Finally Approved 3/3/03

T

test9090

Registered Users (C)
I wanted to share this happy moment with you guys, GC was approved for me and my wife on 3rd Feb 2003, It was a long wait and this forum kept me alive. Thanks for all the supports.

I also wanted you to help me to go about getting the stamping done. Gurus Please help, I have the following questions.

1.What are the documents required for PP Stamping
2.Is there a Specific day which INS will provide for stamping or we can go any day to get this done.
3.How soon we have to get the stamping done.
4.When is the process of GC complete, After stamping or after getting the Plastic card.

I will apprecite your help in this regards.

RD 10/25/02
 
Hi test9090

Congrats!

To answer your questions:

1.What are the documents required for PP Stamping

Passport, , I-94, Approval notice, 2 INS style photos, all your AP papers & EAD card

2.Is there a Specific day which INS will provide for stamping or we can go any day to get this done.

Anyday--go as early as possible--it all depends at the center you want to go to.

3.How soon we have to get the stamping done.

As early as possible--a week to 2 weeks is fine

4.When is the process of GC complete, After stamping or after getting the Plastic card.

Naturally after getting the GC plastic card
 
Thanks SILENTMEMBER

The RD is a typo error it should read 10/25/01, Time passes so quickly that I never realize that it has taken me almost 16 months for approval.

Thank you once again guys I wish you all the very best.
 
I have just one suggestion although it is , probably, not required to go to same office as advised by INS in the approval letter; it is alwyas preferable to go to the same office. My approval letter told me to go to Indianapolis and since I lived in Chicago I was tempted to go to Chicago office but I drove down to Indianapolis. I have seen cases where some office refuse to stamp if their name is not given in the approval letter........
If you have any address change this is the best time to give a new address for the plastic card. Even if they don't ask about address you should ask them if you have an address change and fill out a form for that.
Good luck !
 
Plastic card Question.

Thanks for the advice,

What is the current time line for plastic cards, when do you think I should receive my plastic card, If I complete my stamping in another couple of weeks.
 
although wherever you go for the stamping, they would say you would get your plastic card in next 6-9 months but the current time,generally , is anything between 1 to 3 months.
It all depends on how soon your papers are returned back to vermont center where the papers are assigned to same office who approved your application.He verifies that you have submitted all the papers like I94,AP,EAD etc and then orders for the card.So it also depends on the fact that how much he is busy with other works. Once he orders the card your online message changes to "Card ordered". I would say start checking your online message after a month of stamping and once that message changes to "card ordered" then you would get it within two weeks.
Once again good luck !
 
Thanks bakshi

But what if I go to the Vermont service center directly for stamping and submit my papers, Will the process be expedited. Since I live 150 miles from Vermont. Also I live in Connecticut and my wife in LA. We have given the LA's address to the INS, I am sure that the stamping will be somewhere near to LA. Do you have any suggestions for me?
 
I think if you go to Vermont they would ask why did you come there---if you have a Vermont address where you would like to receive a card and you are willing to say that you currently live in Vermont its fine. However if you say you live in connecticut and have come vermont for stamping you would be inviting trouble for sure so I would say forget about going to Vermont unless until you have a vermont address where you want to recieve the card.
Even if you go to connecticut with INS saying you to be in LA they may or may not entertain you it all depends on the mood for INS officer at that particular day.
In our case when we were applying for I 485 I was in Indiana and my wife was in Phoenix she was asked to go for stamping in Phoenix and I was asked to go to Indianapolis. Although both of us now live in Chicago I drove down to Indianapolis and she flew down to Phoenix.
INS stamping is as good as Physica card from both employment and travel point of view(you become a permanent citizen from the day you got approved).
I would suggest go to LA get the stamping done there especially when your wife is there. I don't know why do you want to go to Vermont(you would be hardly saving a couple of weeks for your Green Card in case you get stamping there). Going connecticut would have made sense if both of you were living there and you had no incentive in going to LA. When your wife is there then why don't you go there......??!!
Anyway I am not very expert on it you may ask your lawyer however my gut feeling is to follow every bit of directions given by INS and don't mess with them unless it is absolutely necessary.
You have waited so long and I don't see any good reason for being so impatient now.
Good luck !
 
Thanks once again

That is a great piece of advice. I will travel to LA to visit my wife and also get the stamping done.
 
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