TeamMcGregor

Called again today - a Tier 2 Officer finally gave me a receipt number that I can use online to check my status (so at least something). She said I shouldn't need to do biometrics but she also said I shouldn't expect a notice about that - however, my understanding is that if your fingerprints are current, USCIS lets you know through a mailed notice (is that correct or not?) She said my fingerprints should be taken from my previous case (I have no idea what she's talking about - my original CR1 application, or my reentry permit application?)...in any event, I scheduled an Infopass for Yakima this Friday to pester someone else in person (I was at the Portland field office a few weeks ago doing biometrics for a I-131 application and the officer there told me I should schedule an infopass if I didn't get a notice by the end of the month, so that's why I'm doing it) - hopefully I won't get any conflicting information. This case gets more baffling by the minute. I mean, if I don't have to do biometrics for ROC, that's great - I just wish the flow of information wasn't so inconsistent.

After trying in vain to get a service request open for the past two weeks (somehow there were always system issues) I finally got one open today (I'm on day 56 after filing, no biometrics notice yet). Same thing - CSC should contact me within 15 days but I need to allow up to 30. Hopefully someone smart enough will see a pattern here and get it together for us at the last 10 days of May that are still waiting. Anyone on that timeframe, please let the rest of us know when you get a notice!

And the chess match continues...just spent about half an hour on the phone with a Tier 2 officer. I don't even have an appointment scheduled yet (why does it seem like someone at CSC just decided to skip the last 10 days of May altogether?) - so all I can do is keep waiting. Is there any hope that they could see the fingerprints I'm having done on Friday (for an I-131) and deem them as current for ROC, thus eliminating the need for a new appointment?

Again I spoke too soon...upon closer inspection I noticed this biometrics appointment is for my I-131 application, not this one...sorry guys...

I should get this soon since it was mailed on Saturday according to the Tier 2 officer I spoke to earlier this week.

Biometrics appointment letter finally received! 07/16 - Spokane.

I do have a question. Is it possible to attempt to do an early bio at a different state? I'm in Oregon right now and was wondering if that was possible depending on the field office's availability of appointments. Or would that complicate things too much? Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

We have not received anything either - filed May 19, NOA date May 22 (received on the 26th), no bio appointment either...I wouldn't know where to call though, because I've been assigned to a different office than I should before for biometrics (for a re-entry permit). My field office should be Yakima, WA; but I've been assigned to Spokane, WA for biometrics before. Who do you suggest calling, USCIS or directly to the local office?

Spoke too soon! NOA received; dated 05/22. Come to mama biometrics appointment!

Our check was cashed 05/28; no NOA yet...how long after our check is cashed should I wait before getting worried about not getting it?

Let the games begin! Can someone please add us to the CSC list? Mailed our ROC packet May 19. Thanks!

She will have to be in-country for a biometrics appointment as part of the removing conditions process. You guys would also need to be in-country for an interview if one gets scheduled for your case.

The picture they will use for the re-entry permit is the picture they take when you go to the biometrics appointment. No need to make an INFOPASS for that. They do fingerprinting and a picture the same day. It's actually just the picture they take with the webcam, like at the airport.

I would suggest you to call USCIS and confirm where they mailed your travel document. You should also contact the US consulate in Singapore (specifically, the American Citizens Services office, which is likely the office where you'll have to pick up). Go to the embassy's website and look up their contact info there. They can let you know when they receive it and pickup schedules.

You book the INFOPASS appointment and go with your appointment letter. My understanding is that it depends on the office if they take the biometrics ahead of time. I think some people have done walk-ins with ther appointment letters - essentially what I did was show up at the office, book an INFOPASS (which was for the next day) and convince the people at the office to take my biometrics that day - it was a 3 hour drive for us. Mine was an exceptionally long shot and it almost didn't happen. Make the INFOPASS appointment and take your appointment letter - good luck!

Hello,

Just applied for a re-entry permit beginning of August and have not recieved a date to attend for biometrics. Has anyone simply walked in to USCIS office and gotten biometrics taken without an appointment? If I did this, would they provide a stamp/document as proof that I submitted fingerprints? Need to show this proof to border agents when I come back next year...

Anyone know how long it takes to get biometrics appointment?

Thx for help!!

My guess is that it would depend on the Application Support Center you get. Have you received anything at all?

I would call USCIS and speak to a Tier 2 to see what happened to your NOA/biometrics appointment first of all. Last summer, when I applied for my I-131, USCIS supposedly sent me 3 notices - never got a single one of them. If they have had any undelivered stuff for you the Tier 2 IO should be able to tell you.

I had to go overseas pretty quick after I applied too. I managed to do my biometrics through an INFOPASS appointment in the end. Once you do get your biometrics done, stay on top of it until you get a decision - my best piece of advice.

Also you can get your permit delivered to a US Consulate abroad - that's what I did.

Good luck!

It's a small plastic card the size of a green card or EAD.

Hi Hypnos,

I got my re-entry permit in January, but it's not a card like you describe. It's a greenish booklet that looks like a passport and says Travel Document on gold letters outside, and has the Homeland Security logo printed on the front. Has pages just like a passport, because in fact, CBP might stamp that instead of your passport, depending on the absence.

