GC interview procedures in NY??

A

Aude

Registered Users (C)
Hello,
I went for my GC interview in NYC last week with my husband and it went very well. We were in there for only 15 minutes, the lady seemed satisfied with the docs we gave her and our answers. She said that I would get something in the mail withing 3 to 6 months but also mentioned that it should be before the beginning of the summer as I told her we were planning to go to Europe in August.
I was confident until I heard from 2 friends who went for the same thing in CT last year that their passport had been stamped at the end of their interview! She didn't stamp my passport!! Does any of you know if the procedure in NY is different than in CT. Is it possible that they do not stamp your passport in NY. PLease answer me, this is nerve racking!!.. :-(
Thank you very much
 
Every DO is different ! In my DO (Chicago) for example, they stamp the passport and tell the GC will arrive in 2 weeks. Mine arrived in 10 days. I know a lot of people from different states complain about not having the passport stamped. It's maybe something they want to stop doing, you know, and try to send the GC sooner. Who knows their real reason :confused: ??

Ema.
 
Aude,
NY is known for rarely stamping the passport after the interview. I've read my posts in this forum about this but I still do not have a logical explanation for this.
My interview was in Garden City, NY (NY's other district office) where many cases are sent. Officer also said that after interview that everything looks fine and he was going to run a background check on me but gave me no decision.
Did the officer tell you wheater you were approved or not? Did he specifically say that you should expect the GREEN CARD to arrive in 3-6 months or a decision?
 
I don't remember that she said I was going to receive the GC in 3 to 6 months. She said: "I have all the information I need (it sounded also like she was not the one who would make the final decision..) and you will receive "something" (I don't exactly remember her words) in the mail in 3 to 6 months" I was so sure it was the GC, I didn't really pay attention.
After we told her that we were planning to go to France and Italy in August she also said "you've gone this far, it would be a shame to spoil it by going if you haven't received anything by then. But I'd say you'll receive "something" (again, I didn't pay attention) before this summer". So it all sounded good to me. I just started worrying because of the stamp in the passport that I didn't get...
What do you think?
 
I've read from posts here that people were able to go into the district office with their approval notice and schedule an appointment via Infopass to get their passport stamped. I don't know if this can happen in NY but the Green Card follows the approval notice shortly after.
I know you would hate to ruin your trip to Europe, but be very careful to go if you were out of status.
Keep us posted.
 
jdawg9, did you get your green card? how long after your interview?
Thanks for your answer
 
I didn't get my card yet. There was no decision given to me by the officer. He said that he was going to review my case and I should wait 10-14 days and if i didn't receive any letter from him within those days he would proceed with forwarding my application to NVC (National Visa Center) for visa processing.
My interview was on Feb 28th, 2006. Exactly 3 weeks ago. I'm waiting another week before taking any action (calling them, then activate my congresswoman).
Keep us posted.
 
ok,
I am thinking of calling the USCIS and ask what I should make of that "non stamping" situation.
I will let you know. Can you let me know what happens with your case since we seem to have a similar situation..
Thank you again for your answers. Good luck to you :)
 
Aude said:
I don't remember that she said I was going to receive the GC in 3 to 6 months. She said: "I have all the information I need (it sounded also like she was not the one who would make the final decision..) and you will receive "something" (I don't exactly remember her words) in the mail in 3 to 6 months" I was so sure it was the GC, I didn't really pay attention.
After we told her that we were planning to go to France and Italy in August she also said "you've gone this far, it would be a shame to spoil it by going if you haven't received anything by then. But I'd say you'll receive "something" (again, I didn't pay attention) before this summer". So it all sounded good to me. I just started worrying because of the stamp in the passport that I didn't get...
What do you think?
Click to expand...

