Time limit to stamp after 485 approval ?

[avdxz]

Hi Guys,

I need a little advice I got my 485 approval in mail yesterday.

However, I had sent my passport to St. Louis for H1B stamping earlier this month....not knowing that my 485 will get approved so soon. I have already sent the Visa Reval Dept a fax asking them to FedEx my passport back. It seems they will send it in 5-7 business days...

I have one question :

Is there any time limit before I need to go for stamping my passport ... the notice doesnt say anything other than the days and times the SJ office is open

- AVDXZ

 

[golumolu]

Hi Guys,

I need a little advice I got my 485 approval in mail yesterday.

However, I had sent my passport to St. Louis for H1B stamping earlier this month....not knowing that my 485 will get approved so soon. I have already sent the Visa Reval Dept a fax asking them to FedEx my passport back. It seems they will send it in 5-7 business days...

I have one question :

Is there any time limit before I need to go for stamping my passport ... the notice doesnt say anything other than the days and times the SJ office is open

- AVDXZ

I thought the VISA REVALIDATION procedure was removed with immediate effect since 2 weeks ago when the announcement was made. Anyways may be you sent it at the nick of the time before the announcement.

Congratulations on your approval.

There is no time limit for stamping, just wait until your passport arrives back and go with all the documents mentioned in your approval notice to the local office and get it stamped. Your actual physical GC card would be ordered only after you go for stamping and provide them with your fingerprint as well as the 2 ADIT pictures.

Good Luck....

 

[pralay]

I have one question :

Is there any time limit before I need to go for stamping my passport ... the notice doesnt say anything other than the days and times the SJ office is open

There is no time limit for I-485 stamping. However, your passport stamp is the only proof of your true legal status in USA. Do it as soon as you can. Wait for few days to get your passport back. If State Dept takes long time to return your passport, you can go USCIS office without your passport. Take a photocopy of your passport and some proof that you sent the passport to State Dept (FedEx airbill etc). They will provide a separate paper that mentions that you are a perm resident. Basically that page is equivalent to your passport stamping. Once you get your passport back, you need to keep that page with your passport untill you receive your plastic card.

 

[pinnacle_man]

Congratulations!

 

[max2k1]

I thought the VISA REVALIDATION procedure was removed with immediate effect since 2 weeks ago when the announcement was made. Anyways may be you sent it at the nick of the time before the announcement.

NO - visa revalidation apps were accepted till about July 16th ... so its been only one week since it was stopped.... so the OP had enough time to get it in

 

[avdxz]

Thanks

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your replies. That really helps. I have sent the fax on July 22nd and have checked the Fedex tracker this morning (07/28) nothing yet. State Dept. says they need 5 working days to find and return the passport to fedex...so that 5 day period ends today for mine. I will wait till end of this week for Fedex to deliver it back to me. If it doesnt arrive till then, will use the method suggested.

Thanks once again.

- AVDXZ

 

[avdxz]

Hi All,

Here is what happened till now:

July 21st: Recd 485 approval letter via postal mail.

July 22nd: Sent fax asking Visa Dept to return my passport - with usual info. required for such faxes. http://travel.state.gov/visa/tempvisitors_types_renewal9.html

Aug 2nd: Sent another fax since passport wasnt sent back.

Aug 2nd: Called INS (see post for more info: http://www.immigrationportal.com/showthread.php?p=867509#post867509)

Aug 5th: Passport received via Fedex - with H1B visa stamped.

Will go for stamping next week at SJ and will post experience.

- AVDXZ

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your replies. That really helps. I have sent the fax on July 22nd and have checked the Fedex tracker this morning (07/28) nothing yet. State Dept. says they need 5 working days to find and return the passport to fedex...so that 5 day period ends today for mine. I will wait till end of this week for Fedex to deliver it back to me. If it doesnt arrive till then, will use the method suggested.

Thanks once again.

- AVDXZ