Kattosha

I am a canadian citizen who started working in the US on a TN visa
then got married. Once I had my card I thought it was easy
sailing...man was I wrong

Back in June I was told (by immigration) that I had to file an I-90
because my card was expiring on 10/22/06. In July I went for my
Biometrics and at that point was told I had filed the wrong petition,
and that I needed to file an I751 to remove conditions on my permanent
resident card. Beginning of August I filed the I751 with an attachment
stating that I had previously filed the I-90 in error (count that money
as wasted). The check was cashed 8/16, so I figured all was good.

By the end of September I had not received a receipt so I called into
immigration and was told that I should wait another few weeks and if it
didnt show up to call again. I called on October 6th and was told it
had never been mailed to me so the person set the system to do so. A
week later I received a notice telling me that the receipt would be
processed in the next two to three weeks, so once again I waited. And
still nothing

November 3rd I called again and was told that if it didnt show up within
the next week to go to downtown Chicago and they would stamp my passport
and all would be good.

November 10th I took time off of work and drove into Chicago, only to
find out that I needed to have an appointment. After some arguing I got
a walk in appointment. At that point I was told that if they gave me a
stamp they had to cut my 'green card' which would invalidate it, and
that the stamp was only good for two months. The woman I was dealing
with called Nebraska processing and assured me that the receipt was
being mailed to me and I should have it within the week. So I went home
with nothing except her word.

It is now November 27th, I have no receipt. My card expired on October
22, 2006 and I am going to my best friends wedding in Canada next
Tuesday. I just called Nebraska and still nothing has been mailed from
their system. Apparently I got caught between system changes ffrom the
old I751 system to the new CR189.

I have a scanned copy of my cashed cheque, the case status printout
from the USCIS website, the notice telling me they were sending me my
receipt and all of my paperwork from the last seven odd years of
immigration hassels.

Is this sufficent information to reenter the United States from Canada?

If I get the stamp then my green card is invalidated and even if I get
the one year renewal notice, its useless and I have to take time off of
work to drive two hours to downtown Chicago every two months to get the
stamp renewed.

Any suggestions?

Frannod

> I am a canadian citizen who started working in the US on a TN visa
> then got married. Once I had my card I thought it was easy
> sailing...man was I wrong
>
> Back in June I was told (by immigration) that I had to file an I-90
> because my card was expiring on 10/22/06. In July I went for my
> Biometrics and at that point was told I had filed the wrong petition,
> and that I needed to file an I751 to remove conditions on my
> permanent resident card. Beginning of August I filed the I751 with an
> attachment stating that I had previously filed the I-90 in error
> (count that money as wasted). The check was cashed 8/16, so I figured
> all was good.
>
> By the end of September I had not received a receipt so I called into
> immigration and was told that I should wait another few weeks and if
> it didnt show up to call again. I called on October 6th and was told
> it had never been mailed to me so the person set the system to do so.
> A week later I received a notice telling me that the receipt would be
> processed in the next two to three weeks, so once again I waited. And
> still nothing
>
> November 3rd I called again and was told that if it didnt show up
> within the next week to go to downtown Chicago and they would stamp my
> passport and all would be good.
>
> November 10th I took time off of work and drove into Chicago, only to
> find out that I needed to have an appointment. After some arguing I
> got a walk in appointment. At that point I was told that if they gave
> me a stamp they had to cut my 'green card' which would invalidate it,
> and that the stamp was only good for two months. The woman I was
> dealing with called Nebraska processing and assured me that the
> receipt was being mailed to me and I should have it within the week.
> So I went home with nothing except her word.
>
> It is now November 27th, I have no receipt. My card expired on October
> 22, 2006 and I am going to my best friends wedding in Canada next
> Tuesday. I just called Nebraska and still nothing has been mailed from
> their system. Apparently I got caught between system changes ffrom the
> old I751 system to the new CR189.
>
> I have a scanned copy of my cashed cheque, the case status printout
> from the USCIS website, the notice telling me they were sending me my
> receipt and all of my paperwork from the last seven odd years of
> immigration hassels.
>
> Is this sufficent information to reenter the United States from
> Canada?
>
> If I get the stamp then my green card is invalidated and even if I get
> the one year renewal notice, its useless and I have to take time off
> of work to drive two hours to downtown Chicago every two months to get
> the stamp renewed.
>
> Any suggestions?