Based on my experience and reading from the posts in the forum, my belief is that a lot has to do with the immigration officer interviewing you. In my case, the officer was satisifed with my paperwork and was able to approve my case instantly (Yes, assuming documentation has to be in order, etc). And to be honest, my interview was quite uneventful... he clearly indicated that I was approved and would get the card anywhere between 10 days to 3 months and that if I could wait for sometime, he would get my passport stamped as well, which ofcourse I did. His friendly demeanor certainly put our stress at ease :)
 
Amherst22 said:
Based on my experience and reading from the posts in the forum, my belief is that a lot has to do with the immigration officer interviewing you. In my case, the officer was satisifed with my paperwork and was able to approve my case instantly (Yes, assuming documentation has to be in order, etc). And to be honest, my interview was quite uneventful... he clearly indicated that I was approved and would get the card anywhere between 10 days to 3 months and that if I could wait for sometime, he would get my passport stamped as well, which ofcourse I did. His friendly demeanor certainly put our stress at ease :)
Click to expand...

Well, good for you! I'm glad you got approved, I'm not sure why you replied to my question because honneslty, it's kind of rubbing it in my face, if you know what I mean.
I'm sorry if I'm being rude but I need to be reassured right now, not hear from someone who did get their passport stamped.
The woman who interviewd us was really friendly too and seemed satisfied with everything we gave and told her, but she didn't stamp my passport and I am just puzzled because the interview seemed to have gone so well..
 
I've been reading about this issue of traveling a lot. I'm kinda new to this board so I'm sorry if I'm asking a question that may have been asked a million times before but, why is it risky to travel (on AP or H1 or whatever valid doc you have) when the GC is pending? I went on a holiday this winter and came back on my AP and it was a breeze.

Technically, I may have been considered 'over staying the I-94' (depending on how one interprets 2 different stamps with 2 diff dates) when I had last entered the country before adjusting (a year back) but it was very clearly no fault of mine, clearly the officer who stamped it at the airport's fault, and despite that, I still didn't have any trouble. No one asked me anything about it.

It was easier to get back in with my AP than any of the other visas I've had.

I'm planning on traveling again several times as my job requires me to, and no one (incl. lawyer) told me otherwise. If you have a clean slate, I'm sure it's okay. Mine isn't even super slick clean, if one wants to nitpick at the I-94 issue but, despite that, everything was a breeze.

Btw, POE was JFK, if it helps.
 
Aude said:
ok,
I am thinking of calling the USCIS and ask what I should make of that "non stamping" situation.
I will let you know. Can you let me know what happens with your case since we seem to have a similar situation..
Thank you again for your answers. Good luck to you :)
Click to expand...

Aude,
I feel your pain, I think we are close to being on the same boat. I honestly think that is really too soon to call USCIS but on the same token, you might get lucky and get some answers. Since I wasn't approved yet, i'll wait another week, which it will make it a month. The officer told me to give 2 weeks before anything would happen he even pointed to the top of a file cabinet in the corner of his office with a pile of cases he said he had yet to have it review (i'm not sure if it was by him or someone else).
Either way, if you do call them good luck on your inquiry and let me know how it went.
 
justfiled said:
I've been reading about this issue of traveling a lot. I'm kinda new to this board so I'm sorry if I'm asking a question that may have been asked a million times before but, why is it risky to travel (on AP or H1 or whatever valid doc you have) when the GC is pending? I went on a holiday this winter and came back on my AP and it was a breeze.

Technically, I may have been considered 'over staying the I-94' (depending on how one interprets 2 different stamps with 2 diff dates) when I had last entered the country before adjusting (a year back) but it was very clearly no fault of mine, clearly the officer who stamped it at the airport's fault, and despite that, I still didn't have any trouble. No one asked me anything about it.

It was easier to get back in with my AP than any of the other visas I've had.

I'm planning on traveling again several times as my job requires me to, and no one (incl. lawyer) told me otherwise. If you have a clean slate, I'm sure it's okay. Mine isn't even super slick clean, if one wants to nitpick at the I-94 issue but, despite that, everything was a breeze.

Btw, POE was JFK, if it helps.
Click to expand...


