stackeria

That sounds like a bad experience. I'm sorry you had to go through that! Out of curiosity, which airport was this in?
 
When we flew back in to JFK with wife's expired GC and extension letter back in early January (prior to the new administration being sworn in), the immigration officer told us that until my wife had her 10y GC in hand, she would need to be processed in "the office." He apologized and politely escorted her to the office where her I-130 was originally processed on POE. I was told I couldn't go with her because he'd already processed me and to go straight to baggage claim.
 
It was slightly stressful because she had our 7 month old in a carrier and I had all our carry on stuff, including her cell phone and the diaper bag. However, they processed her quickly with her extension letter and didn't say anything about it.
 
We are scheduled to enter the US again at JFK at the end of August with the expired card and extension letter. I will post about that experience here.

Thanks for the link. It's very helpful.
 
In terms of "success story:" We flew from LHR to JFK with a 3 months expired 2y GC and Extension Letter. Virgin Atlantic staff were aware of Extension Letters and we had no problems at LHR. The automated kiosk at JFK failed to scan the GC and we were sent to the long "X" line. The agent processed US passports but sent my AR wife to the office for processing. He was very nice and informed us that she'd have to be processed there on each reentry until she received her 10y card. We were coming off a transatlantic flight with a baby and it was a sucky experience, but it is what it is.
 
I get the impression that JFK CBP officers aren't fans of the automated kiosk system and USCIS delays. They're essentially apologizing to us every time we fly in.
 
We are planning to travel again soon, reentering the US just a few weeks shy of the I-751 NOA 1y anniversary and almost 3 months prior to the Extension Letter expiry date. Hopefully airline staff will be aware that the extension is from the GC expiry date or we may run into some problems.
 
Out of curiosity, are there any known guidelines for CBP in terms of letting ARs with Extension Letters nearing their expiry dates? Do they let someone in with an extension about to expire?

My oath ceremony took place at Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn.  
 
My husband and daughter had to wait in a sectioned off area of the cafeteria where they were able to watch proceedings on a monitor with the other families.  Before the actual oath ceremony takes place, they send an escort to bring you all down into the courtroom where you are seated in a section reserved for family members.  They waited roughly 2 hours before being called down.
 
You cannot bring a cell phone or camera into the building---they will instruct you to leave it at the security desk on the first floor where you enter and then retrieve it afterwards.  Laptops, not sure about....likely they would make you leave that with security as well, though.
 
Toddlers/babies:  Depends on how they normally behave, only you would really be the judge of that.  Once the actual ceremony begins, if the child starts to make noise/fuss/cry you'll have to take them outside the courtroom doors and miss the ceremony yourself (out of consideration for everyone else there)...my advice is to get a babysitter for that day for them.  It's a lot to ask a young child to sit quietly for lengthy periods of time.
 
You can't really just show up to the courtroom right before the ceremony takes place----One of the reasons being is your wife's ceremony letter is what gets you inside the courthouse as her guest.  Another is once the courtroom doors are closed, court is in session and while guests are permitted to leave the courtroom, it's possible you will be blocked from entering by the attendant outside.  She will be keeping the ceremony letter on her during all of the prior checks in the courtroom before the actual oath takes place (so it's not like you can keep it on yourself to get in and out of the building).  Another thing to consider is that going through security at the courthouse can take a while depending on how busy they are that day---which can further delay you getting upstairs at the last minute should you be admitted through.
 
Don't let not being able to bring a laptop/having to wait around be the only thing to deter you from attending---it's a big day for your wife and she's waited a long time (and gone through a lot of stress) to get to this point...she'll want to share this day with you.  Congrats to your wife.

Wife scored a 4/25 oath, only a short 3 weeks after her interview. Shocker.

Update: Wife interviewed at Federal Plaza's Brooklyn Field Office this morning. She was called in about 45mins after her scheduled time and the interview took around 30 mins. It was mostly civics test and going over N-400 answers. She was given some sort of "congratulations, you've passed" paperwork. She was told to look out for her oath ceremony notice and date in the mail.

Update: Wife interviewed at Federal Plaza's Brooklyn Field Office this morning. She was called in about 45mins after her scheduled time and the interview took around 30 mins. It was mostly civics test and going over N-400 answers. She was given some sort of "congratulations, you've passed" paperwork. She was told to look out for her oath ceremony notice and date in the mail.

Quickly approaching a year since wife filed... 😴🙄

If I'm not sure, I don't say it like I AM sure.  However, what IS going to be a problem at the NVC stage is your lack of tax returns for at least the past three years.  Her SS# is on past tax returns and you're going to need the number to file the last three if you haven't already.  If you don't have old tax return copies, then you'll need to obtain Tax Return Transcripts from the IRS, which can be ordered using only your SS#.  The IRS may even tell you on the phone, what your wife's SS# is.
 
