omar

i'm a consultant and will be living abroad for a period of 16 months and wanted to do so without having to deal with getting a re-entry permit. the question i had was, how exactly does immigration keep a record of your entry/exit into/out of the USA on a green card? i know they swipe your card on entry, but do they do something on exit too? i can't remember? i know the airlines will ask for your passport and green card, but what if you tell them opps you can't find your green card? i've heard of stories where people have lived abroad for years and nothing has happened because they didn't get their passport stamped in their home country? i do plan on traveling to the US every 5 months, but when coming into the country, what if you tell the immigration officer you were only gone a few weeks? how would they know otherwise?

thanks.

Hello! been a while since i was on here last! anyway, hope everyone is doing well.

i have an unconditional green card and am looking into moving to pakistan for a year, but obviously, don't want to give up my GC. I'm planning on making a trip back to the US within 6 months and then move back 6 months after that. i've tried to research this but haven't found much info on it. i know i'm pretty safe if i comeback within 6 months, however, you never know with those immigration officers. i've also heard of people that find some loophole and live abroad for a long time (year or 2), without a re-entry permit and don't lose their green card. when they comeback they tell the immigration office they were only gone for a month, but how is this even possible? doesn't immigration know how long you were gone for when they swipe your card? don't they swipe our card when we exit the US ? what if when i leave i didn't show them my green card, is that possible? i could say i was on a visa (which is now expired). and when i comeback within 6 months, i could say i was only gone a month? you think that is too risky or i should be okay?

2 part question, can i leave the US without showing them my green card, so they don't swipe it? and can i tell immigration i was only gone a month when i'm actually gone 6 months?

thanks.

got my GC today! a year and a half later, GC is finally here!

quick question, under category it says IR6, anyone know what that is??

thank you and good luck to everyone elsE! this site has been awesome and a huge HUGE help!

anyone that has recently received their green card, could you please describe the envelope? does it say anywhere on it, return to sender or anything of that nature? i'm changing my address with the post office and want to make sure if it will get forwarded or not.

thank you

i got an email last week saying the production of my GC had been ordered and then that same day i changed my address online. then over the weekend i got an email saying they sent out a welcome letter (it was sent to my old address). i called uscis this morning and the address hadn't gone through yet. what are the chances that it goes through before my GC is mailed out? also, if i had my post office forward my mail to my new address, would they forward my GC too? i think i've heard some people who had issues/problems with that. and lastly, what does a welcome letter contain, do i really need it? i don't trust the people at my old address, hence the address change this late. does the GC envelope have anything on it saying return to sender or anything of that nature?

thank you.

yes, but i dont want to do a change of address if the GC gets sent back. will it be sent back?

okay does the GC envelope have anything about the USCIS on it or any mention of return to sender? if not, i'm going to do the change of address at the post office. i know the people that live at that address, but i'm scared they will "keep" my GC.

i got an email last week saying the production of my GC had been ordered and then that same day i changed my address online. then over the weekend i got an email saying they sent out a welcome letter (it was sent to my old address). i called uscis this morning and the address hadn't gone through yet. what are the chances that it goes through before my GC is mailed out? also, if i had my post office forward my mail to my new address, would they forward my GC too? i think i've heard some people who had issues/problems with that. and lastly, what does a welcome letter contain, do i really need it?

thank you.

i got the email today! had my interview january 2007, and a year and 2 months later the infamous email! applied for my AOS in november of 2006. was in the name check for a year and 2 months and pretty sure i'm getting this now because of the "180 days" rule, just hope and pray it's the 10 year GC. anyone know how long it takes to the get the card after the card production email is sent out?? also on a side note i got an email about my second EAD today too, the production of that card was ordered on the same day too, coincidence?! i think not, another way for USCIS to pocket some extra cash. so, all those waiting, believe! there is hope! this is the email i got:

The last processing action taken on your case

Receipt Number: MSCXXXXXXXXXX

Application Type: I485 , APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS

Current Status: Card production ordered.

On March 12, 2008, we ordered production of your new card. Please allow 30 days for your card to be mailed to you. If we need something from you we will contact you. If you move before you receive the card, call customer service. You can also receive automatic e-mail updates as we process your case. Just follow the link below to register.

couple of questions:

what is next? do i get a letter? how long would it take to get the GC now after this email??

if i qualify for a 10 year GC, would i get a 10 year one even if my name check is still pending??

good luck to all!

i got the email today! had my interview january 2007, and a year and 2 months later the infamous email! applied for my AOS in november of 2006. was in the name check for a year and 2 months and pretty sure i'm getting this now because of the "180 days" rule, just hope and pray it's the 10 year GC. anyone know how long it takes to the get the card after the card production email is sent out?? also on a side note i got an email about my second EAD today too, the production of that card was ordered on the same day too, coincidence?! i think not, another way for USCIS to pocket some extra cash. so, all those waiting, believe! there is hope! this is the email i got:

The last processing action taken on your case

Receipt Number: MSCXXXXXXXXXX

Application Type: I485 , APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS

Current Status: Card production ordered.