They said I had missed my biometrics appointment. USCIS sent 3 notices that I never received. They had the correct address all along. I did a walk in at the ASC in Spokane two weeks before my supposed appointment date without even knowing what my appointment date was. My fingerprints were sitting in Spokane for about 6 months before my case was denied. They were never sent to Nebraska for processing.

Since that trip I traveled outside the US once more and stayed out for 3 weeks. Did POE at the Toronto Airport, no issues, stamp on my passport, my permit wasn't even asked for. I'm currently in the US.

Thought I'd share my POE experience yesterday after I applied for a re-entry permit (which was denied at first then approved). It had been 5 months and a few days since my last time in the US (I was in Guam for a week over Christmas).

I did the LPR line (this is POE Seattle) and this was the dialogue:

CBP: Where are you coming from?

Me: Shanghai via Seoul

CBP: How long were you there for?

Me: About 5 months since last time I was in the US

CBP: What were you doing there?

Me: My husband works in Shanghai

CBP: How long are you staying here before you go back again?

Me: About two months

So the CBP officer said I needed to apply for a re-entry permit (I replied: I have one!) He asked to see it and said I had to present that (made it sound like I have to show my permit every time I enter the US now, regardless of the time I've been out). He then stamped my permit, not my passport. Is that normal? I was prepared to be questioned, because you never know, and it's been a while since I'd been back (during which I traveled quite a bit), but I was kind of expecting to get stamps in both my passport and my permit.

My takeaway from this experience: if you know you're going to be out of the country for a while and you're a LPR, fork the money out and apply for a re-entry permit. And if things get messed up, follow through until you get it. Better safe than sorry.

Speaking from my experience - after I submitted biometrics information to Nebraska (turned out my ASC never did, Nebraska never asked for it, case was denied) on Dec 8, it took about 40 days for my case to be approved. If you need to speed things up a call to your congressperson could help here I think.

...and it's over! Picked up my re-entry permit yesterday at the US Consulate in Shanghai. Yay! Expires same day as my card

I guess I can relax until ROC time...although I'm already collecting evidence. This whole immigration thing just makes you a paperwork psycho. Geez.

My re-entry permit is now waiting for me to go pick it up at the US Consulate in Shanghai. I actually don't have to go to the Consulate per se, but to the ACS office in Westgate mall. The only thing I'm curious about is how long will it be valid for. I'm hoping until my card expires next summer.

And, 6 months after applying and a lot of confusion later, USCIS changed my case status to "On Jan. 15, 2014, your travel document has been issued and mailed to the address on record". So people, if you're not getting anywhere with regular USCIS people, ask to talk to a Tier 2 IO and wait it out until you do! (Or get the callback). I will hopefully pick up my re-entry permit soon! (Checked with the US Consulate here, they haven't received it yet...but it's a lot more than all the months my case was sitting in Nebraska with no one doing anything about it).

Hi all!

Well, a lot has happened since the last time I was here. My GC with the incorrect expiration date was correctly replaced. My re-entry permit application was denied based on the fact that "I didn't go to my biometrics appointment" (never got a single one of 3 notices USCIS sent). Called USCIS and asked to talk to a Tier 2 immigration officer. She told me in fact, Nebraska has never received my fingerprints from the ASC in Spokane, simply nothing had been done with my case and they denied it. I explained to her I did have my biometrics taken before I left. She asked me to send the receipt I got from Spokane to Nebraska so they could actually take a look at my fingerprints and do their thing. I sent it by email. Nebraska then emailed me back saying my attachments (which included copy of my husband's contract) weren't on the email. I resent the attachment. I spent some time in Guam during the holidays (it's actually quite lovely). Today I checked my case status on USCIS saying they mailed me a notice on Jan 9 to let me know my case has been reopened. WOO HOO!!!!! Maybe there is hope after all! I know for certain that I won't be out of the States for more than 6 months at a time, let alone a year (in normal conditions) in neither 2014 or 2015 but I still want to apply for the permit just to do things by the book. I'll have to wait for further instructions, I guess, but people, don't give up with those biometrics!!!!!

Hi Darnell,

Yes, my 551 stamp on my passport says valid for 1 year. I'll return before the 6 months are up and look at our options...hopefully those options don't include me staying in the US until my husband's contract in China is up. We've done this before, we really don't want to to do it again.

Thanks for asking! Well, USCIS sent a second notice on Aug 5 (for a biometrics appointment) that I have yet to receive. I'm waiting for the time difference to be right so I can call them and see what's going on. How can you possibly explain them getting the address right to send my green card and its subsequent replacement (they printed a 10 year expiration for me when it should've been two, asked me to send it back to TX, sent me the right one back in a little less than a week) and cannot get it right for these notices concerning my re-entry permit? I have very little hope of getting it at this point.

Well turns out that USCIS noticed their error and requested for me to send the card back so they can replace it at no cost. Maybe they have their act together more than I think. Kudos.