esandstr

Hi All,

It's been a long time since I was here, but now I'm back with a question that's so urgent it threatens to ruin a vacation and cost me a ton of cash...

I applied for removal of conditions in February and soon afterwards received my letter telling me that I could work and travel while I waited for the approval.

We booked tickets to go back to Europe for a summer holiday, and were getting ready to depart this coming Friday (7/7).

While out of town this last Friday (6/30), I received the letter informing me that my conditions were lifted and I am a lawful permanent resident. Yay! However, it also tells me that I can't travel until my new green card or an endorsement in my passport has been secured. It now looks like I have to go to the Philadelphia office to plead my case as an emergency walk-in and hope that they'll stamp the passport and let me travel.

So, here's the question: If someone has experience with the office - how early do I need to be there to get into the "walk-in" queue? The night before? 5am? Is there even a shot?

Thanks,

Eiolf


For those who remember me from my AOS process a couple of years ago, here's a short summary. Still happily married, now have two kids, live in PA, but moving to WA in a few months. Life is good for me, and I hope it is for all of you as well.

Folinskyinla

Hi:

The notices have boilerplate language on them. I am a lawyer, but I'm not YOUR lawyer and I have not seen your paperwork. However, what I WILL say is that you MAY not really have a problem at all. [Note the "may" and other wishy-washy language].

lovenlife

Well FWIW have you tried to get an infopass appointment yet? I have no idea on how busy your local office is you may infact get an infopass before you depart, if so go and get your passport stamped.

[email protected]

Yep, I believe that you can travel without problem with your expired
green card and the previous letter.

I doubt that you'll get into the local office without an infopass
appointment, and if you do, they'll probably make you wait a few more
hours than the guys who have an infopass appointment.

If you really want the stamp, and you are unable to secure an infopass
appointment and didn't manage to sneak into the local office, you may
give a shot at the airport (POE office, by getting at the arrival
terminal and ask a security guard if he could direct you to an USCIS
officer) before leaving - they have the said stamp as they use it for
the guys with immigrant visas - so they may or may not be nice enough
to give you that stamp.

But seriously, if I were you, I wouldn't bother looking for that stamp.

Folinskyinla wrote:
    > > Hi All,
    > >
    > > It's been a long time since I was here, but now I'm back with a
    > > question that's so urgent it threatens to ruin a vacation and cost me
    > > a ton of cash...
    > >
    > > I applied for removal of conditions in February and soon afterwards
    > > received my letter telling me that I could work and travel while I
    > > waited for the approval.
    > >
    > > We booked tickets to go back to Europe for a summer holiday, and were
    > > getting ready to depart this coming Friday (7/7).
    > >
    > > While out of town this last Friday (6/30), I received the letter
    > > informing me that my conditions were lifted and I am a lawful
    > > permanent resident. Yay! However, it also tells me that I can't
    > > travel until my new green card or an endorsement in my passport has
    > > been secured. It now looks like I have to go to the Philadelphia
    > > office to plead my case as an emergency walk-in and hope that they'll
    > > stamp the passport and let me travel.
    > >
    > > So, here's the question: If someone has experience with the office -
    > > how early do I need to be there to get into the "walk-in" queue? The
    > > night before? 5am? Is there even a shot?
    > >
    > > Thanks,
    > >
    > > Eiolf
    > >
    > >
    > > For those who remember me from my AOS process a couple of years ago,
    > > here's a short summary. Still happily married, now have two kids,
    > > live in PA, but moving to WA in a few months. Life is good for me,
    > > and I hope it is for all of you as well.
    > Hi:
    > The notices have boilerplate language on them. I am a lawyer, but I'm
    > not YOUR lawyer and I have not seen your paperwork. However, what I
    > WILL say is that you MAY not really have a problem at all. [Note the
    > "may" and other wishy-washy language].
    > --
    > Certified Specialist
    > Immigration & Nat. Law
    > Cal. Bar Board of Legal Specialization
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com

esandstr

Hi all,

Thanks for the replies, I really appreciate the advice and insight. I did use INFOPASS and got an appointment on 7/14, a tiny week after we are supposed to travel.

I think I may cover my bases here byt a) going down to the office on Wednesday morning around 5am in the hopes that I don't end up standing outside the building like an idiot, waiting for a line that never materializes. Part II of my hope is that I get to see someone who can grant me the treasured stamp.

If this all fails, then I think I may do as you all suggest and just pretend that I never saw the letter in the first place ("frightfully busy, you see officah, getting ready for the trip and all...") and plead a combo of ignorance and innocence (two components that always persuade any government agency when they have the choice between rules and reason) upon my return...


If anyone has ever been inside the Philly offices, I surely would appreciate any insight you can share with me as to its inner workings and outer queues...

Thx,

Eiolf

Wildandcrazy0525

Haven't been to the Philly office for a couple of years now, Last time we were there we got there at 6 and was in the building by 8.30. Had about an hour wait after that, but we got to the counter to go through paperwork that we needed to file etc.

People without appointment queue as you expect, security come out fairly often ashouting for people with appointments.

As I said though, it's been a couple of years, but If you get there early enougth I am sure you'll be fine.

esandstr

Ok, folks, here's the follow-up:

Got up at 4am this morning and headed downtown Philly. Found the office without any problem, the streets were dark and the sidewalks were empty. Drove around a bit and stopped outside the main entrance door on 16th, when a security guard came up to me. She could inform me that they a) didn't permit people to line up outside the door until the office opened at 7.15; and b) there were hardly any lines anymore...!

She was, of course, right. At 7.05, it was me and two other people outside the building. I could have slept in a few hours longer and still had no problems. Oh well, I got to enjoy a hoagie from the 24/7 joint down the street and sit in my car and read newspapers and listen to the radio...


Once in "line" outside the building, anothe rsecurity guard asked me for my INFOPASS appointment papers. I told him it was an emergency, and that I didn't have one. He said "emegencies to the CIS is when people are dead...". I pleaded my case once more and he went inside to check with a supervisor. Back after a few minutes, he let me inside.

Once in there, I went to Window 1 and explained my case once more. The officer made sure I had pictures, that I had print-outs of the tickets, and that I had in fact tried using INFOPASS.

All that cleared, I was done 10 minutes later and out of the building before 8am! YESSSSSSSSSSS!


So, in summary, to get the stamp in the passport:
* The office is easy to find. If you need to "walk in" get there early, but don't kill yourself
* Always try INFOPASS first, even book and appointment in case they don't believe you checked their availability
* Bring everything you need, even receipts for the tickets!


Thanks for your tips and help! Europe here we come!!!


Thx,

Eiolf