On March 12, 2008, we ordered production of your new card. Please allow 30 days for your card to be mailed to you. If we need something from you we will contact you. If you move before you receive the card, call customer service. You can also receive automatic e-mail updates as we process your case. Just follow the link below to register.

so, i called this morning about my pending AOS. i had my interview in Jan of 2007, so it's been over a year, and i've been in the name check process since. initially, i got a customer service dude who looked into my file, put me on hold, spoke to a supervisor (because of the march 10th date), came back and said he was going to transfer me someone more senior up in customer service who could help me better. was put on hold for 20 minutes and finally got transferred to this lady who was extremely nice and helpful. she took my info down, put me on hold to check a few things and this is what she told me: she checked with the local field office where my file was at (indianapolis) and they have identified me as someone that fits into that "180 days name check" rule and my file was pulled aside "2 weeks" ago but nothing since. she submitted an urgent request to that field office and said it usually takes 4 weeks to hear back from them, but since they had already pulled my file aside and classified me as someone that falls in that category, i should probably hear something sooner than later. however, if i don't get a reply in the mail in 4 weeks, i should call and make an info pass appointment, but according to her that probably won't be necessary. i told her that online it said my file hadn't been touched since august of 2007 and she replied that that wasn't right, since she knows for sure that my file was touched and pulled aside only 2 weeks ago. so hopefully, i should be getting some good news in the next few weeks.

has anyone gotten approved because of the "180 days" rule yet? as in approved for GC, but name check is still pending? and if so, did you get a 10 year GC or 2 year GC? i'm eligible to get a 10 year one, but wasn't sure if they approve the GC and the name check is still pending, if they were just issuing 2 year GC's even for people that are eligible for a 10 year one?

anyone else waiting on march 10th and nothing??

so, march 10th is here, now what?? has anyone whose case has been pending for more than 180 days in the name check process called USCIS and found out what happens now?? i called a month ago and they said to wait till march 10th, well march 10th is here now and i've been in the name check process for a year and 2 months now and still nothing, so what happens now??

i agree but do you think there's a chance that they start issuing 2 year conditional GC's instead of the 10 year one? any validity to what the lawyer told that fellow?

i agree, i should get a 10 year GC, however, if you scroll up someone mentioned that a lawyer told them that those pending a name check, even if married for more than 2 years, will be issued a 2 year GC? trying to see if that is incorrect? it better be!

Okay a few questions, so I had my fingerprints done for my I-485 back in December '06 and interview in January '07 and now over a year later I'm still waiting on that stupid name check to come through. However, I was never told that my fingerprints expire? Will I have to have them done again? Also, are you sure about not getting the 10 year GC? I've married for over 2 years and think it's really unfair if I was to get a 2 year GC. Ever since the ruling passed I have not had any updates on my file.

Everyone,

Just thought I'd start a new thread for everyone that gets issued a GC, with the name check still pending, as per the ruling from a few days ago. If anyone gets their GC as per this ruling, could they please add to the thread, so we can get an idea on how long it's taking to process.

Thank you.

I was going to ask if anyone knew of the time line on processing these requests that have been pending for more than 6 months. My name check started after my interview a little over a year ago, January '07, so yes it has been longer than 6 months. I was absolutely thrilled to hear about the changes made today. In any case, I just got off the phone with USCIS and got my answer there and thought I might share it with you all. According to them you should hear something by March 10th, either an approval or another interview date, and if you don't you need to contact them. March 10th! That's less than a month away! I just hope it's not another interview, just want my GC, enough is enough! But I do have one question for everyone, I have been married over 2 years, so would this GC be a 10 year unconditional one or a 2 year conditional one or a conditional one pending name check ????

good luck to all!

I had my interview a year ago and the only thing left is the name check, which has been in process for a year now. I got a letter from Homeland Security today saying it's taken this long because they are still waiting/doing the background check and if I didn't hear anything in 6 months from the date of the letter to contact them. Does anyone know what this is about? Has anyone gotten this letter while waiting for AOS to go through? Is a good sign or really no sign at all??

Thanks

no answer no brownie!

from what i've heard, you should have gotten a 10 year GC... i've read about some people who get the 2 year GC after they've already been married for 2 years, and they call USCIS (infopass or whatever) and they should fix the issue and reissue a 10 year GC

Hello everyone! Hope everyone is doing well

Okay lets make this the question of the day, meaning, most replies and everyone who posts a reply gets a brownie, freshly cooked!

I married my wife (US citizen) in Nov 2005, filed my paperwork (AOS, etc.) in Nov 2006, and well a year and 3 months after filing I'm still waiting on a reply, meaning case is still pending. I just applied for my second EAD too. So, the question here is that since it has been over 2 years since I married my wife (US citizen), when I do get my GC (hopefully soon, fingers crossed), will it be a temp GC for 2 years or an unconditional GC for 10 years? I've heard if your case is pending and you've been married for over 2 years, that you automatically should get a 10 year one without any conditions attached?

Thanks! Now lets get the brownies coming in!

I E-filed to renew my EAD for a second time and at the end it says to mail in supporting documents if the document requires any. I looked on their site, and I know it clearly states not to send in pictures, but what about other supporting documents you need to send in if you were to just mail your I-765 (paper based) in? On the instructions for the paper-based I-765 it says: "If you are MAILING your application to USCIS, you must also submit: A. Copy of I-94.... B. Copy of last EAD ... C. You must also submit 2 identical photographs .... " So, again, since I'm not mailing does that mean I do not have to send in any of those documents? i researched about this a little online, and some people have said if you e-file you don't have to send anything any, but then some say to mail the documents in. So, i guess I wanted to see what everyone thought?

Thanks

Hello,

I was E-filing my renewal I-765 and had a few questions about the application:

1) Under "what is your immigration status" they have a bunch of things listed and I'm not sure which one I belong to. I came into the country as an F1 (student), filed for AOS based on marriage over a year ago, so what is my status now from the list they have?

2) Also, how would I know where my AOS is pending? the first 3 letters of my receipt number are MSC, but i mailed all my stuff to the chicago address.

3) And lastly, where did i previously file my last EAD? I mailed it to the Chicago address, but the receipt number for that said MSC?

Thank you

how would they know i left the country and by leaving giving my aos right, i mean i don't plan on coming back till i get the GC