You are both required to file tax returns even if you live and work abroad.  Unless you're earning six figures, you are unlikely to owe any taxes though.

It seems that some CBP officers aren't able to process the extension letter and send LPRs to secondary for processing.
 
This happened to us last time around. My advice for people traveling together is to be prepared for that situation. Last time my wife (LPR) was sent to secondary. I (USC) was told to go straight to baggage claim. She had the baby. I had all the carry ons including her cell phone and the diaper bag. 

Direct Consular Filing in London would be the fastest way.......   http://www.visajourney.com/content/dcf

No I did not, I've been a green card holder since 2005

I-751 is petition to remove conditions for conditional permanent resident. If you have a 10 year green card, you don't need it.

Wife filed her N-400 online yesterday. This time she is driving the process, but I will try to update info here as we get NOA, bio, etc...
 
Question: For an online filing, what do I put in for service center on the VJ timeline?
 
Good luck everyone!

True, but in such an event, as a LPR they do have the right to see an immigration judge who would (hopefully) determine that any prior crimes that were disclosed in full during the AOS are not a barrier to admission.
 
 
I concur with the general consensus above, that as long as it is not a new crime, they shouldn't worry (much).

I'm the furthest thing from an expert on this topic but I have heard of active military personnel with deployment papers successfully requesting that their I-130 processing be expedited by USCIS. I believe the military may even be in a position to provide some legal help and advice for service members.
 
About DCF (Direct Consular Filing) at the London embassy, I'm fairly certain the USC petitioner needs to have been a resident of the UK for a little while (or stationed at a US military base under the jurisdiction of USCIS London) before you can go down that route. If that is your situation, you should contact the US embassy in London for assistance. See: https://uk.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/government-agencies/dhs/uscis/i130filing-html/
 
About visiting on the VWP during I-130 processing: You can do it. Unfortunately normal I-130 processing takes long enough that it won't cover the whole period. Don't overstay. Wait the required and reasonable amount of time between visits. It may help to be prepared with documentation showing strong ties to the UK (lease, job, etc...) in case the immigration officer starts asking questions or simply for your own peace of mind as you travel.
 
Good luck!

We were in that situation last month: Out of the country when my wife's I751 was approved. We came back in just fine about 2 weeks later with the expired green card + extension letter. The new green card was waiting at home.
 
Congratulations.

It's not really more complicated. I'm in that situation and you just need to go to the US embassy where you want to register the birth and show the birth certificate with the father's name on it. Although, I live in Canada so the father will actually be present when we register her - I guess it might be a little trickier if he's absent? In that case you might need a notarized letter from the father acknowledging paternity or maybe even a paternity test??
 
But all the embassy in Canada requires is the birth certificate with the father's name on it. 

This is interesting.  In Detroit, they do not use landing cards at all, but foreigners are directed straight to officers.

We used the extension letter twice. Once I was told to use the kiosk. The other time I was able to go straight to the line with my LPR wife. It really depends on the airport, terminal, staff, etc...
 
My advice:
1- Be prepared for either scenario
2- Pre-fill the landing card in your LPR's spouse name. That way the card can be used either for them alone (LPRs with extension letters need the paper landing card because their green cards do not scan) or for your entire family if the USC(s) also skip the kiosk.
 
Edit: Further advice:
 
I should note on our last trip back, they were directing anyone with a filled out paper landing card away from the kiosks and straight into the officer lines because of backlogs at the kiosks. So if anyone is triaging travelers as you get in line, I would advise you to show them your pre-filled landing card, explain that your spouse's green card won't scan at the kiosk and ask to all bypass the kiosks.

Detainment under the circumstances you outlined above should not have an affect on your application.  Just make sure to disclose it and include a short attachment outlining what happened.

Shanny, your evidence has to tell your story.
 
So here are some things to think about...
 
You want to show them how you handle money together as a couple.  So show them where money comes from (wages) and where you put it (bank account).  Show how you pay your rent.  If you do not have a formal lease, then get the owner of your "room" to write an affidavit saying how much you pay.  Show where that money comes from (bank account).
 
You want to show them how you pay your bills (phone).  You want to show them you travel together (you need reservations, boarding passes, and show how you pay for vacations-credit card?  Bank account?)
 
You want to show them that you have planned for the future.  Do you have wills?  Are you each other's Emergency Contact at your workplaces?  Do you have medical insurance together?  How do you pay for it (payroll deduction or bank account)?
 
