NinoniAndBoosBoos

thanks everyone...I did receive a notice indicating my Greencard will expire, so that was very reassuring.

I also just received a I-797 Notice of action,saying my conditional resident status has been extended for 1 year, and my I-751 receipt notice,

I guess once I receive my Application Support Center appointment notice for the biometrics, than I can say my ROC has been approved.

thanks again for you responses

Hi Everyone,

Been a while since I have visisted VJ.com. Hello to all my friends here, and hoping all is well with everyone.

So 90 days from the expiration of my Green Card is when I am suppose to file the ROC I-751 form, that I believe would be April 13, seeing it expires 7/12/2014.

Can I do it now? or do I have to wait till April. Will USCIS send any type of reminder letter, this scary feeling in the pit of my stomach that I might miss the date is awful!!! so want to be proactive.

Thanks everyone for all your advice and help with this step.

Your Greencard is good enough for a land border crossing and for a flight within the USA, you don't need to use your passport. If I were you I would try to just use your Greencard and if they request the passport just have it with you along with the marriage certificate. I suspect that showing a name change with a marriage certificate has the potential to cause problems at border crossings depending on the mood/intelligence of the officer.

thank you, but my passport and flight tickets were processed under my maiden name, Green Card is in Marrried name....so I think to be safe I will carry everything, and be totally pro-active with having everything,,gosh maybe even all my K1 papers too...

Hello All!!!

Hope everyone's journey is progressing, it is an arduous journey, but so worth it once it all falls into place...be patient and steadfast,

My question: my husband and I will be traveling to Canada (Toronto) for my Mom's 80th birthday, and will be flying into Buffalo, I was hoping someone out there might suggest which border crossing is the best and closest to the airport. Our flight will be arriving really late, so unlikey we will travel to Toronto that night, so a stay-over in Buffalo might be required.

1. Which is better Peace Bridge or Rainbow or Lewiston

2. any hotel suggestions close to the airport...

Thanks in advance, I will in the meanwhile do my research here on Visa Journey and Trip advisor (for hotel suggestion) but any suggestions and advice will be appreciated.

I booked the flight with my Canadian passport (in maiden name) so I understand I will have to bring my marriage certificate...anyone out there encounter any issues with Passport in Maiden name?

You could suggest the Dominican Republic as an alternative. Several of my Aunts and my mom have been there and they love it. Your husband would be able to go there I believe.

Yes DR is beautiful, I was there way before it got to be such a tourist destination, and it was nice...definitely a destination to consider...I know my Mom would love it...especially if we were all together...gosh she would be happy in Antarctica if we were all together again...

Puerto Rico is pretty fun though probably not quite the budget option. The food is great and it's full of history and nature to see. You can gamble too if that's your thing. Cockfighting is still legal there if you want to watch a match.

####### fighting..no thanks but I do hear Puerto Rico is really nice..so many beautiful places, now to get all of the family to agree on a destination might not be so easy...

http://travel.state....s/cis_1097.html

I was thinking of trying to get to Cuba before POE

oh you should...such beautiful people and the beaches can't be beat....

I've gone to Mexico and the all-inclusive resorts make it nice. By far my favourite tropical place to vacation is Hawaii. They don't have all-inclusive resorts though. However, obviously, there wouldn't be a single issue with either of you going there LOL!! My husband hates tropical places though after his 4 years on Guam when he was USAF. So I have a feeling it will be a long time before I spend time on a tropical beach again. I hope your and your family can find a great place to spend your mom's 80th birthday! Such a great occasion deserves a great vacation.

thank you, but the cost for all my family back in Toronto to travel to Hawaii would be a lot, but you're right such a milestone deserves a great vacation. Thanks again, too bad about your hubby being "beached" out...he will probably seek it out again one day...nothing like frolicking in clear warm water...

You could suggest the Dominican Republic as an alternative. Several of my Aunts and my mom have been there and they love it. Your husband would be able to go there I believe.

Good idea, we may consider Mexico too, plus it would be nice to see Mexico, I have never been, and maybe we can make it our honeymoon too, as we never had one, with the cost of all the USCIS fees, we never had a proper honeymoon. Looks like Cuba is out....but I have to say they do have the most amazing beaches and nicest people.

My understanding is that if you travel there through Canada and only show your Canadian travel documents then it's a don't ask don't tell thing for the US government. Your husband would not be able to travel there though. Someone else may have a government website to quote or something that could be better information. I'm just going on what I've been told in the past.

