rtheman

Does anyone know what's the best method to renew one's driver license whose GC has expired but does possess a 1yr extension letter as we are waiting for USCIS to process the Removal of Conditional of Resident Alien?

My wife, the temp. resident alien, went to the DMV to renew her license since it's due to expire on April. However, as most of other threads have learn, the DMV (Virginia for us) does not except the USCIS' 1yr extension or biometrics yet these are the only proof from USCIS we possess at this point.

Upon looking at other threads, it seems that the only thing to do is make an InfoPass appointment and speak with USCIS agent to get a 6-mo or 1yr I-551 stamp to her passport? If so, is that suggesting that she should take that as "proof" to DMV to renew her license?

Bottom line is that she need to have her license renew during the processing time of my wife's 10yr GC. Any suggestion will be helpful. Thanks!

My wife filed the I-751 on Jan31, check was cashed on Feb04, and NoA1 was received on Feb09. In the NoA1, one of the paragraph reads, "If you h ave not already done so, provide supporting documents to assist USCIS in processing your petition and to establish eligibility to remove the conditional basis of your permanent residence... Such evidence may include, but is not limited to, the following items: lease, tax returns, etc.)

When we sent in our I-751 package, it already included these items and more. So is this just a "can" message USCIS prints on all NOA? Or am I simply reading too deep into this and thinking myself to crazy-ville?

If we are on track than I'll have to congraduate to CSC for a fairly swift processing thus far, as we are fairly on track with the recent post whom just received their Green Card.

So does that means plp that has pending application should check in with USCIS and see if there's anything wrong such as a possible RFE that might be associated with your name? I mean I do appologize that we are learning from your example, but how would people like us who currently have pending cases find out if something like this are happening (rather, not happening) to us?

Along the same token, upon speaking to a cust. service on the 800 line, one of the representative informed me that RFE for items that you might have send in your original packet happens somewhat frequently. Since it's handle by lots of people, misplacing certain document and/or not understanding the package's story happens... Just FYI

Something I learn yesterday upon calling their 800 number (1-800-) regarding RFE such that the customer rep. told me how RFE is fairly normal. As a matter of fact, the RFE might request the same materials you've already sent in because the application package might have switch hands to various people, and at times evidence items might get loss. So there you go, your hard earn tax dollar working at its best

I was wondering if they change the online status at USCIS page when they send out the RFE.

Does anyone know?

Thanks!

Yes, they usually update your case if they sent you RFE. You will also receive an email informing you about it..

also, here are list of evidence we've compiled:

I-751 form

copy of I-551 (Permanent Resident Card)

Affidavits from our friend (3x)

Mortgage contracts showing joint ownership

Selling of Woodbury (old address)

Deed of Brilyn Place (new address)

Financial Records

Mortgage statements

Wachovia

HSBC

AMEX

AMEX

VISA

Gas

Water

Electricity

Tax Returns & Transcript

2005

2006

Insurance

Health

Auto

House

Driver Licenses

Rich

Helena

Pictures

Envelopes from friends

Hi, my wife and I are about to submit our I-751 and during our process in pulling together all our evidence we have the following questions:

1. Per bills, we are copying first 3 mo., middle 3 mo, and most recent 3 months worth of bills. However, for our banking statement, our early portion does NOT have BOTH our names together but they both show the same address. Is this a problem?

2. Since we got married, we moved into our current house (Sept2006) and we filed AR-11, but no receipt. We also just noticed we might/should have filed a I-865, is that true? What should we do now?

3. We are also highlighting our names and address on copies of our evidence to better identify our names and address. Is this advisable and/or OK?

Yikes. Well my wife (the afrikann - sorry bro) has a relatively long surname - the joke is "so long it wraps around the Visa logo on her credit card!" But anyhow, I hope the Vermont office won't be THAT long (more than 60 days) and that we get some sort of notice / receipt. Cuz only thing I gathered is that the I-551 stamp can only be acquire via an InfoPass and from what I'm hearing you need another set of proofs to verify that you must need it.

anyhow, good luck to all you guys and I hope those that are awaiting anxiously gets the items you need soon. Because I'd hate to go through these stressful times...