Besides your vacations, what else do you do together?  Gym membership?  Library cards?
 
Start saving every single piece of mail that is sent in both your names to your address.
 
Do you start to see the pattern?  You just need to show them that you are living a life together.
 
Best of luck!
 
Sukie in NY

Updated approvals. Congrats to those who have been approved. California Service Center (37 applicants, 0 approved - 0%) VJName.............Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date....Biometrics.....Approved FROMPHWITHLOVE.......08/30/16........09/01/16......10/13/16......--/--/-- THAIRI...............09/01/16........09/06/16......10/11/16......--/--/-- MECHANICALSHASTA.....09/01/16........09/16/16......11/03/16......--/--/-- TEXANS_99............09/01/16........09/06/16......10/14/16......--/--/-- DIMPLES2x............09/01/16........09/02/16......--/--/16......--/--/-- COLGIL...............09/06/16........09/08/16......10/31/16......--/--/-- PUNTER13.............09/06/16........09/09/16......10/14/16......--/--/-- TEE328CEE............09/07/16........09/16/16......10/12/16......--/--/-- 4444510..............09/08/16........09/09/17......10/12/16......--/--/-- NADESHDA.............09/09/16........09/13/16......10/12/16......--/--/-- ARDALLAS.............09/09/16........09/12/16......10/11/16......--/--/-- 7/28/17 Infopass stamp exp 7/27/18 BING2K...............09/11/16........09/14/16......10/13/16......--/--/-- DGREENING............09/12/16........09/15/16......10/14/16......--/--/-- TDCK83...............09/12/16........09/17/16......--/--/16......--/--/-- FRALIFAY.............09/13/16........09/19/16......10/17/16......--/--/-- CDNRN................09/13/16........09/16/16......11/03/16......--/--/-- OZGIRL1981...........09/13/16........09/16/16......10/13/16......--/--/-- HARAMI...............09/14/16........09/20/16......10/11/16......--/--/--(BIO EARLY-DIFF STATE 10/04/2016) MAYDE................09/14/16........09/16/16......11/01/16......--/--/-- ZULUWETA.............09/14/16........09/15/16......--/--/16......--/--/-- HANAMERICANA.........09/14/16........09/15/16......10/12/16......--/--/-- KCMO.................09/16/16........09/19/16......11/03/16......--/--/-- JIMLEEN..............09/16/16........09/16/16......10/13/16......--/--/-- FRIENDLYUSA..........09/17/16........09/23/16......10/12/16......--/--/-- BRUNOGAVA............09/--/16........09/20/16......--/--/16......--/--/-- CLWA.................09/20/16........09/23/16......12/16/16......--/--/--(BIO letter not sent or lost by USPS.) BOMZY............... 09/22/16........09/27/16......11/20/16......--/--/-- LALA1................09/23/16........--/--/16......--/--/16......--/--/-- NOWAY123456..........09/23/16........09/26/16......--/--/16......--/--/-- MDX81................09/24/16........--/--/16......--/--/16......--/--/-- KETSUBAN.............09/26/16........09/28/16......11/14/16......--/--/-- QP2017...............09/26/16........10/26/16......11/08/16......--/--/-- BFP Xx...............09/27/16........10/03/16......11/07/16......--/--/-- WINGNUTFISH..........09/27/16........11/03/16......--/--/16......--/--/-- (Filed again 11/01. lost by USCIS) BECKEPAUL06..........09/28/16........09/30/16......11/08/16......--/--/-- FARIHAK..............09/28/16........10/03/16......11/08/16......--/--/-- SUNGTORY.............--/--/--........09/22/16......11/07/16......--/--/-- Vermont Service Center (26 applicants, 16 approved - 61%) VJName.............Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date....Biometrics.....Approved ROBM913..............08/24/16........09/02/16......10/03/16......08/11/17 YASHMIN..............09/01/16........09/06/16......10/03/16......08/08/17 BABY-PIE.............09/01/16........09/06/16......10/04/16......07/31/17 USMAN104.............09/06/16........09/09/16......10/14/16......08/11/17 HOLMDEL..............09/06/16........09/12/16......10/17/16......--/--/-- B&G..................09/09/16........09/17/16......10/14/16......08/07/17 MASSBOY617...........09/09/16........09/12/16......10/11/16......08/15/17 BING2K...............09/11/16........09/14/16......10/13/16......--/--/-- DWMSKL...............09/12/16........09/15/16......10/20/16......--/--/-- SURGFORCE............09/12/16........--/--/--......--/--/--......08/11/17 TAandNA..............09/13/16........09/20/16......10/20/16......08/07/17 AUTRE VIE............--/--/--........09/13/16......--/--/--......08/28/17 (Divorce waiver) STACKERIA............09/14/16........09/16/16......10/17/16......08/15/17 JOHNDOE82............09/14/16........09/16/16......10/17/16......08/18/17 (walk-in/rescheduling) BEGINNING777.........09/14/16........09/20/16......10/14/16......--/--/-- DUDEINTRIBECA........09/15/16........09/19/16......10/17/16......--/--/-- TRAVELER101..........09/16/16........09/20/16......10/19/16......--/--/-- (BIO EARLY 10/14/2016) JPTL85...............09/16/16........09/19/16......10/18/16......08/24/17 INGRID28.............09/17/16........09/20/16......10/20/16......--/--/-- DINOSAUR2013.........09/19/16........09/22/16......10/17/16......--/--/-- STEVE&ANNA...........09/19/16........09/22/16......10/18/16......08/21/17 MAGGIE&JAYSON........09/20/16........--/--/16......--/--/16......--/--/-- USA_DZA..............09/25/16........09/28/16......--/--/--......08/29/17 SCHULLEY.............09/26/16........09/30/16......10/31/16......08/23/17 HEATHERANDTEZZ.......09/29/16........10/06/16......--/--/16......--/--/-- DAROD85..............--/--/--........09/30/16......10/21/16......08/24/17 * Make sure that your VJ Text Editor setting is set to Rich Text Editor. * Go to the MOST RECENTLY POSTED VERSION of this list (go to the last post and scroll UP) and "Reply" to it, deleting the "quote" tags in your reply. * Please DO NOT change the font, font size, add colors, stuff like that. * Please PREVIEW before posting to make sure it is properly formatted. * Please check that you have not deleted anyone's NAME & DATA. Date of I-751 = The Date you sent your application. NOA Date = The Receipt Date on your original NOA letter. Biometrics = The Date of your biometrics appointment. Approved = The Date your case was approved. * Please Capitalize your VJ Name when adding it to the list. * When you're on this list, please come back to update your information accordingly. * If you cannot add your information yourself, please ask another VJ member to help you do so.

