classyam

On 9/27/2024 at 7:58 PM, Salva said:

My I-751 was recently denied and ever since then I have been in utter shock. I filed back in Feb 2021 and last year around this time I got a notification that my case is transferred so that an interview can be scheduled.

You filed based on abuse and extreme cruelty, and the case was transferred to be scheduled for an interview after 2 years?  and then got denied without an interview?  My understanding is this type of cases don't involve interviews as they are adjudicated by a "special unit" of USCIS.  Where did you denial letter come from? your local field office or somewhere else?

10 minutes ago, jackiegringa said:

Ooh, interesting situation, many thoughts:

 1.  They sent out 4 years extensions for everyone in the I-751 by now. Just read your posts, even with the extension your green card is completely expired in 2021.

So now even more reason for you to get working on your immigration issues! You need to fix this yourself since USCIS isn't. You can't just wait forever for an answer!

 

 2. You have to be relentless to get an ADIT stamp. Call everyday, call your representative, make it your second job. Talk about your emergency, request a mailed admit stamp, say you have to have proof of status it is the law etc.

 

 3. Definitely look into forcing them to give you an answer, 3 years for a response post interview is not normal. Unless your case has something very wrong with it, even a DIY writ of mandamus can get you both the removal of conditions and naturalization in a couple of months.

 

 

Thank you.  Without getting into more depressing details, but let's just say even a 4 year extension letter would have been rendered useless for me.  Stamp is my only option at this point.

44 minutes ago, Mike E said:

from the link I gave you, USCIS has, finally, conceded,

 

”Lawful permanent residents are entitled to evidence of status”

 

That is all the justification you need. If they say no, then  DIY Writ of Mandamus for the ADIT,  your I-751, and your N-400 is all you need.  
 

Your N-400 interview was 3 years ago. So you should be litigating.

Thank you.  I'll try calling again, I wonder how long before I can get it in the mail if they decide to process it. 

I've actually gotten stamps before, each time felt like an uphill battle though, once you're scheduled for an appointment, it's quick.

29 minutes ago, Mike E said:

I-751 was filed 2017.

 

I did not understand why someone with a 4 year extension letter needs an ADIT

4 year extension letters only apply to I-751 filed in the last two year or so.  When I filed mine, it was only 18 months.

32 minutes ago, Mike E said:

Passport stamps are unicorns per the new process:

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

 

You will instead get an I-94 that has your photo and an I-551 stamp.

 

Thanks guys.  This is not something I'm aware of.  When I call to request it, do I need to come up with any gimmick to not get any kind of pushback?

Has anyone gotten pushbacks from trying to get your passport stamped?  Do I have to make up a real emergency story for it to happen?  Last time I was told that I'd get a call within 30 days, then at the 30 day mark, I got an email saying something like "...there's no appointment available...."

What are your strategies?

Just out of curiosity if anyone cares to share their knowledge.  At the appointment,  we all get a ticket number once signed in.   If my memory serves,  I always get a number that starts with A.   and I noticed that, every time ,  the A numbers don't get called as fast or frequently as say a C ticket number or some other alphabet.   What's the difference?  I overheard one of the C number ones, he was practically there for the same reason as I was and came in almost 30 mins after me.   

4 hours ago, mindthegap said:

My earlier advice still stands - have a verifiable (they may check, they may not) urgent reason.

 

And just to emphasise this, given we are the same office, I got an appointment a few weeks ago....

Gave an urgent reason (they read a list of what is acceptable - btw, one of which was stamp needed for employment - mine was not for that reason), and they called me back same day, said they have mailed the local office to request an emergency appointment, they then called me back the following day with the actual appointment details which was in the day or so after that.

Granted it was a little bit more convoluted than normal - in the past I've had one call back and the appointment within 24hrs - but still, it was done and dusted within 72hrs of making the first call. 

 

 

Thank you,  got the "surprising" call earlier and now have an appointment.   How did it go for you this time when you went in?  Was it any different than before? 

Disappointing update:  So I called again earlier this week, even though the agent was empathetic enough to put me in the system for an urgent request this time and said I'd get a call back within 72 hours instead of the 30 days.   Never got a call just like last time,  at around the 72 hour mark in came another email,  it's worded a little differently than last time, but the message seems similar---- basically no opening slot   " ....Your request was forwarded to the your Local Field office. You will be contacted as soon as there is an update from the Field Office......"

I guess it's back to the drawing board yet again:-(    Who's taking up all the appointment slots?  lol..  

So I just called, the agent basically used my previous request against me as I suspected and asked me to wait for their call even after I told him that I have to travel in two weeks.  He even gave me a brief speech about "with the Ukranian war, Pandemic, etc......, there's just no appointment available and there are people who called before me......"    Is this just NYC area?

I guess it's back to square one yet again:-(  

6 minutes ago, mindthegap said:

This stuff really annoys me, as it's a legal right - arguably a legal requirement - to have proof of status at all times. 

