return "that's their problem,". He said the letter is a valid and authenticated letter and should be accepted.

Thanks for the information. As I mentioned earlier, the U.S Embassy Dhaka recommends us to get a boarding foil (not sure what exactly it is) from Bangladesh itself through an Embassy authorized organization. I sent another email today to U.S Embassy Dhaka & asked more about the nature of boarding foil. If the boarding foil is the I-551 stamp, Then I believe it makes sense to have my wife's passport stamped before we leave the country.

I am still wondering why USCIS would want to keep the expired green card to give I-551? What happens in those cases when people either loose their GC or the extension letter. I will let you know what the Dhaka Embassy has to say about boarding foil.

USCIS wanted to keep your both expired GC & NOA1 letter or just the expired GC?

Thanks.

Hello,

We are in similar situation. We have our infopass apt on Thursday regarding the i551 stamp. My husband's green card has also expired and our application is in process. We were confident that we would have the new green card by end of December 2012 because our application is at California Service Center and the avg time there is 6 months. I think because of various holidays our application is still in review process. We are going to Pakistan and Saudia Arabia in Qatar airlines and have the green card with extension letter. We are going to infopass appointment to get stamp. HOwever, if they ask us to surrender expired green card or extension letter, we will not do so. We rather keep our expired green card then get a stamp. Called Qatar airlines and they assured us that the extension letter would be honored. Just worried about immmigration at Pakistan airport.

Will keep you posted.

Please let me know how your InfoPass interview went today & wherther or not you were able to get I-551.

Thanks

Update on the extension letter. Below is the e-mail I just received from U.S Embassy Dhaka & this is what they have to say:

==============================================================================================================================================================================================================================

Thank you for contacting the U.S. Embassy, Dhaka.

The I-797 stating the one year extension should be enough to prove your wife’s continued residency status. However, due to the lack of familiarity of immigration authorities with this document may result in delay or denial to board a plane at Bangladesh or any airport while in transit. Your wife may apply for a boarding foil that our office issues to Lawful Permanent Residents in loss, stolen or never received cases. Our office may issue her a boarding foil with permission from USCIS to facilitate her travel back to the United States.

Please visit our website at http://dhaka.usembassy.gov/boarding_foils_in_lost_stolen_never_received_green_cards.html'>http://dhaka.usembassy.gov/boarding_foils_in_lost_stolen_never_received_green_cards.html for information on how to apply for a boarding foil. She should submit the documents to prove her residency status during the interview.

If you have further questions, please feel free to contact the Non-Immigrant Visa Unit at Dhakaniv@state.gov as they process these applications.

We urge all American citizens to enroll with U.S. Embassy Dhaka via the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program at https://step.state.gov/step/.'>https://step.state.gov/step/. The Consular Section regularly sends messages (via email and/or text messages) to enrolled U.S. citizens regarding various issues (Change in office procedures, Voting information, security updates, etc.). Also, in the event of a large-scale emergency, or a personal or family emergency, enrollment allows the Embassy to provide information and critical assistance to U.S. citizens in Bangladesh. Please visit our website to know more about enrollment and how the Embassy can be of assistance at http://dhaka.usembassy.gov/acs_registration.html.'>http://dhaka.usembassy.gov/acs_registration.html.

The U.S. Embassy is located at Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka, 1212. The direct phone number for American Citizen Services (ACS) is (880-2) 882-3805, and our fax number is (880-2) 882-4449. Our office is open on any Sunday through Wednesday except for Embassy holidays.

We hope this information is useful.

Sincerely,

American Citizen Services Unit

U.S. Embassy

Dhaka, Bangladesh

http://dhaka.usembassy.gov

Are you an American Citizen visiting or living in Bangladesh? Please enroll online at https://step.state.gov/step/ or contact us for more information.

==============================================================================================================================================================================================================================

I am freaking out now assuming my wife get's denied of boarding pass, what you guys recommend me to do? We have an Infopass next week & Queens (New York) office & we will sure print this letter & show it to them. Any feedback will be a life saver.

Thanks.

