San Jose PP stamping experience

[stamy]

Hello,
I did PP stamping this morning in San Jose INS. There\'s couple of things:

1. Still lots of people there. Went there at 1AM, about 20 people ahead of us. After we done at 8:30, still a line outside the door.
2. used the courtesy copy of approval notice
3. The officers are nice, didn\'t ask any questions.
4. The parking lot behind the building is closed, so people have to park along the road, it\'s hard to find an empty spot, so arrive at least 20 minutes early.
5. One thing special in our case is that my wife had an OPT-based EAD which bears a different A# than the one from I485 receipt. We were kind of worried this may cause problem. When the officer asked my wife for EAD, she said she didn\'t apply for 485 based EAD, but has F1 EAD. My wife said twice but the officer seemed not understand, he said now you have green card so you are not in F1 anymore. So my wife just kept her EAD.

Over all this is a good experience, compared with my last two experience.

ciba you can put it in your website.

 

[h1485]

stamping experience

Got my passport stamped at SJ.

Arrived at 4:00 am, there were about 40-50 people
there already (really about 70-80 ahead of me
as family members joined them later). There were
maybe 300+ people behind me by the time the doors
opened around 7:15am.

Most of the counters (4 out of 6) were processing 485 cases.
I was approx. the 30th 485-approval case, and got to
the counter at 9:30am (2hr wait inside). There are bursts
when things move faster. They had processed 20 cases in first
1.5 hrs, and processed next 10 in 30 mins.

Documents needed at the counter:
 - courtesy-copy of approval,
 - passport,
 - I-94
 - 2 ADIT-style photos (name & A# written at back with pencil)
 - Advance Parole
 - EAD card

The IIO asked me to put all these docs on the counter,
asked me to state my mothers name for verification,
took my fingerprint & signature,
kept the AP, 485-approval notice, EAD
filled in my A# on form & stamped the passport.

I was out by 9:40. There were a few people still
outside in line and they were still being let in
slowly.
 
My estimate is that most people arrive between 4:30-5:30,
so arriving a little before that helps. Alternatively,
I guess one can arrive at 7:00am, and if they let you in
(big if), you still may get out by 12.