After all the uncertainties and hassles for nearly 4 years, we got all our passports (including kids) stamped today without any problem. I had posted earlier about whether kids need stamping for travel & will INS stamp kids passport - even if their approval letter does not require them to go to stamping. The answer to both turned out to be \'Yes\'. Generally the officers were polite and nice. We reached there by 6:45 and were out by 8:30.
Best of luck to all waiters. Thanks a lot to every one on this wonderful discussion group. This definitely reduced the pain while waiting and provided valuable information directly from many personal experiences/viewpoints.
If anyone is interested in the details (of today\'s experience)..Sorry it became too long, but believe me it has very easy/simple ending.
From Edison, NJ took NJTP to exit 13A. Take 1/9 North. Pass Newark Airport exits and follow signs to Route 21 North. After some bridges and a narrow two lane stretch, enter Newark downtown. Be on the left lane at the light on 21 to get onto a small connection to Broad Street. (There was sign for Broad Street). At the light on Broad street, make right turn and follow Broad street for about a mile or so (may be 3 or 4 traffic lights). After a small park on the left, make right onto East Kinney road. There is a light & sign. After a very short distance on EKinney, you will find big sign for Parking. Turn left into the small road to get to the paid parking lot. This parking lot is just adjacent to INS office\'s back entrance. Few yards from the parking lot, on the left there was an entrance with wide steps (typical govt bldg entrance - under construction) and few people were in the queue. There was another big queue a little further ahead on the right side. So.asked the gurad there if the first one was the right queue. He said yes and announced only those with appointment can wait there. Many people from the other line rushed to our line. There may have been around 100 people by now in the line. And we were in the first 10. Around 7:00 the securities let us inside the building after looking at the approval letter (appointment letter?). They let around 50 people in and closed the door - there was no more space. After a small wait, they made us go thru security check - metal detector etc. Inside there was another waiting area where we stood in line till around 7:30. Then a nice old english lady opened a counter and called one after the other from the line. She collected approval letter, 2 photo\'s, I94\'s, EADs, AdvParoles. Took finger print and signature on a unfilled form. (including for kids). Stapled all theseand an envelope & put a sticker with a \'token\' number. Asked to sit/wait in another room just opposite to that hall till our number was called. That room could accomodate may be 100 people. Some were looking for rest rooms - guard said you can not leave before 8:00. The counters opened at 7:55 or so and started calling numbers. Ours was 5th and was called at around 8:10. The lady officer took all the papers in the bunch and asked for the passports. She filled up another form & stamped on each passport. Stamps were valid for 1 year or till passport expiry (whichever is less). She wrote the Alien Number & EAC number from the approval notice near the stamp. She said kids need not have finger printed - did not matter anyway. She said now we can travel with that stamp and cards should arrive in 3-6 months. THANK YOU!! I checked the A numbers on the passport and left INS at 8:30. Paid $7 to Parking and drove back home...
Life goes on as normal. There is relief & peace of mind. Hoping jobcuts can not kill this joy....
Best of luck to all waiters. Thanks a lot to every one on this wonderful discussion group. This definitely reduced the pain while waiting and provided valuable information directly from many personal experiences/viewpoints.
If anyone is interested in the details (of today\'s experience)..Sorry it became too long, but believe me it has very easy/simple ending.
From Edison, NJ took NJTP to exit 13A. Take 1/9 North. Pass Newark Airport exits and follow signs to Route 21 North. After some bridges and a narrow two lane stretch, enter Newark downtown. Be on the left lane at the light on 21 to get onto a small connection to Broad Street. (There was sign for Broad Street). At the light on Broad street, make right turn and follow Broad street for about a mile or so (may be 3 or 4 traffic lights). After a small park on the left, make right onto East Kinney road. There is a light & sign. After a very short distance on EKinney, you will find big sign for Parking. Turn left into the small road to get to the paid parking lot. This parking lot is just adjacent to INS office\'s back entrance. Few yards from the parking lot, on the left there was an entrance with wide steps (typical govt bldg entrance - under construction) and few people were in the queue. There was another big queue a little further ahead on the right side. So.asked the gurad there if the first one was the right queue. He said yes and announced only those with appointment can wait there. Many people from the other line rushed to our line. There may have been around 100 people by now in the line. And we were in the first 10. Around 7:00 the securities let us inside the building after looking at the approval letter (appointment letter?). They let around 50 people in and closed the door - there was no more space. After a small wait, they made us go thru security check - metal detector etc. Inside there was another waiting area where we stood in line till around 7:30. Then a nice old english lady opened a counter and called one after the other from the line. She collected approval letter, 2 photo\'s, I94\'s, EADs, AdvParoles. Took finger print and signature on a unfilled form. (including for kids). Stapled all theseand an envelope & put a sticker with a \'token\' number. Asked to sit/wait in another room just opposite to that hall till our number was called. That room could accomodate may be 100 people. Some were looking for rest rooms - guard said you can not leave before 8:00. The counters opened at 7:55 or so and started calling numbers. Ours was 5th and was called at around 8:10. The lady officer took all the papers in the bunch and asked for the passports. She filled up another form & stamped on each passport. Stamps were valid for 1 year or till passport expiry (whichever is less). She wrote the Alien Number & EAC number from the approval notice near the stamp. She said kids need not have finger printed - did not matter anyway. She said now we can travel with that stamp and cards should arrive in 3-6 months. THANK YOU!! I checked the A numbers on the passport and left INS at 8:30. Paid $7 to Parking and drove back home...
Life goes on as normal. There is relief & peace of mind. Hoping jobcuts can not kill this joy....