Adjustment of status passport stamping process
Let me restate that I am no immigration attorney but I did write a few articles on this subject simply because I had some personal experience/insights (How to sponsor your spouse for a green card, How to prepare for the American citizenship interview and the actual interview process, How to file an application for US citizenship without an attorney, and how to hire an attorney when you have to). This morning I heard from Satish who read some of my articles. He writes, "I found your information really useful since it is real and anyone can use that information to get some peace of mind. By the way, I was doing some more research on the subject of getting a stamp in your passport once someone's petition for adjustment of status (I-485) has been approved. I could not find any good information at all so I am going to share my experience. I will appreciate if you could publish it." So here it is, in Satish's own words:
"Once you apply for a green card, you are essentially trying to adjust your status in the United States (using the form I485). If your application is approved, the USCIS (formerly INS or BCIS) does not issue you a so-called "green card" (I-551) right away. Instead, they first put a stamp in your passport that is as good as a green card. To do that you need to go to the nearest USCIS local office.
The approval letter from the USCIS will have a lot of the information but since the USCIS prefers to finish all the stuff that it has in stock before it starts to use new forms, it will often send you outdated information. That is why it is important to check the USCIS website and do some more research on the Internet. That is how I developed the list of what I had to bring to the local office (unexpired passport, I-94 card, original approval notice, EAD card, advance parole document, and photos). I made an appointment using the Infopass system and printed the confirmation. I arranged everything neatly in one folder and lined up in a separate line at the Boston office.
You have to wait till the security officer lets you inside and then you speak to a receptionist. You should tell her/him that you are there to get a stamp in your passport and show him your I-485 approval notice. S/he will immediately give you a number and write down on your appointment letter that you need to now get outside of the mail hall and go to a counter where you will ask for form I-89. The person at this counter will know exactly what you need. All you do there is to sign in two places and put your fingerprint the old-fashioned way (using ink). Then the wait begins so bring something to read or listen to though they have a TV which for some reason is tuned to FOX (A station that I absolutely hate. I thought they would have something that was non-partisan.).
When your wait number appears on the display, be close to the front area so that you can quickly go to the officer. Greet the officer and giver her/him the complete folder. Remember these officers are in a hurry and love it when someone has taken the time to get ready for the appointment. Don't search for any document at the last minute. If you have followed the instructions, you will be in great shape. The officer might ask you if you have the correct address in your approval notice (your actual card will be mailed to this address) or if you have other family members accompanying you for a stamp. S/he will then put the stamp and explain to you that you are all set and your card will arrive in the mail.
Other than thanking the officer, there is no reason for you to ask her/him complex questions. While these folks are nice, their job is not to answer complex immigration related questions on the counter. You must contact an attorney or call the USCIS or better still, just do some research on the web. Plus, by asking too many irrelevant questions (remember your appointment is only for getting a stamp, not for asking questions), you are inconveniencing other applicants who may have been waiting for a while for their turn.
From the exact time of our appointment to the moment we got done, it took us about 100 minutes. Overall, it was a non-event, the stamp is nothing impressive, and the overall experience was nothing to talk about. So it was somewhat of an anti-climax but when I was done, I was delighted to be a lawful permanent resident (LPR) of the United States."
"Once you apply for a green card, you are essentially trying to adjust your status in the United States (using the form I485). If your application is approved, the USCIS (formerly INS or BCIS) does not issue you a so-called "green card" (I-551) right away. Instead, they first put a stamp in your passport that is as good as a green card. To do that you need to go to the nearest USCIS local office.
The approval letter from the USCIS will have a lot of the information but since the USCIS prefers to finish all the stuff that it has in stock before it starts to use new forms, it will often send you outdated information. That is why it is important to check the USCIS website and do some more research on the Internet. That is how I developed the list of what I had to bring to the local office (unexpired passport, I-94 card, original approval notice, EAD card, advance parole document, and photos). I made an appointment using the Infopass system and printed the confirmation. I arranged everything neatly in one folder and lined up in a separate line at the Boston office.
You have to wait till the security officer lets you inside and then you speak to a receptionist. You should tell her/him that you are there to get a stamp in your passport and show him your I-485 approval notice. S/he will immediately give you a number and write down on your appointment letter that you need to now get outside of the mail hall and go to a counter where you will ask for form I-89. The person at this counter will know exactly what you need. All you do there is to sign in two places and put your fingerprint the old-fashioned way (using ink). Then the wait begins so bring something to read or listen to though they have a TV which for some reason is tuned to FOX (A station that I absolutely hate. I thought they would have something that was non-partisan.).
When your wait number appears on the display, be close to the front area so that you can quickly go to the officer. Greet the officer and giver her/him the complete folder. Remember these officers are in a hurry and love it when someone has taken the time to get ready for the appointment. Don't search for any document at the last minute. If you have followed the instructions, you will be in great shape. The officer might ask you if you have the correct address in your approval notice (your actual card will be mailed to this address) or if you have other family members accompanying you for a stamp. S/he will then put the stamp and explain to you that you are all set and your card will arrive in the mail.
Other than thanking the officer, there is no reason for you to ask her/him complex questions. While these folks are nice, their job is not to answer complex immigration related questions on the counter. You must contact an attorney or call the USCIS or better still, just do some research on the web. Plus, by asking too many irrelevant questions (remember your appointment is only for getting a stamp, not for asking questions), you are inconveniencing other applicants who may have been waiting for a while for their turn.
From the exact time of our appointment to the moment we got done, it took us about 100 minutes. Overall, it was a non-event, the stamp is nothing impressive, and the overall experience was nothing to talk about. So it was somewhat of an anti-climax but when I was done, I was delighted to be a lawful permanent resident (LPR) of the United States."
posted by eCreativa Media @ 11/26/2004 05:02:00 PM
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