KDance

Hello,

My spouse and I have been discussing me changing my last name back to my maiden name.  No divorce, purely for my business purposes.

Has anyone been through a name change process? Would it be ill-advised?   At the moment we are weighing up the pros and cons.

We recently received approval for removal of conditions.

Thanks

K

Does anyone know if green card has an RFID chip? I’m wondering if I can use the ready lane at San Ysidro :/

Here's my completed timeline

Oct 2016 Filer

Biometrics - 12/08/2016

Card is being produced message received - 4/9/18

Case is approved notice online - 4/10/18 (letter received 4/16/18)

Card is being Mailed - Email Notice 5/10/18

Card received 5/11/18

I did not receive any tracking or card has been delivered notifications.

6 minutes ago, Hikerwa said:

Thanks for this question, my wife and I are going to Mexico as well, her case was approved in April as well. She had an I-551 stamp in her passport that will work then. As to our experience crossing the border driving, we have never had to go to secondary even with only the I-551.

Hi Hikerwa,

This is good to know... I think I'm more afraid of the 5 pairs of eyes staring at me if we all have to wait for secondary than anything else

Thank you again.

I'm traveling with others who are all US Citizens, I'd like to avoid causing a delay to them.  Should I expect secondary when traveling by vehicle?

6 minutes ago, GreatDane said:

You are clear to travel. The I551 stamp will work - it shows that you have the ability to travel/work and is taken the same as a green card, although it isn't scanable. From my experience, you'll have to enter manually (if flying in) and go to the counter to get cleared at customs. It takes a bit longer than if you have the green card which is scanable. 

Thank you!  I'll be driving across the San Diego > Tijuana border.  I've flown with the stamp, prior to approval but haven't driven ever and haven't traveled since receiving approval.

The stamp has pending - i751 written on it, would that matter?

Thanks again!

I am traveling over the US/Mexico border this weekend returning on Sunday and have been told I should be ok to travel since my case has been approved and I'm just waiting for the new card.

My concern is the word 'should'.  The first USCIS rep said it would be absolutely fine, the second (I wanted a 2nd opinion), said it should be find but to check with CBP.

Sadly, the CBP number for the border has two numbers.  One is disconnected the other is constantly engaged.

I wondered if anyone has been in the same position and had any issues traveling, I've never driven across the border so have no idea what to expect.

I have an I-551 stamp that was given to me in December 2017 which expires in Dec 2018.

I have an approval letter dated April 10th.

Any input would be greatly appreciated

Just to jump in here.  I gave USCIS a call a few days ago to inquire about travel between approval and receiving GC with an i-551 stamp.

I explained the letter said not to travel but that I travel for work and already have an i-551 stamp that expires in December.  The lady I spoke to put me on hold for a few minutes and then came back to tell me it was fine to travel but that I should take the approval letter with me just in case.

Perhaps a few others should try giving USCIS a call also to see the response? Like Scazy implies, it would be very odd if the cbp officer caused an issue once the case is approved ?

Thank you for all the information provided in this thread.

Does anyone know if there seems to be an average timeline from approval to the card being mailed?

And, is there any way to check how long it will take to be mailed perhaps online?

Thanks - K

Thank you for your help.

Hoping someone can shed some light here

My passport is in my old name.  My Green card is in my new name (expired).   I have an i-551 extension stamp in my passport and it has my Greencard name written on the page by the USCIS officer.

I am trying to check in for a flight home to the UK and it asks for my Green Card details.   

Should I enter in the I-551 details?  So the last name is different to my passport and the new expiration date (the extension date given).

I've tried calling USCIC to ask but just go in circles with the automated phone system

My license expires in 10 days... I asked the lady at the desk but she had no idea just kept telling me I needed to retake with no explanation.

I'm hoping this is the correct place to ask about this.

I've lived in CA since 2013 and got my full drivers license within the first week.  I have renewed my license as I've gone through the visa > Green Card by simply showing proof of residency.

I have an I-551 stamp while I wait to have the Green Card conditions removed.  I went to have my license extended today with the stamp and they told me I needed to take the drivers test.

She couldn't tell me why and no one else I know on a similar Visa/GC journey has had to do this.

Any ideas?