Hey - another South African I see! Lekker!

Yes I found out about the name spelling on the phone. I got my receipt # of my cashed check, and when they looked it up they spelled my name and it was incorrect (I have the most common last name in South Africa - I'm sure you know which one I'm talking about - and they always find it difficult to spell here).

I had my InfoPass appt after 60 days of no action (about a month before GC expired). I took a VOE (Verification of Employment) from my employer which also stated that I need to travel for business, as well as a copy of my itinirary and the cashed check. I don't think they'll give you an I-551 unless you can show that you need to travel - but not sure about that. I only got a 3 month extension (after much pleading).

Anyway - good luck!

Pascal07: how did you find out the name was spell incorrectly? Over the phone or when you when in for your InfoPass?

Also, for the I-551 stamp, when does one go about making an InfoPass appointment? 1 week before Conditional GC expire? 2 weeks? Because I simply had bad experience with making an InfoPass appointment since I just never been able to make one during our AoS process or that all appointment has been taken for the day I selected (which would be any date from the calendar they provide).

We are still few months away, but I simply want to cover as much ground and do my "homework" before hand.

Got you guys. I think we've got a fairly intensive list such as bank statements, bills that we are currently collecting so we will have a year's worth of these bills. I'm also going to get a new set of checks w/ both our names and our new address (we bought a home last yr), as well as those IRS transcript dated back 3 years.

But overall, it doesn't sound like THAT difficult and thankful to have this forum and people like you all to help out.

Just out of curiousity, did any of you guys have an attorney filled the I-751 for you all, or did you guys prepared the whole package yourself? I heard that if they see an attorney that prepared it for you (a simple signature on the bottom of that one page) they will process it faster. Is that true? Or a simple urban legend?

The "horror" stories I'm referring to are people who sent in plenty of evidences and I assume they filled out the application corrects, receive these RFE without any reasons - at least none that I've read. Therefore, coming into I-751 solo now (without an attorney) we are a bit timid about this whole process even though it seems like it should be a breeze as compare with our K1 or Adjust of Status.

Where do you read "horror" story with RFE and interviews?

I've read the FAQ and the list here, and it seems that should my wife and I go on an overseas trip (Hong Kong) before we file for her I-751 all she needs is her country (S.Africa) passport and her Temp. Green Card; is that correct? Since her temp Green Card doesn't expire until 26Mar 2008 we should be OK when we come back through custom (LAX), no?

I might just be a bit paranoid and anxious, but we plan to file the I-751 exactly 90 days prior to Temp. Green Card expiration date (26Jan'08). But since that's a Sat. I figure it won't matter that much to send it in the following Monday (28Jan'08). Plus, rather than using attorney as we've done thus far in our process (K1 visa) we plan on filing the I-751 ourselves since it seems like it's only ONE form with various evidences, is that how you all persieves this? Though I am reading a bit of "horror" story with RFE and interviews which I don't think are good per se, but aside from bank statements, credit card, house deeds, utilities bills, life insurance, and 401(k) I'm just not sure what else to include without inundate them only to get RFE and/or interviews.

Let me know what you all think for our travel and filing for I-751. Sorry for being verbose, but these has been on our minds and don't have anyone to consult with...

-Rich

So from the questions of others, I guess an interview is not the NORMAL procedure for I-751? Because the overall timeline that I have in mind is fill out the I-751, mail it in with all those proofs, then wait for your NOA, Biometrics follows, then one gets their 10-yr Green Card. Is that more or less how it works?

My wife will be going through this process come Jan'08 and I just want to be prepare. Plus, we are thinking of filing the I-751 ourselves instead of using an attorney since all I've gathered thus far is what I just described above and make sure we have plenty but NOT too many proofs to inundate those INS people

My wife (conditional Residence Alien) and I (US Citizen) are thinking of traveling abroad for 3-4 weeks during Jan-Feb'08, and her Conditional Green Card is due to expire on 26Apr. Since we are to submit the I-781 on Jan26, would you all recommend taking such trip? Are there any important replies and/or appointments that might take place within that month period? Lastly, what's the duration a Conditional Res. Alien can be aboard (I just couldn't remember right now).

