RP issued for 1 year... can I complain?

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cafeconleche

Registered Users (C)
Hey guys, I just got my RP. It's valid only for 1 year, even though I've never had one before, and I have definitely NOT been outside the US for 4 of the last 5 years. Is there anything I can do to get them to give me a full validity RP? I don't want to have to pay again and apply a year from now for something that should have been valid until I get my citizenship...
 
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Is it a Re-entry Permit or a Refugee Travel Document? Usually RP are valid for 2 years except if you're a conditional residence and the period will end before the 2 years time, then it would be restricted. Did you apply for a RTD as a PR or RP?
 
Aaaaaahhh! I HATE THEM I HATE THEM I HATE THEM. I'll call on Monday :( I hope it's straightforward and I get to keep my current RP until they figure things out.
 
yeap i hate them too, My online status is still saying

Application Type: I131, APPLICATION FOR USCIS TRAVEL DOCUMENT

Current Status: Case received and pending.

But I already have my RP with me.
 
cafeconleche said:
Hey guys, I just got my RP. It's valid only for 1 year, even though I've never had one before, and I have definitely NOT been outside the US for 4 of the last 5 years. Is there anything I can do to get them to give me a full validity RP? I don't want to have to pay again and apply a year from now for something that should have been valid until I get my citizenship...
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You need to send it back to them asap to have it corrected. Send it using Express Mail(USPS) and put a note as to why its wrong and also write that you need to travel urgently. THey should send you one back asap. Make sure you include a prepaid express envelope if you want to make sure you track it.
 
wantmygcnow, I need the new RP to travel next week. Do you think I can use it and then send it in for correction saying that I had needed it urgently, or do you think they'll then refuse to give me a new one? How long will this whole thing take if I do send it back? A week?

Another question. When one applies for an RP and then leaves the country, and then it takes about a year to issue the RP, it would make sense to issue it for only 1 year, right? In that case, the application will have a year added on to his or her year already spent outside the country WITHOUT the RP. Could this have been why they issued my RP for only 1 year? I have not been outside the country for that long, but I am outside.
 
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Well I spoke to USCIS twice (just to see what different people would say). One said that if I really wanted to contest it, I should re-apply and explain that it was a mistake for them to issue it for one year. She said I could travel in an emergency if I wanted to. The other one said that I could schedule an Infopass and get it fixed there. I think I'll have to do that.
 
cafeconleche said:
wantmygcnow, I need the new RP to travel next week. Do you think I can use it and then send it in for correction saying that I had needed it urgently, or do you think they'll then refuse to give me a new one? How long will this whole thing take if I do send it back? A week?

Another question. When one applies for an RP and then leaves the country, and then it takes about a year to issue the RP, it would make sense to issue it for only 1 year, right? In that case, the application will have a year added on to his or her year already spent outside the country WITHOUT the RP. Could this have been why they issued my RP for only 1 year? I have not been outside the country for that long, but I am outside.
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Do you have your NP? If its valid you can use it now.make an infopass and explain..this also gives you a valid excuse to use your NP.
 
Since you do not meet the four year rule, it was (as best I can tell) an error on their part. You can have it corrected after your return to the U.S. The wrong expiration date does not impact the validity of the document and you can use it to fly back home.
 
Oke, I'm going to make an Infopass to get my RP fixed. A few questions, though:

Which option should I choose? I'm assuming it's 4.

There aren't any dates for my DO available for June and July, so can I go to another DO?

Will they take away my RP? I have a visa in it that I DEFINITELY need. Can they just give me another one valid for from the date this expires, and that's valid for 1 year (making it 2 RPs of 1 year validity each, totaling 2 years)? Or, can they just put a stamp in my current RP with a new expiration date (this is probably impossible, right?).

Given the way things work, I just hope they'll cancel my current one and let me keep it for the visa, and issue me a new one valid for 2 years. I can't start a new application because of the fact that I have to go back abroad in September. Man, this is difficult.

By the way, I don't have a valid NP anymore... bummer. Thanks for your help, guys.
 
cafeconleche said:
Oke, I'm going to make an Infopass to get my RP fixed. A few questions, though:

Which option should I choose? I'm assuming it's 4.