I thought so much....well I will keep investigating.All my family back home are taking my Mom there for her 80th birthday, and we wanted to surprise her. Hmmm maybe will have to rethink another destination so my husband and I don't have any issues, especially since I am "conditional".

Thank you

I am a Canadian Citizen with Permanent Resident Status (Green Card, conditional until ROC in April 2013) can I travel to Cuba for a holiday? my Husband is an American Citizen.

I used to travel to Cuba from Canada all the time, such a wonderful Vacation Destination, but I know that Americans are not welcomed there, because of the Embargo. Does anyone have any advice?

Should I try to contact the Canadian Embassy with my question?

Any advice would help.

Thanks.

That is even worse than all purpose lol! Just a clumpy mess of dough that rips and tears.

Ooh...I will try that cornstarch thing! Thanks! Never thought to check Amazon! I forgot that they sell food items!

I use all purpose for pretty much everything except pie crust. I find it falls apart. My mom who makes pies all the time was here last Christmas, showing me how to make meat pies. She had such a hard time with the dough. It kept tearing on her.

So many things we can't get in the STates: I am having the hardest time finding ready-made pastry dough...the kind you just roll yourself and bake away till your hearts content...I am finding all kinds of ready-made pie forms though...I just want the pastry dough. There is phyllo dough, but it doesn't work to well for my apple strudel....I might have to start making my own pastry...yuck...

And apparently she now has her green card as well. OP - in case you were not aware - now that you have your GC, your EAD and AP are invalid.

I didn't know that, but I will keep the EAD/AP as a momento's of all the work they both involved, gosh might even frame it thank you. But I might just keep it in my wallet when I travel just to be safe, I have learned through this whole process:"The More the better"

Try this site to get the exact date for 90 days before expiration: http://www.timeandda...te/dateadd.html

thank you, so helpful!!!!!

It's I-551 and it's a greencard stamp. it's not a requirement to get it and as you said, you have the EAD and AP anyway.

Yes conditional resident.

thank you for the correction, just happy I can breath for 2 years before any more paperwork.

Not to worry about the stamped passport; that stamp acts as a green card while the actual card gets to your hand. It's normally done for people coming into the US and having a GC approval at that point. In the past, when the GC took long to be produced after approval, it was possible to go to a USCIS office and get the stamp. Nowadays, between notice and card in your hand is usually 1-2 weeks, 4 at the most.

You are a permanent resident but conditional to remaining married, the conditions are in effect for 2 years. There is no such thing as conditional resident. The conditions are for continuing being a resident, as oppose to conditions to your residency; in other words, you have no conditions as to being a LPR, you can work, travel, come back to country, etc. But you have conditions to continue being a resident.

Thank you so much for your reply, much appreciated. Yes I must apply to remove the conditions 90 days before the expiration of my Green Card/Permanent Resisdent Card. Now I must do the math..yuck!!!!

Wishing you all the best on your journey....thank you again.

I just received my Permanent Residence/Green Card on July 20, 2012 and was updateding our timeline, and there are 2 sections in the timeline that mention I-155 stamped in passport, would someone be so kind to explain this. I am so pooped from this whole process, but am now wondering if all is well if there is no I-155 passport stamp??

I do have an EAD/AP card as well, and now my Green Card...is this 1-155 stamp necessary?

Also, I was told at the interview (which was very positive) that the Green Card and my residence is conditional, yet the card does say "permanent Resident" . On the back of the letter that came with the Green Card, it states that I should apply to remove the Conditions, if you are a conditional Resident, I guess this means I am then a "conditional resident" correct?

Thanks Everyone.

P.S. I just want to share my sadness and remorse that there has been so much violence in these recent days, and pray for all of us to remain positive and strong, to forgive our neighbours, and spread some joy and goodness to any and all those that may need support: a kind word, a welcoming smile, a funny joke...pass it on...Peace to all Be courteous on the roads of life, you may never know how your good deeds can make someone happy...SO MAKE SOMEONE HAPPY

When I was in the states I was so happy to see those!! My fiancé really liked the Joe Louis

I plan on taking all kinds of goodies with me when I go!

Just don't buy and transport any Kinder Surprise chocolate back in the USA....just read the news about 2 Oregon travellers who were detained for buying and trying to bring back Kinder Surpise for their neices and nephews...big NO NO..

I talked to an officer (1st tier) who said it is impossible to get the AP/EAD without the AOS, IS THIS TRUE, I have read many posts and heard of many cases where VJ'ers received their EAD/AP cards but no AOS.

