An extract from SheelaMurthy's Bulliten.
I thought it may be helpful for some of you who are getting 485 approved.
2. Use InfoPass and New Photos upon I-485 Approval
Receiving an I-797 Approval Notice for the I-485 Adjustment of Status
case is a joyous occasion. Most people want to follow up right away to
obtain the I-551 stamp or the temporary evidence of lawful permanent
residence status in the passport from the USCIS office. After a few
months, there is the arrival of the actual I-551 card (the plastic "green
card," which is no longer green in color!). If one follows the
instructions on the current Form I-797 Approval Notice, however, s/he will be
misdirected to then schedule an appointment for new photos under the
revised photo guidelines. Concerns regarding this matter, and the inevitable
frustration experienced by those trying to follow the instructions, led
the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) to question the
USCIS Service Center Operations on September 27, 2004. The USCIS indicated
that they will work to have the I-485 Approval Notice instructions
changed, but it may take some time.
The current approval notice only indicates that approved persons should
go to the local USCIS office and take two ADIT-style photographs, in
the format previously required. The proper procedure, however, is to set
up an InfoPass appointment online using the USCIS Internet appointment
system at a specific USCIS local office and to bring photographs under
the recently-revised photo specifications, in order to obtain the I-551
stamp.
Those who have been granted an I-485 approval notice should disregard
the instructions on the approval notice and schedule an appointment
through InfoPass at the local USCIS office. Further, the photos in the new
format should be taken to the scheduled appointment for the I-551
stamp. By doing so, such persons will usually be able to get a temporary
I-551 stamp in the passport as proof of status until the physical green
card is received in the mail approximately 2 months to 12 months later.
A number of articles concerning the implementation of the InfoPass
system to schedule appointments throughout the United States can be found
on the USCIS Service Center <http://www.murthy.com/ins_sc.html> page on
MurthyDotCom. More information about InfoPass is available on the USCIS
WebSite <http://infopass.uscis.gov/>. The photograph specifications
<http://uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/e-photo_photo.htm> are also
available on the USCIS WebSite. By following these revised procedures
individuals should manage to smoothly finalize the details of obtaining
the proof of permanent residency.
© 2004 The Law Office of Sheela Murthy, P.C. All Rights Reserved
I thought it may be helpful for some of you who are getting 485 approved.
2. Use InfoPass and New Photos upon I-485 Approval
Receiving an I-797 Approval Notice for the I-485 Adjustment of Status
case is a joyous occasion. Most people want to follow up right away to
obtain the I-551 stamp or the temporary evidence of lawful permanent
residence status in the passport from the USCIS office. After a few
months, there is the arrival of the actual I-551 card (the plastic "green
card," which is no longer green in color!). If one follows the
instructions on the current Form I-797 Approval Notice, however, s/he will be
misdirected to then schedule an appointment for new photos under the
revised photo guidelines. Concerns regarding this matter, and the inevitable
frustration experienced by those trying to follow the instructions, led
the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) to question the
USCIS Service Center Operations on September 27, 2004. The USCIS indicated
that they will work to have the I-485 Approval Notice instructions
changed, but it may take some time.
The current approval notice only indicates that approved persons should
go to the local USCIS office and take two ADIT-style photographs, in
the format previously required. The proper procedure, however, is to set
up an InfoPass appointment online using the USCIS Internet appointment
system at a specific USCIS local office and to bring photographs under
the recently-revised photo specifications, in order to obtain the I-551
stamp.
Those who have been granted an I-485 approval notice should disregard
the instructions on the approval notice and schedule an appointment
through InfoPass at the local USCIS office. Further, the photos in the new
format should be taken to the scheduled appointment for the I-551
stamp. By doing so, such persons will usually be able to get a temporary
I-551 stamp in the passport as proof of status until the physical green
card is received in the mail approximately 2 months to 12 months later.
A number of articles concerning the implementation of the InfoPass
system to schedule appointments throughout the United States can be found
on the USCIS Service Center <http://www.murthy.com/ins_sc.html> page on
MurthyDotCom. More information about InfoPass is available on the USCIS
WebSite <http://infopass.uscis.gov/>. The photograph specifications
<http://uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/e-photo_photo.htm> are also
available on the USCIS WebSite. By following these revised procedures
individuals should manage to smoothly finalize the details of obtaining
the proof of permanent residency.
© 2004 The Law Office of Sheela Murthy, P.C. All Rights Reserved