We will be traveling back to Kazakhstan in August and I doubt my wife's 10 year GC will be in hand given the processig times. We are going to use the extension letter and the "expired" GC to travel on. Of course we will be traveling on Lfthansa and they should see this all the time--of course they use local help in Almaty and they may or may not be properly trained, but they should be able to call someone who is. I would expect Turkish airways to be the same. I figure we will hand them the GC and see if they even notice that it is expired and then show them the letter and explain that it is still valid for another year. I hope all this worrying before you leave allows you to have a smooth experience. Can you enter the US travel document on-line with your reservation so they can verify it before you travel? I did that with Lufthansa when my wife had her visa and came to the US and then again when she travelled using her GC. I think they check its validity long before your flight and if they is an issue they may contact you. Just a thought since you after getting no where with the airline.

Dave

Thanks for your concern Dave, I just called Turkish airways & gave them out passport numbers. They do not even have option to enter GC number into their system. Like I said before, I have already made an Infopass appointment & would love to get wife's passport stamped with I--551. However, a member (Chi81) said earlier in this thread that USCIS denied him I-551 & that''s what is worrying me the most now. Do you have any knowledge about people being denied of I-551 under any circumstances?

Thanks.

Here is a fact for you

Bangladesh is one of the major labour-sending countries of the world. Each year

a large number of people voluntarily migrate overseas for both long- and shortterm

employment.

So don't you think one of these people have used an expired GC and an extension letter to go home and come back to the US.

Thats what I am trying to do, to hear from "one of these people have used an expired GC and an extension letter to go home and come back to the US." as you said.

nic123 Uscis won't charge to stamp her passport and it will take just a few minutes.

Thanks for your concern, I am aware that I-551 is free & can be obtained on the spot, user Chi81 has said in this post somewhere that USCIS denied him I-551 & that what I am confused about. Not sure how true his words are. I am flying via Turkish Airways & it's getting close to impossible to speak with someone who knows about immigration law. Turkish Airway are just giving me random number where wither no one picks up the phone or they can't help.

Totally un-necessary.

What country will you be leaving from to fly back to the US?

Now I find it irritating, dude open your eyes, which world you live in? What does the country flag on my profile say? You work for USCIS? Can you guarantee me by writing down on a paper with notarization that I won't have any hard time flying back to the US? I am sure can't so, keep on reading my thread & please only speak if you have something useful to say.

Best Regards.

Hi nyc123,

I'm in the same situation as your wife. My conditional GC expired in Nov, filed I751 and currently waiting for my 10year one. I want to go to home (Pakistan) but it doesn't seems like I will risk going home and jeopardize coming back.

Few comments on I551, I went for Infopass appt and the officer told me that they can't issue me I551 as my expired GC along with the extension letter should be enough for travel. and they really can't give me the I551 stamp because the way it works (as I understand it) is in order for them to issue I551 my extension should be expired and when they do give the stamp they simultaneously start a procedure into checking why the case hasn't been resolved (since it's been 12 months)

So coming back to your concern, I was also struggling with this decision and called the airlines (Emirates, Turkish Airlines). They told me that the airline will have no problem issuing a bording pass but I will definetly encounter issues with the immigration/ customs leaving because they will not recognize the extension document. I don't know abt Bangladesh but the immigration folks in Pakistan are pretty bad and will give hardtime to make a dime$$$. The funny thing is the guy I spoke to at the airlines was from my country and we had a very frank discussion and he kinda mentioned if I were traveling to any other country my expired gc along with the extention letter would suffice but since I'm going to Pakistan it would definetly be pain in the buns. my 2 cents. good luck!!

Once you have boarding pass on hand I think nothing else matters. Did you say mention during Infopass that Pakistan do not accept/respect I-791? Please let me know.

Thanks.

You need to have the 1-year extension letter (NOA1) and the expired green card with you to re-enter the US

It's not about re-enter. All concern is about boarding the damn flight way back to US. Third world countries are over smart that they are unable to read/understand I-791 |o|

Chi81, they denied you I-551 does this mean we will be denied of I-551 as well? Did you mention during Info Pass that you are going to Pakistan & your country do not respect the value of I-791?

My question to all:

1) Should I cancel my infopass appointment assuming we will be denied of I-551 just like Chi81?

2) since Chi81 was denied that means every single applicant on the pending list of " Removing Conditions on Residency" will be denied of I-551 correct?

