No more temp I-551 stamps

[Fresh Taco]

I wish immigration services were provided by private companies who would compete for your business. The US government would do itself a favor by not alienating immigrants during process.

[mag]

s-

so i was screwed up by that stupid officer. looking back, i feel she was confused ( or simply stupid) about what to do, that is why she did not stamp my passport, and wrote a pending case on it, although everything looks good and the name check is back.

[Mo]

Phhheeeeeew!!!

USCIS continues to place LPR stamps on passports.

Read here: www.shusterman.com

[thuyanh]

hi Cisse, the officer didn't tell me how long it will take me to get the plastic card. Things are pretty slow where I live. I guess I have to wait at least 2 months.

[AJs]

I am so upset by the fact that they will no longer be giving 551 stamps. I live in Atlanta and my husband is applying to adjust status. We have been waiting 1 year and 4 months now and we still have at least 6 months more to go, depending on how the Atlanta office moves. So by the time we actually go to our interview we would of been waiting 2+ years and then wait some more for the actual green card to arrive. My husband is not applying for AP due to his overstay. So its more waiting and more waiting. Very upsetting to say the least.

[sphyrapicus3]

cisse,

I don't think there is a specific web site that gives the time to receive the green card in the mail.

The closest one would be http://www.kamya.com/interview/

Some of the experiences are pretty dated but some aren't.

Where is your local office?

[cisse]

Hello sphyrapicus3,

Thank you for your advice and for sharing useful information regarding immigration matters.

I have been reading people experiences thru different websites. It little bit difficult to have an educated guess on this since the process varies by local district and time the application was approved. Is there a website where I could get general statistics regarding this?
Thank you.
Cisse.

[sphyrapicus3]

cisse,

It really is irrelevant how long an officer thinks it will take. What matters is how long it is actually taking. The best way to gauge this is to rely on people's experiences. Check out some of the other groups and see how long it is taking (e.g. BritishExpats). An officer is just guessing when they tell you how long it will take. Besides, most just say it will take up to 6 months, not being any more specific than that.

[cisse]

Hello thuyanh,

Did the officer tell you how long it would take before you receive the actual card by mail?

Cisse.

[Josie Jo]

Most habib's pay $7.00 an hour o.t.b.

[sphyrapicus3]

And, from another attorney tonight:

OK, today I see the following posting on the AILA site:

While some District Offices indicated that they would no longer issue ADIT (I-551) stamps, AILA Liaison has been advised that USCIS will continue with existing policy allowing issuance of the ADIT (I-551) stamp for permanent residents. We have been told that we can expect formal written confirmation of this within the next few days.
__________________
Matthew Udall - Attorney
http://members.aol.com/MDUdall/fiancee.htm
Member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Helping clients across the United States with their fiancee/marriage/family based immigration cases.

[sphyrapicus3]

Here's a posting from another attorney's site:

NewsFlash! Travel Possibly Limited for I-551 Stamp Holders
Posted Oct 15, 2004; updated Oct 19, 2004

We initially reported that attorneys from The Law Office of Sheela Murthy, P.C., attending the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) National Conference in Chicago, called in on October 15, 2004, to inform us that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) intends to begin phasing out the temporary I-551 stamps as early as October 26, 2004. The I-551 stamps are temporary evidence of lawful permanent resident status. They are issued to people after their applications for permanent residence have been approved as proof of this status and to be used until the actual plastic "green" card arrives. The stamp is valid for work and travel and has served as evidence of lawful permanent resident status while individuals waited for the plastic card to be produced and received by mail.

Few details have yet been released on this matter. There was some initial concern that those who already have I-551 stamps would not be able to continue to use them to travel. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which employs the Port of Entry officers, has now indicated that they will continue to honor the I-551 stamp as a valid travel document. It remains unclear what mechanism will document permanent resident status prior to receipt of the plastic card. We at The Law Office of Sheela Murthy and MurthyDotCom will continue to provide our readers with more information on this important topic as and when it becomes available.

http://murthy.com/nflash/nf_101504.html

[sphyrapicus3]

cisse,

Yes, CPB has already acknowledged that they will accept the stamp at POEs.

[thuyanh]

hi Mag, I had my interview today also (Oct 19). I got approved with the stamp on my passport. As I know INS will stop issue the stamp in Oct 26. I really don't know why there is the difference between your case and mine. I don't know what service center I filed at but I live in North Carolina. It took me more than 2 years for the interview.

[cisse]

Oops. That's ok.

But if by chance I get a stamp in a local district, will I still be able to use it to travel?