Doug Muir

Hi all,

I just received a letter from the VT service center that my
conditional status has been removed. Yay!

Here's the tricky bit: My husband works for a US Government agency
and we live abroad. The service center is aware of that, but we use
our US address for correspondence because our postal service here is
not very reliable. (The rules for government expats are a bit
different -- technically I'm a resident in the US because hb works for
the government.)

Now it says I have to present in person at the office (in VA) to get
my new green card. My question: does anybody know how much time you
have to do this? Does one have to go within a week, a month, a year?

See, for me to go, like, tomorrow, would cost us an arm and a leg
(we're in Europe), not speaking of the logistics of traveling with two
toddlers or leaving them behind, and all of that on short notice.
Doable, but not desirable.
It would be much better for us if I could travel, say, in the new
year. My one-year extension is good until June 2005.

Does anybody have info for me? INS, sorry, USCIS is being very opaque
- phone number for VT is out of service, 1-800 number doesn't work
properly ("Call again between 8 and 6. Thank you!" I called at
8,9,10... no change.)

Thanks very much in advance, I'm a bit frantic as you may be able to
tell!


Claudia

Doug Muir

I'm answering my own question, just in case someone one day has the
same problem.

If you are in my situation, then you got a stamp in your passport that
says something like "Temporary evidence of lawful admission for
permanent residence. Valid until [...] Employment authorized [...]
I-751 pending @ [receipt number]. IBIS done, stamp issued."

You have time to apply for your new green card until this stamp runs
out.

Claudia

AGUILA

Doug Muir:

Can you share with us when was the I-751 filed and when was it approved?


Congratulations