Need some help with "technicalities" from the experts & veterans

[SBI1]

We were approved on 6/10/08, received an approval email 6/11/08 and received notices (approval notices) by mail two days ago (6 days after approval).
We have not received “welcome” or “card production” email yet and there is no change online.
My questions to the veterans are as follows:

1. Should I be worried, if none of the other two emails arrived yet?

2. We have a planned trip outside the U.S. next month. If we don’t receive the actual cards on time, can I schedule an Infopass for them to stamp our passports? If I show up and show them the approval letters and the itinerary/airline tickets, will they do it without a problem?

3. If the answer to 2 is “yes”, do all family members need to come with me, or can I go by myself and simply bring all passports?

4. Now the real technical question: Last time we entered the U.S., we used a parole…that was over three years ago. Obviously we have I94 in our passport.
Shall I let the airline take my old (and expired…) I94, or shall I just rip them off myself because we are flying with a green card (GC holders don’t get I94 when they enter the U.S., do they?!).
Wouldn’t an I94 create a “confusion” in the system once they get it?

Thank you in advance.

 

[nj_skm]

1. Not getting the card is almost an administrative matter. You're approved and that's what matters. However, you SHOULD follow up and try to make sure that you get it asap. Most likely they're missing your biometrics. I haven't received my cards either and it's 'cos of the biometrics.
2. Most Infopass visitors go by appointments. They don't encourage walk ins and if you do a walk in, you may or may not get to talk to them. So schedule it and go. Also actually getting the cards could be a lengthy process so make sure that you get your passport stamped any way. Doesn't hurt to have the stamp AND the cards.
3. Not sure. (Someone else might help out).
4. Let them take it. You can rip it off. You can let your dog rip it off etc. However, I personally would let the airline take it. This is not an issue to worry about it. Chill.
Have a good trip!

 

[vmuskan]

I am in the same boat. I have the approval but no green card. Got Biometrics done after the approval letter and biometrics letter came in by snail-mail.

Can you travel to Canada without actual Green Card, as it would require VISA otherwise .. Any comments..

NJ_SKM - My 485 got approved around the same time as yours.. did you go for biometrics after approval..? Also my online message on USCIS changed back to case under review after the biometrics approval.

 

[SBI1]

1. Not getting the card is almost an administrative matter. You're approved and that's what matters. However, you SHOULD follow up and try to make sure that you get it asap. Most likely they're missing your biometrics. I haven't received my cards either and it's 'cos of the biometrics.
2. Most Infopass visitors go by appointments. They don't encourage walk ins and if you do a walk in, you may or may not get to talk to them. So schedule it and go. Also actually getting the cards could be a lengthy process so make sure that you get your passport stamped any way. Doesn't hurt to have the stamp AND the cards.
3. Not sure. (Someone else might help out).
4. Let them take it. You can rip it off. You can let your dog rip it off etc. However, I personally would let the airline take it. This is not an issue to worry about it. Chill.
Have a good trip!

Thanks.
I don't think the biometric is an issue because it is up to date (less than a year). I also know that it's only a week or so since approval and it is probably a bit too early, I am just trying to plan ahead.

[Infopass] - Absolutely, meant to schedule and appointment, not just walk in. My question though - say I schedule an appointment and show up with the approval letters, does the IO has to stamp the passports accordingly?! Or do they start with questions/etc? I mean - is it sort of a "official procedure" to stamp the passport based on approval letter?

I would also like to hear from others regarding Q. 3 (can I go alone or all of us need to go).

Again - thank you!!

 

[Jackolantern]

[Infopass] - Absolutely, meant to schedule and appointment, not just walk in. My question though - say I schedule an appointment and show up with the approval letters, does the IO has to stamp the passports accordingly?! Or do they start with questions/etc? I mean - is it sort of a "official procedure" to stamp the passport based on approval letter?

Stamping the passport is an exception procedure that they don't like to do. Be prepared for them to give you a bit of a hard time. And they will refuse you if it has been less than 30 days since your card was approved, unless you have urgent upcoming travel (and proof).

 

[SBI1]

Stamping the passport is an exception procedure that they don't like to do. Be prepared for them to give you a bit of a hard time. And they will refuse you if it has been less than 30 days since your card was approved, unless you have urgent upcoming travel (and proof).

Well, I do have a proof of an upcoming travel...not urgent, but one that was planned (booked and ticketed) many months ago, way before it was approved.

 

[nj_skm]

Well, I do have a proof of an upcoming travel...not urgent, but one that was planned (booked and ticketed) many months ago, way before it was approved.

In that case, wait a "reasonable amount of time" and still don't have the cards, then go. Also call the service number and ask about the cards so that you can prove at the Infopass that you already tried that route. If you try to book an infopass for not having received the card, the website will catch this and instruct you to first call the cust service number. This happened to me.

 

[nj_skm]

NJ_SKM - My 485 got approved around the same time as yours.. did you go for biometrics after approval..? Also my online message on USCIS changed back to case under review after the biometrics approval.

I haven't gotten a biometrics appointment letter yet. I've called them and also wrote to them via snail mail. I don't have any travel plans for the rest of the year so not in a hurry.

 

[SBI1]

In that case, wait a "reasonable amount of time" and still don't have the cards, then go. Also call the service number and ask about the cards so that you can prove at the Infopass that you already tried that route. If you try to book an infopass for not having received the card, the website will catch this and instruct you to first call the cust service number. This happened to me.

Do you think I'll need to bring my dependends as well, or can I go alone with their passports?