I had my biometrics back in January, and have not received anything. February 17 they received the request for Evidence and it is being processed at the National Benefits Centre in Lee's Summit, MO.

Do I still call the only number that is on all the documents: 1-800-375-5283 for any updates as my online status updates is proving futile, or do I just wait until Mid May, as the officer indicated it is still withing the normal processing times. or do I be proactive and CALL again.

My EAD and AP were processed back in December but looks like these are on hold until AOS if processed and approved, so is this still within normal processing times?

Thanks everyone for your comments, suggestions and advice.

OP update:

I spoke to an officer D, 2nd tier, today, who was surprisingly soooo helpful and effecient. Yes it seems Officer S. gave me the wrong information and he apoligized on her behalf, wow!!!

I was given confirmation numbers for the AP and EAD, which are completely outside of the processing time frame, if I don't hear back from USCIS on May 14 for these 2 service requests, then I need to follow up with another call.

Special thanks to Harpa for suggesting that I call specifically about the EAD/AP, and to Inky, to Gretchen and all.

My AOS has now been assigned an officer and we should hear something soon as it is within normal processing times.

Thanks again everyone, you fellow VJ'ers are wonderful and so helpful Thank you all again, and I will post any new status updates. I wish you all the best in your processes and keep strong, keep positive, keep the faith, keep your chins up: it is a process that is trying but we all need to go through it...Best of Luck to all.

I totally understand. It is very troublesome to be misled by people who are meant to be helping you. When you call, I would give the receipt number of the EAD. I wouldn't even mention the I-485 application, just to make it clear you are asking about the EAD. Mention that the EAD is past normal processing times, which according to the uscis.gov website, is currently at 3 months. (if you need help finding this, from the main page, find "processing times" to the left and then click on "National benefits Center"). I-131 is also at 3 months. The officer should put in a service request or some other action to help the EAD/AP approval go through.

Also, I suspect you were still talking to a Tier 1 person. Tier 2 people are called "Officer Tom" or something with Officer first. If that doesn't work, the next move would be to make an Infopass appointment an speak to a real person. Best of luck.

Thank you, yes I will call tomorrow and only mention the EAD...I did speak to an Officer S.....this is the one that mislead me, I pray I don't get her again tomorrow....All the best and thank you..

Okay, the person you spoke with was wrong (or there was a dialogue confusion). I will try a little gloss on history (story-telling with liberties) to try to make things more clear.

AOS used to take a few years to approve. People got mad and said, "hey, I moved to the US and I wait around for years and I can't work or travel and it sucks!" So USCIS said, "Okay, we will let you apply for a temporary travel and work permission so you can lead a semi-normal life in the US while your Greencard is processing." That temporary relief is EAD and AP. The whole point of it is to get approved faster than the Greencard, so the alien can start working and travel like a normal person. Once the Greencard is approved, the EAD and AP are no longer needed - The Greencard gives work and travel permission by itself. I repeat- EAD and AP are temporary things. Once you have the GC, you no longer need these temporary documents.

In fact, these parts are separated once you file. EAD and AP go to NBC and get approved there, and the I-485 either goes to your local office for interview or to CSC for approval with no interview. Their approvals are not contingent on one another at all.

Your EAD and AP should have been approved mid-March-ish (if you filed Mid-December). The RFE you got did slow things down some, but they should not have slowed it down by this much.

So, when did you reply to the RFE? Is this conversation you had with USCIS the only one you have had on this subject? An interview letter received or CSC transfer notice?

My Case status on USCIS website is the only information I have to date: it reads that they are in receipt of my RFE evidence (received February 17) and it is at the National Benefits Centre. I had my biometrics appointment back on January 13, but did not receive any interview letter or CSC transfer notice. The conversation I had was only regarding why there has been no word on the EAD/AP, and she said that my AOS is still within the proper processing time, and that is why I have had no word on the EAD/AP as this IS contingent on the AOS approval.

I think I will call again tomorrow and be much more precise with my questions regarding all the applications ie: transfer notice, returned mail, etc.

Thank you kindly for sharing your wealth of knowledge...this is a very trying process, I have done all my due deligence but have not had the communication reciprocated by the USCIS, and being mislead by officers at the customer service 2nd tier level is most disconcerting...I have been very, very patient and will now seek more details to our case status via another call to 2nd tier, if I get no assistance nor information then I will post again for more advice.

I have read much more than the wiki pages. Your post makes no sense, and I can't find a single thing correct there. It's worse than confusing apples with oranges, you are equating apples with particle physics. And everyone knows the length of time for naturalization: it's stated very clearly in the N-400 instructions.

