I was a VSC applicant who relocated to L.A., so that is where my approval notice directed me to get my passport stamped.
On September 25th, I went to Room 1001 as per the notice, arriving at 6:00 a.m. at the end of a huge line outside. 2 1/2 hours later, finally at the teller, I was told that the room had been changed to 2050, that the line for 1001 was for general applicants only, and that the notice was obsolete. I was then directed to head back out of the building to a line-up along the south side of the west wall, an entrance also used by employees. At 8:30 a.m. the line-up was actually gone. I went up to the second floor to room 2050 (use the elevators at the sotuh end, then on the second floor bear south out of the elavator, then immediately turn right, which is west, at the first corner, and you can\'t miss room 2050) and people were seated already. Here\'s the zinger: a security officer informed me that only the first 40 people will get their passports stamped with the I-551 permanent resident stamp per day - sorry, he said, come back tomorrow. Disappointed, I took solice in knowing that I still had the notice in hand, with all the support documents as per the notice, and I left.
Back the next day, at 5:20 a.m., I joined the correct line-up and was twelfth in line. This entrance actually opens at 7:00, but to be in the first 40, 5:20 a.m. was a safe time. I\'m sure that by 6:00 a.m. the line had grown past the 40 who would get lucky that day. Despite L.A. weather, at 5:20 a.m. a sweater or jacket is good idea.
Please copy and paste this note for your "stamping kit" and good luck in L.A.!
P.S. Thanks to ImmigrationPortal et al for this useful venue of information exchange!
P.P.S RD:10/16/00 ND:11/16/00 AD:09/17/01
On September 25th, I went to Room 1001 as per the notice, arriving at 6:00 a.m. at the end of a huge line outside. 2 1/2 hours later, finally at the teller, I was told that the room had been changed to 2050, that the line for 1001 was for general applicants only, and that the notice was obsolete. I was then directed to head back out of the building to a line-up along the south side of the west wall, an entrance also used by employees. At 8:30 a.m. the line-up was actually gone. I went up to the second floor to room 2050 (use the elevators at the sotuh end, then on the second floor bear south out of the elavator, then immediately turn right, which is west, at the first corner, and you can\'t miss room 2050) and people were seated already. Here\'s the zinger: a security officer informed me that only the first 40 people will get their passports stamped with the I-551 permanent resident stamp per day - sorry, he said, come back tomorrow. Disappointed, I took solice in knowing that I still had the notice in hand, with all the support documents as per the notice, and I left.
Back the next day, at 5:20 a.m., I joined the correct line-up and was twelfth in line. This entrance actually opens at 7:00, but to be in the first 40, 5:20 a.m. was a safe time. I\'m sure that by 6:00 a.m. the line had grown past the 40 who would get lucky that day. Despite L.A. weather, at 5:20 a.m. a sweater or jacket is good idea.
Please copy and paste this note for your "stamping kit" and good luck in L.A.!
P.S. Thanks to ImmigrationPortal et al for this useful venue of information exchange!
P.P.S RD:10/16/00 ND:11/16/00 AD:09/17/01