jaysaldi

The instructions make sense but they now use a different website to make appointments and they have no appointments available at all the consulate in Houston or in any nearby cities.

My Cambodian wife used her extension letter to fly back from Cambodia a few weeks ago, no problem. Now we want to visit Cancun in September but I am hearing that United Airlines won't let her board a flight to Mexico with the extension letter and expired green card. This may be a recent change in policy by United but I've seen several reports of this in the last 12 months. Compounding the issue is that the consulate in Houston where we live doesn't seem to have any appointments available. Any advice on how she can apply for a Mexican tourist visa if she needs one?

i think what's more likely is that Mexico's published rules are strict -- "no extension letters" -- but their immigration officers are lax. Some airlines follow their letter of the law it seems because of the "possibility" of being fined if Mexico denies entry to the traveler. Some don't.

Well, please read that points guy link from December about someone rejected by United flying on expired green card plus extension letter. What I'm seeing from this thread is that some people flying on some airlines have been permitted to visit Mexico with an expired green card and extension letter, and some have not. The website of the consulate of Mexico in Houston says: EAD cards, I-797 A Forms, Advance Parole Forms, I-20, F-1, TPS, I-512, or DS-2019 are NOT ACCEPTED to enter Mexico. https://consulmex.sre.gob.mx/houston/index.php/visas/visas-english

Am I correct that United won't let my visaless Cambodian wife fly to Mexico on expired green card plus extension letter? https://thepointsguy.com/news/expired-green-card/

Yeah she got the 48 month extension letter today, even though she had 20 months left on the 24 month extension. Texas Service Center I think.

Haha my "informed delivery" email shows a letter to my wife from USCIS today too.

Just to be clear, are you saying that people who already received a 24 month extension letter are getting "replacement" 48 month letters in the mail? My wife just got her 24 month letter in October so are they only sending these out for people whose extensions are close to expiring?

I wanted to follow up with our experience trying to get my wife's biometrics done at a different USCIS office. As mentioned above, we moved from Las Vegas to Texas, submitted the change of address form to USCIS, and a week later they nonetheless scheduled the biometrics for January 3 in Las Vegas. We're visiting Rhode Island for the holidays and weren't able to get to the office in Las Vegas (or Texas). i called USCIS last week and they said the appointment would have to be rescheduled and that I definitely couldn't just walk in to a different office. I told her "OK, don't reschedule it, we'll figure something out" and then she asked me to hold the line while she made notes on my file which I assumed were "Don't let them walk in for biometrics, I specifically told them not to do that." The next day (around December 28) we tried to walk into the Rhode Island office. I explained we were scheduled for Las Vegas. She told me they couldn't help me that day BUT if I returned to the Rhode Island office on January 3 at the date and time on my Las Vegas appointment notice, then they could help me. This of course doesn't make a lot of sense, but I've read other accounts of this online - that USCIS offices will accept you for walk in at a different office if you are there at the correct appointment time. We went back today at the correct appointment time and a different lady was staffing the desk. When she saw the appointment notice she asked "Who's in Las Vegas" and I explained that we were scheduled for a different office but the other lady told us we could come back at the right time, and she started nodding her head as if she was aware of this "wrong office, right time" walk in policy. So then they took my wife's fingerprints and we were out in 5 minutes. This is for I-751, not I-485 by the way.

Reports are that this varies from office to office and many people have been refused

that's an interesting point. does anyone know if that's true. If you go to a different office and have biometrics done does the other office just show a missed appointment?

I read something yesterday on another website where someone said they were told by USCIS they could walk in to any office at the designated date/time. That's why I wanted to know if chances of getting served are better if you are there are the correct time albeit at a different office.

No I haven’t called to reschedule. I’d prefer to keep the appointment and just do it in Rhode Island. We’re planning to be out if the country February -may. I don’t want to postpone this 5 months

Back up plan is call to reschedule. The Nevada appointment is actually 3 hours later with time change if that helps

Thanks. I guess there are a couple of variables here I’d like to get more info on. First, if we go in at the designated date and time, but just to a different office, will we be treated like a “walk in” who has entered out of turn or treated more like a proper appointment holder? Second, if we are turned away and then I call USCIS to reschedule, and I can’t get through before the appointment time (despite the benefit of a 3 hour time change arbitrage) will they really reject the petition and deny rescheduling if I reach them a few hours or days late?

Yeah but then the guard at the door may notice that the date is off and shoo us away. I figured if we at least have the date/time correct there's a better chance of getting in. We moved from Nevada to Texas. USCIS got the change of address, still scheduled it for Nevada. Currently visiting Rhode Island.

Wife got a biometrics appointment notice in the mail. Appointment is for next week. In Nevada. We're in Rhode Island. Google maps lists a USCIS Providence field office in Johnston, RI and a USCIS Application Support Center in Cranston, RI. Can she just walk into one of those at the appointed date and time, and if so, which one?

Has anyione else had this happen? Filed I-751 for my wife on October 3. On December 9, saw her online myuscis account was updated to say: "Case Was Updated To Show Fingerprints Were Taken As of December 9, 2022, fingerprints relating to your Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, Receipt Number XXX have been applied to your case." No mailed paper notice. On December 10 submitted change of address from Las Vegas to Houston and got email confirmation. Then on December 17 USCIS sends a mailed notice to our old Las Vegas address with appointment to take biometrics in Las Vegas next month. Code 3. Her online MyUSCIS account doesn't reflect this. Please make it make sense.

Just don't get their hopes up, there are plenty of examples of people being rejected for visas for weddings, funerals, etc. If they wouldn't be approved for a tourist visa to visit Disney World, then they are unlikely to be approved to attend a wedding.

Is USCIC still waiving biometrics appointments for removal of conditions and is that the norm rather than the exception for applicants who previously submitted biometrics with their I-485 applications? We submitted my wife's I-751 over a month ago and got notice that USCIS has received it but no notice yet as to biometrics. Planning on moving in a few weeks and submitting a change of address and hoping we don't get a biometrics appointment in the meantime.

How can he move to the USA in the interim? Isn't he limited to 90 days at a time under ESTA? K1 makes a bit more sense when the immigrant fiancee is from a developing country and can't easily visit the USA and has low earning prospects in the USA or just plans to be a housewife or has a crappy living situation in his/her own country. It traditionally reunites the couple the fastest and allows them to live together the fastest, but the detriment is a longer path to work authorization and permanent residence. A European boyfriend/girlfriend can visit the USA easily for up to 90 days and there usually isn't the urgency to get a K-1 to get that person to the USA as soon as possible.