Thanks!

-Rich

... went through Dallas Rapid Program and will be also invited to an interview anyway since the interview for the AOS was waived (something like that)...

What is this "Rapid Program" you spoke of? i'm not aware of it as my wife and I will file for our I-751 Jan'07 (ya, we are trying to prepare early, since we aren't using lawyer this time - we used lawyer for K1, AoS, etc.)

So here's quick tales to tell / laugh depending on your sanity level at this point....

We've filed K1 and AOS with a lawyer, so naturally we called the same lawyer for Removing Conditions on her Residency Card. Questions we've got are, "Is the I-751 the only thing we need to do at this stage? Are there anything forms or steps we need to do?" Her responds is simply Pay us a $500 retainer fee, and we'll take care of what she needs to do. In addition, we are also responsible for the application fees.

Another 'gimik' the lawyer tried on me is that one has to follow the application CAREFULLY, which is what we do best. But my question is that it seems like what we've talked about above listed out all that I need to do.

Therefore, my questions / confirmation to you all is that it sounds like the I-751 is the only thing I need to fill out and send into St. Albans, Vt office (we live in Virginia), while including evidence of relationship in addition to the I-751 itself (i.e. no passport photos, just include check w/ proper amount)

Thanks guys for the QUICK responses! So it sounds like all I need to remove her Conditional status is to:

a. file the I-751 w/in the 90 days period (still few months early for us)

b. include the appropriate fees

c. no need for photos (since Biometrics will take care of that and fingerprints)

d. Most importantly, include evidences such as Tax returns transcripts, statements (i.e bank, utilities), House Deeds

Question now is, how do I get the Tax return Transcript? I see from other post to call local IRS, but where do I find their information? I'm located at northern VA area.

If all these are true, this process is a 'cake walk' compare to Adj of Status or filing for the K1 visa!!!

Hi all,

So my wife has been carrying the Temporary Residence Alien card since Mar,2006 which means (according to rules of I-751 to file w/in 90 days of the card's expiration date) that we should file the I-761 during Dec'07 - late Feb'08... Is that how you all have been doing it?

and is that all we need to remove her conditions? Such that we fill out the forms, attached 2 passport photos, include the check ($275 total), send it certified mail to Vermont office, then finally hope for the best? Because right now we are talking to the same lawyer that prepared our case for Adjustment of Status and if I-761 is all we need, we can save a few bucks this time around.

Lastly, USCIS (just phoned them) said that one can apply for US citizenship after being a perm residence (even including the temp. res alien) for 3 years, one can apply for US Citizenship; does that mean we'd then file for another set of forms (N-400 I believe) around Mar'09?! Which means more money?

Thank you all in advance for your advice.

-Rich

My wife finally received her notice for her AoS interview for Apr26 (we submitted our AoS application back on Sept 2005). However, I have a question in showing/proofing that I'm a legit US Citizenship. Currently I lost my passport and I can't seem to find it. But our lawyer said that it's ok to simply show them my US Naturalization certificate to proof that I'm a legit US Citizen. Plus she said that not everyone has a passport anyway. Do you guys agree with that?

Similarly, should we bring all originals of the forms and certificate such as my wife's birth certificate, passport, etc.

Lastly, the notice for this interview mention something about medical forms? Does that simply mean we need to do another medical for her? Because when she came in via K1 visa her medical forms (and xRay) was wrapped in the envelope and was taken by the custom when she arrived at her first port of entry. So sort of confuse on that now.

We also have plenty (we believe) to show that we are a Legit couple: bank account with our names on it, car insurances, house title, emails. We've even heard that we should have few of our friends who knew us before we got married to write a short letter stating that we are a legit couple, how we met, etc.

Let us know your thoughts on all this, as we are the AoS Virgin Interviewee. Thanks very much in advance!