Travel with I-551 stamp

I

ilngrl777

Registered Users (C)
I was content on waiting for the actual green card in the mail but then realized there was an alert stating that there would be a delay in production and ended up needing to travel for family reasons. Therefore, I got an infopass and got my passport stamped with the temp evidence of permanent residency stamp. I am flying straight to my home country and straight back within a 3 week period (not long at all). My question is, should I be worried to travel with the stamp? Do I need any other document to make sure my re-entry to the U.S. goes more smoothly? (Bearing in mind I asked all these questions at my infopass appt. but has been burned by USCIS before where they told me everything was ok and it didn't turn out to be so) Any comments or experiences to ease my mind or at least make me more prepared?
 
There will be a slight delay because you'll need to go to secondary screening, where they will look up your file in the system ask you questions like your father's and your mother's first name to make sure you are who you are (since presumably it is easy to fake the stamp).

I think airline personnel know about the stamp though.
 
Until a couple of years ago, traveliing on the stamp was commonplace, since card production was much slower. Now, with card production almost instantaneous (most of the time;)), stamping is more rare, but certainly still a viable proof of GC.
 
So it is totally safe, and you're saying card production is so fast that I should get a new card in less than a month?
 
Jackolantern said:
Yes, unless you fall in the unlucky 5% whose cards get delayed for longer periods of time.
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Thanks for your answer. In my case I have a little incident that I assume they will know about even at the I-90 appointment. Will that have an effect?

I was actually scared a lot by a lawyer who wanted a good sum of money from me, that they could actually arrest me at the I-90 appointment. The charge was dismissed but involves a certain green plant. Which I know can be very troublesome in Immigration matters.
 
thg12 said:
So it is totally safe, and you're saying card production is so fast that I should get a new card in less than a month?
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Most of the time, the GC is produced within 48 hours of the approval email or notice. I got my card in a week of getting the approval email.
 
thg12 said:
Thanks for your answer. In my case I have a little incident that I assume they will know about even at the I-90 appointment.
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I thought you were referring to a first-time green card, not a renewal or replacement. I-90 renewal/replacement usually takes at least 2 months, sometimes 6 months. It is the first-time card that usually is printed and delivered within a month after approval.

As far as that dismissed case is concerned, I don't think they will see it or care about it for renewal, given that it was dismissed. The background checks for I-90 aren't as rigorous as with naturalization; for I-90 you aren't required to provide court documents and they don't do the FBI name check (they only do fingerprint check and IBIS).
 
Jackolantern said:
I thought you were referring to a first-time green card, not a renewal or replacement. I-90 renewal/replacement usually takes at least 2 months, sometimes 6 months. It is the first-time card that usually is printed and delivered within a month after approval.

As far as that dismissed case is concerned, I don't think they will see it or care about it for renewal, given that it was dismissed. The background checks for I-90 aren't as rigorous as with naturalization; for I-90 you aren't required to provide court documents and they don't do the FBI name check (they only do fingerprint check and IBIS).
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Thanks so much for your help! I had an unscrupulous lawyer try to scare into thinking they could arrest me, detain me and place in deportation proceedings since it involves a substance. He flat out lied to me to extort a nice 4 figure sum to come to the appointment with me.

There should be a place where we keep track of undesirables so nobody gets hurt here. I would gladly hire Mr. Khanna, but I really need someone local. I just feel better about it that way.
 
Again thank you very much jackolantern.

The appointment was the most pleasant government office visit I have ever had. I walked in, filled out a form and immediately saw someone who checked my GC + Appt letter + form I just filled out (the form has nothing you didn't already fill out: name address etc.).

Then they directed me to desk where the officer(? - was dressed casually) looked at my GC, and in fact got the sticker ready the minute I gave her my paperwork. But she did some computer entries and also signed a log sheet and she took about 5 minutes while I was sitting there studying the visas on my passport (don't try using a cell phone, even for internet etc. - I knew better than to try). She put the sticker on and then said it will come in the mail in 5 months.

Then I went to get FP'd and she looked at the photo on the computer screen and my face, then scanned the appt. letter and called me for the fingerprints. Wow they take every single finger and they take them good. Left and right sides of every finger, retakes for quality control, they are not playing around with that part of the process. Then I sat for the photo, and finally I was told I could go.

In all in was maybe 15 minutes with no wait anywhere. Somebody tried to take their appt. early and they turned him down and told him to wait for the appt. date, he was the only person in front of me in line. (Varick St. NYC - for everyone's information). I think they tried to help him by telling him to try asking at another office, but I don't know what finally happened. They were not busy at all.

All in all no issues (that I am aware of), no problems, no hassles.
 
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