We also had to go to the automated kiosks. In April, when I flew into Philadelphia, it was much less busy and I was able to explain to an agent that I couldn't use the kiosk and she sent me straight to an officer. At JFK, it's much more like a cattle run and they were just herding people through the system. When we got to the kiosk, I was able to explain my sistuation, but the agent still wanted my husband (USC) to use the kiosk, and then she directed us both to wait in line for an officer. Luckily, an officer had just opened his line so we didn't have to wait long there.
 
The officer didn't seem totally familiar with the extension letter but he figured it out and after the usual electronic finger printing, we were through. 

California Service Center (37 applicants, 0 approved - 0%) VJName.............Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date....Biometrics.....Approved FROMPHWITHLOVE.......08/30/16........09/01/16......10/13/16......--/--/-- THAIRI...............09/01/16........09/06/16......10/11/16......--/--/-- MECHANICALSHASTA.....09/01/16........09/16/16......11/03/16......--/--/-- TEXANS_99............09/01/16........09/06/16......10/14/16......--/--/-- DIMPLES2x............09/01/16........09/02/16......--/--/16......--/--/-- COLGIL...............09/06/16........09/08/16......10/31/16......--/--/-- PUNTER13.............09/06/16........09/09/16......10/14/16......--/--/-- TEE328CEE............09/07/16........09/16/16......10/12/16......--/--/-- 4444510..............09/08/16........09/09/17......10/12/16......--/--/-- NADESHDA.............09/09/16........09/13/16......10/12/16......--/--/-- ARDALLAS.............09/09/16........09/12/16......10/11/16......--/--/-- 7/28/17 Infopass stamp exp 7/27/18 BING2K...............09/11/16........09/14/16......10/13/16......--/--/-- DGREENING............09/12/16........09/15/16......10/14/16......--/--/-- TDCK83...............09/12/16........09/17/16......--/--/16......--/--/-- FRALIFAY.............09/13/16........09/19/16......10/17/16......--/--/-- CDNRN................09/13/16........09/16/16......11/03/16......--/--/-- OZGIRL1981...........09/13/16........09/16/16......10/13/16......--/--/-- HARAMI...............09/14/16........09/20/16......10/11/16......--/--/--(BIO EARLY-DIFF STATE 10/04/2016) MAYDE................09/14/16........09/16/16......11/01/16......--/--/-- ZULUWETA.............09/14/16........09/15/16......--/--/16......--/--/-- HANAMERICANA.........09/14/16........09/15/16......10/12/16......--/--/-- KCMO.................09/16/16........09/19/16......11/03/16......--/--/-- JIMLEEN..............09/16/16........09/16/16......10/13/16......--/--/-- FRIENDLYUSA..........09/17/16........09/23/16......10/12/16......--/--/-- BRUNOGAVA............09/--/16........09/20/16......--/--/16......--/--/-- CLWA.................09/20/16........09/23/16......12/16/16......--/--/--(BIO letter not sent or lost by USPS.) BOMZY............... 09/22/16........09/27/16......11/20/16......--/--/-- LALA1................09/23/16........--/--/16......--/--/16......--/--/-- NOWAY123456..........09/23/16........09/26/16......--/--/16......--/--/-- MDX81................09/24/16........--/--/16......--/--/16......--/--/-- KETSUBAN.............09/26/16........09/28/16......11/14/16......--/--/-- QP2017...............09/26/16........10/26/16......11/08/16......--/--/-- BFP Xx...............09/27/16........10/03/16......11/07/16......