There aren't any dates for my DO available for June and July, so can I go to another DO?

Will they take away my RP? I have a visa in it that I DEFINITELY need. Can they just give me another one valid for from the date this expires, and that's valid for 1 year (making it 2 RPs of 1 year validity each, totaling 2 years)? Or, can they just put a stamp in my current RP with a new expiration date (this is probably impossible, right?).

Given the way things work, I just hope they'll cancel my current one and let me keep it for the visa, and issue me a new one valid for 2 years. I can't start a new application because of the fact that I have to go back abroad in September. Man, this is difficult.

By the way, I don't have a valid NP anymore... bummer. Thanks for your help, guys.
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They will ask you to send it. Do not give them your RP at infopass, most likely they will lose it.

If you need to travel, travel and then come back and write them a letter. But "extending" the current RP etc is not done..cant be done.

Why did you get a visa on it if it was a wrong document? You should've sent it overnight and most likely would've gotten one in a week or so.
 
I had no choice on the visa. I did have my RTD that was valid for a few more days, and I asked them if they could put the visa in it, but they refused. They said the document has to be valid for the time the visa is valid (three months starting now). I'm re-entering the US with the new RP on Wednesday. That's why I couldn't send it in. I didn't want to risk not getting anything back in time.

It says on the N-400 instructions that they CAN cancel my current document and send it back if valid visas or in it. I hope they do.
 
Oke, had an Infopass today. Didn't help too much. The IO, who's a bit cooky and really doesn't know much (but she's well-meaning) said that as an asylee I cannot use RP, blah blah blah (I pointed out where it said PERMIT TO RE-ENTER). Then after much discussion, she looked at the instructions and said, YES, I should have received a 2 year RP, and that as an asylee and now a permanent resident, I could yell and scream at USCIS to ask them to fix this problem, and that I should not surrender it, but write a letter, waiting for them to ask for the RP to rectify the situation. I should have control, she said, hehe. Anyway, she gave me her name and title to add to my letter asking Nebraska to issue me a new one without charging me. I hope that works. I'm going to write the letter now.

Oke, so, this letter. What sort of tone should I take? I mean, I don't want to be rude, but I want to be assertive and confident, pointing out the hardship these short validity documents are causing me as a law-abiding US resident and taxpayer in pursuit of the American Dream (hehe). But, I don't want them to laugh and reject my request. Any thoughts? Should I listen to the Infopass IO and let them have it?
 
Oke, so I sent USCIS a letter explaining that, after talking to USCIS on the phone as well as at an Infopass appointment, I was informed that the RP was probably issued for 1 year in error. It was a very elaborate letter (two pages), and they received it on 14 July. I haven't heard anything back from them, though, and it's not an application, so I don't have any references. What do you think I should do? With the letter, I included copies of my RP (at the Infopass, they told me NOT to send it in until I got further instructions from them) and another application for an RP (no pictures or cheque).
 
cafeconleche said:
Oke, so I sent USCIS a letter explaining that, after talking to USCIS on the phone as well as at an Infopass appointment, I was informed that the RP was probably issued for 1 year in error. It was a very elaborate letter (two pages), and they received it on 14 July. I haven't heard anything back from them, though, and it's not an application, so I don't have any references. What do you think I should do? With the letter, I included copies of my RP (at the Infopass, they told me NOT to send it in until I got further instructions from them) and another application for an RP (no pictures or cheque).
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Now that you are back and don't need RP maybe you can send it back and ask them to give you new one??
 
Well, I explained the whole situation to USCIS on the phone and at the Infopass, and both times they told me not to send it in, but to write a letter. They haven't even responded to the letter, so I'm glad that I didn't send in the actual RP. But, I don't know how to track the situation. I guess I'll call them on Monday and see what can be done. Nothing, I bet.
 
cafeconleche said:
Well, I explained the whole situation to USCIS on the phone and at the Infopass, and both times they told me not to send it in, but to write a letter. They haven't even responded to the letter, so I'm glad that I didn't send in the actual RP. But, I don't know how to track the situation. I guess I'll call them on Monday and see what can be done. Nothing, I bet.
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They are slow in responding to letters. Be patient, very patient.
 
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