 

Call back, say it's for urgent imminent travel and you should get a call back within a day or a few days. If they ask for proof just buy a fully refundable flight and it probably won't even hit your credit card by the time you cancel it. 

 

 

6 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

My wife needed to travel last November.  I called USCIS in early September.  Within 24 hours of my first call to get an emergency appointment, she had the ADIT stamp in her passport.  We needed no proof.  Your miles may vary.

Thank you mindthegap & Crazy Cat,  I'll give it a shot,  trying to think of a hypothetical reason for travel now.  lol   But then when I call again, wouldn't they be able to see my previous request about the same thing just with a different reason a month ago? And wouldn't that raise suspicions or am I overthinking it? 

37 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

If your extension letter is expired, you should ask for an EMERGEMCY infopass appointment. 

I want to call them again, but giving the same reason---employment--- is probably not gonna cut it and be considered emergency even though it worked fine last year.   If I say that I need to travel or something, they might need to see proof?   Would really love to hear success stories on getting an appointment after initially being practically denied.   Oh yes, my extension letter expired quite some time ago, otherwise, I'd probably not even bother with getting the stamp.  

I need a stamp on my passport for employment reasons based on my pending I-751.   Was supposed to get a call from an officer to schedule within 30 days, but instead, I got an email around the 30 day mark basically saying there's no appointment available in my field office, if anything opens up, they'll contact me if I'm still eligible.   I've gotten stamps before, it was a fairly smooth process, I don't know what happened this time around and frankly I'm not really buying the whole "no appointment available" thing.  

Has anyone experienced this? If so,  any successful resolution?

5 minutes ago, geowrian said:

That's a normal result...not an vindication of anything wrong. They very rarely make a decision on the spot anymore.

It sounds like things went alright. Barring an known issue, I would be optimistic.

I hope so.  but I just wish the ".....Your application has been recommended for approval..." box was checked.  😞

Today I had the interview at 26 Federal Plaza in NYC,  it's been really a long time coming because I filed I-751 in Dec. 2017.    

Anyway,  the security at the main entrance was pretty strict with who gets to go in.   Getting through the metal detectors and then off to the 7th Floor,  it's probably the first time or last time anyone would ever see a waiting room this empty there. lol    There were probably only 5-6 people waiting by the time we got called in by our officer.  

Officer was professional,  did a little chit chat.   Then she asked what documentations I brought.  So I handed her our tax returns, bank statements,  a variety of utility bills, lease renewal----all joint and about two years' worth,   life insurance.    Also showed her our original birth certificates and marriage certificate.  She also asked for some pictures.    She didn't ask a ton of marriage related questions,  was more interested in my immigration related history starting from the first day I arrived here.   

Then she said she was done with my spouse,  walked him out.   Then came back to conduct the N-400,  questions were easy, she stopped, I believe, at the 6th one probably because I got them all correct.   Proceeded to ask me to read a sentence and write it down on an Ipad.   

In the end, she handed me a piece of paper on which "A decision cannot be made yet about your application" is checked and said to wait a month for a decision in the mail.   Arghhh,  more waiting:-(  

I don't know what I should expect from this point,  more RFE?  or some other hurdle?

the stamp will be good for one year?

Thank you.  When I call,  should I insist on speaking to someone at tier 2 ?

so the 18 month extension letter for my I-751 has expired.   What do you do when you live in nyc .  I know you have to call to schedule Infopass appointments now, but what's the point when Infopass appointment was never available online for the manhattan office location before.    Has anyone here got the I-551 stamp in NYC?  If so, please share how,  Thank you.  

6 minutes ago, holidaywkhcx said:

Once it's completed at NBC, it will pass on to your local office to schedule an interview. Actually my wife and I got a notice from Queens filed office for i751 interview, but we filed n400 so our case was automatically transferred to NBC, then queens office.

Do you guys reside in Queens too?

Thanks to those that have chimed in,  just hard not to think if anything went wrong with the application.  

1 hour ago, geowrian said:

Business as usual...it doesn't mean anything is wrong. Some people get an ROC waiver and others don't. Sometimes they issue an RFE and sometimes they don't.

Thank you for the comforting words even though I'm still overthinking, lol..

33 minutes ago, AlexNY said:

This VJ member was also transferred to NBC without N-400 and RFE.

 

Thank you for sharing,  mine specifically said that it was transferred so an interview can be scheduled:-(

1 minute ago, GBOS said:

Yes, that is an interesting question.  RFE, by the manual, is the first step prior to interview being scheduled.

 

I know of another person whose case also has also been transferred to NBC with the same message a few months ago.  Let me ask him and see if he has any update, if he does I will share with you.

Thank you. 

11 minutes ago, GBOS said:

It may be. Age difference can draw attention, but not always.  Do you believe your evidence submitted is solid?

 submitted everything joint-----bank accounts, credit cards, cable bills, gas/electricity bills, lease renewal, investment account with spouse as the beneficiary.   But then, if there's not enough evidence, they should've issued a RFE first instead of going straight to interview stage? And why was the case not transferred to my NYC local office if interview is next?

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