What is AP (sorry, I'm a novice too!). Everyone I talked to told me I should really NOT try to get out until I have my GC. I'm interested..
 
jdawg9 said:
Aude,
I feel your pain, I think we are close to being on the same boat. I honestly think that is really too soon to call USCIS but on the same token, you might get lucky and get some answers. Since I wasn't approved yet, i'll wait another week, which it will make it a month. The officer told me to give 2 weeks before anything would happen he even pointed to the top of a file cabinet in the corner of his office with a pile of cases he said he had yet to have it review (i'm not sure if it was by him or someone else).
Either way, if you do call them good luck on your inquiry and let me know how it went.
Click to expand...
jdawg9,
I will let you know. I hope you got approved since you haven't heard from anyone, it's a good sign :-)
Thank you for your understanding...
 
Aude, AP is Advance Parole and is the travel document that you need to have when you have a pending application with USCIS. Check the interview timeline threat there is a lingo link that help you out to understand many of the wordy used over here.

Justfiled, there is no risky thing to travel in AP or if you are in a valid H1B which AP does not apply. In any case, the risk is IF you overstay the range of time that is explain on the warning site of the form (more than 180 day, up to a year and over).
There two risk involve, at the POE (port of entry) you can get denied and bar from the country if you are inside the warning timeline. The second risk is that even you could enter there are some immigration officer during the interview that notice that when people get out in AP and they had overstay and then people had to get a waiver or something like that.
But all the risk of AP involves if you were out of status for that period of time. If you were out of status, that STOPS since the moment you filed for AOS.

Good luck,
 
cherr1980 said:
Aude, AP is Advance Parole and is the travel document that you need to have when you have a pending application with USCIS. Check the interview timeline threat there is a lingo link that help you out to understand many of the wordy used over here.

Justfiled, there is no risky thing to travel in AP or if you are in a valid H1B which AP does not apply. In any case, the risk is IF you overstay the range of time that is explain on the warning site of the form (more than 180 day, up to a year and over).
There two risk involve, at the POE (port of entry) you can get denied and bar from the country if you are inside the warning timeline. The second risk is that even you could enter there are some immigration officer during the interview that notice that when people get out in AP and they had overstay and then people had to get a waiver or something like that.
But all the risk of AP involves if you were out of status for that period of time. If you were out of status, that STOPS since the moment you filed for AOS.

Good luck,
Click to expand...
Thank you. I might do that if I can't get my GC on time to go to Europe this summer. Do you know how long it takes to get the AP after you applied?
 
Aude said:
Thank you. I might do that if I can't get my GC on time to go to Europe this summer. Do you know how long it takes to get the AP after you applied?
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but if you are approved, you will not able to get AP. Am i right on this cherry?
keep checking your status online, stay strong. you have made this far, give it another week.
 
chrisz said:
but if you are approved, you will not able to get AP. Am i right on this cherry?
keep checking your status online, stay strong. you have made this far, give it another week.
Click to expand...

I will. I am going to wait until april. Then I will call USCIS to see if there is any update (in case my status online has not changed) and I'll ask them what I can do.
Thank you Chrisz. I still would like to know how long it take to obtain AP?
 
Aude said:
I will. I am going to wait until april. Then I will call USCIS to see if there is any update (in case my status online has not changed) and I'll ask them what I can do.
Thank you Chrisz. I still would like to know how long it take to obtain AP?
Click to expand...
there are a few ways to get AP. if you have emergency, bring your docs, get infor. pass appointment, ask for AP. If you are lucky, u will get AP at the same day. If u just want to travel around, you have to apply AP(file a form, forget the number I-751? correct me if i am wrong), the process normally takes about between one and two months.

as i said before, if you are approved. your probly won't be able to renew EAD or use AP.
good luck
 
chrisz said:
there are a few ways to get AP. if you have emergency, bring your docs, get infor. pass appointment, ask for AP. If you are lucky, u will get AP at the same day. If u just want to travel around, you have to apply AP(file a form, forget the number I-751? correct me if i am wrong), the process normally takes about between one and two months.

as i said before, if you are approved. your probly won't be able to renew EAD or use AP.
good luck
Click to expand...

Thanks Chrisz,
If it only takes 2 months or less to get it. I have time to find out if I was approved.
Thank you for your answers
 
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