I don't want to personally attack you, but your post is very wrong. Someone in another forum corrected your idea that GC holders travel on AP (they don't). AP also is not the thing you need for "long trips" as you say. I have another tip: on what basis do you plan to renew EAD and AP once GC is approved?

Back to the OP - I wonder if you and the person you talked to got confused about the words you are using. You say you can't get EAD/AP without AOS. What precisely do you mean by that? Without AOS what? Do you mean without applying for it or do you mean without the approval of "AOS" (Greencard/I-485 is more accurate here)?

Keep in mind that EAD and AP are intended as stop-gap measures that give the right to work and travel, respectively, before the GC is approved. Once your Greencard is approved, your EAD and AP are cancelled/void, because the Greencard gives you the right to work and travel by itself. The EAD and AP were intended as stop-gap measures when the AOS process used to take years. Now they are often useless because AOS takes about as long to approve as the EAD and AP, but you might have them a month or two before the GC is approved. A month or two is still better than nothing!

Harpa, to be more precise:

Yes without the approval of AOS. We applied for 1-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status- AOS) as Case type refers to on our 1-797c Notice of Action) together with:

1. 1-131, Application for Travel Document, which I believe everyone (sic) refers to as (AP) Advance Parole and,
2. 1-765, Application for Employment Authorization, (EAD), all of these applications were received on Dec. 19, 2011, however a RFE was sent and received on February 17 to the National Benefits Centre.

It was the 2nd tier officer who indicated that the EAD/AP is not possible without the AOS being approved, this is what started the confustion in the first place, hence my post.

I believe the next course of action is to wait till Mid May, as the aformentioned officer suggested, and then call again in hopes of getting some type of news on our status's (AOS/EAD/AP) I appreciate your input and need for precise dialogue; always helps , and perhaps with this new clarification you can offer your insight on my situation.Thanks.

you calling USCIS on Monday, to check on returned mail pieces, or no ?

I have been receiving all my married name and maiden name mail here, so I don't think it is a postal issue, that would be too easy for the USCIS!!!! but I am not sure what you mean by ISO???

Not necessarily. We filed ours all together and got the green card first. The AP and EAD came a week later and by then were no longer needed. Actually the AP came between the GC interview and the GC arrival, at any rate...Alla turned in the expired EAD and AP when she received her citisenship and they asked her why she did not turn it in at her GC interview. She said "I got the GC first"

gosh such inconsistancies!!!, but luckily your troubles are all over!!! way to go!!!

Um what? This is so so wrong. I suggest you study up a bit on all the parts here. Very wrong.

What is wrong with this Harpa?

Impractical is a better term than impossible.

Here is your problem. The EAD and AP can be filed for FREE with an AOS, which is what you did and what most people do. However this makes BOTH derivitive of the AOS and if a problem is discovered with the AOS before they send the EAD or AP they are ALL put on hold. They can even put them on hod after they are sent, which really stinks if you are outside the country when it happens. IF you file the AP and EAD separately, for something like $340 each, then they are independent of the I-485. In some cases, such as ours, we actually got the green card before the EAD and AP. It happens. You pay your nickle and takes your chances.

You can always get an emergency AP if necessary but it will cost you. Make an infopass appointment if it is necessary and bring your Receipt for the I-485

thank you for the clarification, luckily there is no emergency other than family members really needing to see me after so much time, and hopefully we hear something soon. I must always refer to my tagline:

Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish

That's what I thought but the people you call at the 1800 "misinformation line" rely on exactly what you say so if you don't spell it out they're easily confused (and sometimes even when you DO spell it out :S).

You filed AOS, and EAD/AP so you should get EAD/AP soonish... hopefully. Sometimes peoples GC's come first...

Yes filed all three together, they cashed cheque ASAP, so hopefully something comes soon. Thank you for the positive post..All the best on your journey

You can get AP and EAD without AOS. However, as a k-1 visa or K-3 visa AOS has to be done forinitial EAD and AP.

THe AP is needed if you are green card (lpr) and leaving the country for 6 months or more and plan on returning. It is also good to havefor emergencies while waiting on your GC. This also gives you evidence on good standing when as ked for

EAD can be renewed, but the initial one comes with AOS.

please note if filing separate though AP and EAD are separate costs. with initial AOS, they are part of the packet, either include in the packet, or the I797C notice from AOS.

I hope the RFE works out for you. Just ask yes and no questions when calling.Be specific, they cannot answer general questions.

great advice thanks!!! and beautiful video, congratulations!!!!