--/--/-- WINGNUTFISH..........09/27/16........11/03/16......--/--/16......--/--/-- (Filed again 11/01. lost by USCIS) BECKEPAUL06..........09/28/16........09/30/16......11/08/16......--/--/-- FARIHAK..............09/28/16........10/03/16......11/08/16......--/--/-- SUNGTORY.............--/--/--........09/22/16......11/07/16......--/--/-- Vermont Service Center (23 applicants, 14 approved - 60%) VJName.............Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date....Biometrics.....Approved ROBM913..............08/24/16........09/02/16......10/03/16......08/11/17 YASHMIN..............09/01/16........09/06/16......10/03/16......08/08/17 BABY-PIE.............09/01/16........09/06/16......10/04/16......07/31/17 USMAN104.............09/06/16........09/09/16......10/14/16......08/11/17 B&G..................09/09/16........09/17/16......10/14/16......08/07/17 MASSBOY617...........09/09/16........09/12/16......10/11/16......08/15/17 BING2K...............09/11/16........09/14/16......10/13/16......--/--/-- DWMSKL...............09/12/16........09/15/16......10/20/16......--/--/-- SURGFORCE............09/12/16........--/--/--......--/--/--......08/11/17 TAandNA..............09/13/16........09/20/16......10/20/16......08/07/17 AUTRE VIE............--/--/--........09/13/16......--/--/--......08/28/17 (Divorce waiver) STACKERIA............09/14/16........09/16/16......10/17/16......08/15/17 JOHNDOE82............09/14/16........09/16/16......10/17/16......08/18/17 (walk-in/rescheduling) BEGINNING777.........09/14/16........09/20/16......10/14/16......--/--/-- DUDEINTRIBECA........09/15/16........09/19/16......10/17/16......--/--/-- TRAVELER101..........09/16/16........09/20/16......10/19/16......--/--/-- (BIO EARLY 10/14/2016) JPTL85...............09/16/16........09/19/16......10/18/16......08/24/17 INGRID28.............09/17/16........09/20/16......10/20/16......--/--/-- DINOSAUR2013.........09/19/16........09/22/16......10/17/16......--/--/-- STEVE&ANNA...........09/19/16........09/22/16......10/18/16......08/21/17 MAGGIE&JAYSON........09/20/16........--/--/16......--/--/16......--/--/-- SCHULLEY.............09/26/16........09/30/16......10/31/16......08/23/17 HEATHERANDTEZZ.......09/29/16........10/06/16......--/--/16......--/--/-- * Make sure that your VJ Text Editor setting is set to Rich Text Editor. * Go to the MOST RECENTLY POSTED VERSION of this list (go to the last post and scroll UP) and "Reply" to it, deleting the "quote" tags in your reply. * Please DO NOT change the font, font size, add colors, stuff like that. * Please PREVIEW before posting to make sure it is properly formatted. * Please check that you have not deleted anyone's NAME & DATA. Date of I-751 = The Date you sent your application. NOA Date = The Receipt Date on your original NOA letter. Biometrics = The Date of your biometrics appointment. Approved = The Date your case was approved. * Please Capitalize your VJ Name when adding it to the list. * When you're on this list, please come back to update your information accordingly. * If you cannot add your information yourself, please ask another VJ member to help you do so.

Long time lurker here. Decided to do community service by updating my journey. NOA 9/13/16. Divorce waiver. Received letter of approval today 8/28/17 without interview. Had sent 300 pages of documentation via lawyer.
 
Good luck everyone. I am going out to celebrate.