3) If question 2 is correct, then people who say they got I-551 stamp are lying?

I am sorry for being a pain in the neck but please pardon my tone & give some advise.

Thanks.

All of this un-necessary post about something that is a daily routine for most airlines. Most airlines are used to seeing the 751 extension letter unless they just went into operation yesterday.

The extension letter along with the expired GC will be well received by the airlines. Getting the stamp is a un-necessary step. You are not the only LPR who have traveled in and out of a country with an expired GC along with an extension letter. These letters have been into place over the last 20 years. Now if your country is one where no one migrates from and you are the 1st to be a LPR of the US from that country than I would be concern,

Travel enjoy and come back safetly.

Really ? do you think all this conversation is UN-necessary?

Hello folks,

I am U.S Citizen & my wife is the green card holder. Her card expired 6 months ago & we are on the pending list of " Removing Conditions on Residency" with Vermont Service Center .Our return ticket is already confirmed via Emirates Airways. We have received the 1 year extension letter & we have the expired green card also. I am wondering on our way back to the U.S will the customs at Bangladesh airport inquire about re-entry visa to US? My wife passport has the the CR1 expired visa stamp along with the expired green card & extension letter. We will also carry the biometrics appointment letter (wife took finger print already).

I have already asked the same question on another forum (Link Below) & got the answer as well but, I would like to know from someone's personal experiences traveling to Bangladesh with expired green card. Any feed back is extremely appreciated.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/406620-traveling-abroad-with-wifes-expired-green-card/

Thank You.

I am still my pulling my hairs off & getting stressed regards to the expired GC.

1) When we go for I-551 do they ask for any question/document? What document to bring? Do we need to get passport size photo?

2) Also I have read somewhere that USCIS have stopped issuing I-551 for security reason is that true?

3) Is there any possibility that we might be denied of I-551? Has anyone got passport stamped with I-551 recently?

I have tried to reach out to the Airline but ironically they seems to have absolute no idea what I am talking about. Any feedback is extremely appreciated (specially someone went to Bangladesh with expired GC)

Thanks.

Without taking any further risk, I just made an info pass appointment at one of my local USCIS center on January 10, Thursday:

https://egov.uscis.gov/crisgwi/go?action=offices.detail&office=QNS&OfficeLocator.office_type=LO&OfficeLocator.statecode=NY

I will get wife's passport stamped with I-551 & be less worried. Anyone knows how much does it cost & how long will it take them stamp wife's passport? Our flight is on January 25th Friday & I am hoping that we will get the I-551 before our departure date.

I still believe deep down that I-551 is really not required but I am traveling to 3rd world country (Bangladesh) & those idiots have no proper education to even read or understand the extension letter. Thanks all for the help.

The POE officer has every right to examine the applicant's document and card like expired green card, passport with stamped I-551, confirmation letter of the pending case of the renewal green card and better to bring along the marriage certificate too. It's not the airline employees' job to decide if one has right to enter into U.S. or not.

The extension letter is for POE is isn't it? In the USCIS official site there is no mention of I-551 though.

Thanks

If the applicant who wishes to travel during the Green Card Renewal process, he/she may have to get their passport stamped with I-551 at the local INS office to indicate that he/she has filed for a new card. The applicants will have to make an appointment with their local USCIS office using the Application Receipt Notice (form I-797C) and passport which acts as proof of having filed the I-90. Hope this will be helpful.

Thanks for the reply. The Extension letter (I - 751) says it clearly : "During the one year extension you are authorized employment & travel ( Does not apply to you if your conditional resident status has been terminated)". Do you think my wife's Bangladesh passport will need I-551 stamp? I am calling the airlines to explain the situation. Thanks again.

Thanks.

I am U.S Citizen & my wife is the green card holder. Her card expired 6 months ago & we are on the pending list of " Removing Conditions on Residency" with Vermont Service Center .Our return ticket is already confirmed via Emirates Airways. We have received the 1 year extension letter & we have the expired green card also. I am wondering on our way back to the U.S will the customs at Bangladesh airport inquire about re-entry visa to US? My wife passport has the the CR1 expired visa stamp along with the expired green card & extension letter. We will also carry the biometrics appointment letter (wife took finger print already). Any feed back is extremely appreciated.

Thank You.