I'm not sure how to respond to your post, but I'm sorry for your
trouble. If i were you, I wouldn't be travelling without some sort of
approval. I'm not sure if the status you printed from the USCIS website
would work.

Why don't you just get the stamp? The expired green card is of no use
as is right now. this is the first I'm hearing that the stamp is valid
for 2 weeks - i always thought it was 1 year, guess you learn something
new every day.

It's your decision though, but if you really need to travel, you should
take the stamp.

Good Luck!! and let us know how it went

Ian-Mstm

> I am a canadian citizen who started working in the US on a TN visa
> then got married. Once I had my card I thought it was easy
> sailing...man was I wrong
>
> Back in June I was told (by immigration) that I had to file an I-90
> because my card was expiring on 10/22/06. In July I went for my
> Biometrics and at that point was told I had filed the wrong petition,
> and that I needed to file an I751 to remove conditions on my
> permanent resident card. Beginning of August I filed the I751 with an
> attachment stating that I had previously filed the I-90 in error
> (count that money as wasted). The check was cashed 8/16, so I figured
> all was good.
>
> By the end of September I had not received a receipt so I called into
> immigration and was told that I should wait another few weeks and if
> it didnt show up to call again. I called on October 6th and was told
> it had never been mailed to me so the person set the system to do so.
> A week later I received a notice telling me that the receipt would be
> processed in the next two to three weeks, so once again I waited. And
> still nothing
>
> November 3rd I called again and was told that if it didnt show up
> within the next week to go to downtown Chicago and they would stamp my
> passport and all would be good.
>
> November 10th I took time off of work and drove into Chicago, only to
> find out that I needed to have an appointment. After some arguing I
> got a walk in appointment. At that point I was told that if they gave
> me a stamp they had to cut my 'green card' which would invalidate it,
> and that the stamp was only good for two months. The woman I was
> dealing with called Nebraska processing and assured me that the
> receipt was being mailed to me and I should have it within the week.
> So I went home with nothing except her word.
>
> It is now November 27th, I have no receipt. My card expired on October
> 22, 2006 and I am going to my best friends wedding in Canada next
> Tuesday. I just called Nebraska and still nothing has been mailed from
> their system. Apparently I got caught between system changes ffrom the
> old I751 system to the new CR189.
>
> I have a scanned copy of my cashed cheque, the case status printout
> from the USCIS website, the notice telling me they were sending me my
> receipt and all of my paperwork from the last seven odd years of
> immigration hassels.
>
> Is this sufficent information to reenter the United States from
> Canada?
>
> If I get the stamp then my green card is invalidated and even if I get
> the one year renewal notice, its useless and I have to take time off
> of work to drive two hours to downtown Chicago every two months to get
> the stamp renewed.
>
> Any suggestions?

Your card expired on 10/22/06 - however, your status did not. There are
many who assume that an expired card causes the status to expire. It
doesn't. You are still a US Permanent Resident. Go and get the stamp...
yah, even if it's a pain in the ass. I can't believe how many people
kick and scream about having to drive someplace to verify or secure
their immigration status. You'd think that'd be kind of important, eh?

BTW, the biometrics you did in July are probably not acceptable for the
I-751 that you filed later... and if there's a hold up, I'm guessing
that's it. The I-751 will not be processed without the requisite
biometrics.

Ian

Rete

> I am a canadian citizen who started working in the US on a TN visa
> then got married. Once I had my card I thought it was easy
> sailing...man was I wrong
>
> Back in June I was told (by immigration) that I had to file an I-90
> because my card was expiring on 10/22/06. In July I went for my
> Biometrics and at that point was told I had filed the wrong petition,
> and that I needed to file an I751 to remove conditions on my
> permanent resident card. Beginning of August I filed the I751 with an
> attachment stating that I had previously filed the I-90 in error
> (count that money as wasted). The check was cashed 8/16, so I figured
> all was good.
>
> By the end of September I had not received a receipt so I called into
> immigration and was told that I should wait another few weeks and if
> it didnt show up to call again. I called on October 6th and was told
> it had never been mailed to me so the person set the system to do so.
> A week later I received a notice telling me that the receipt would be
> processed in the next two to three weeks, so once again I waited. And
> still nothing
>
> November 3rd I called again and was told that if it didnt show up
> within the next week to go to downtown Chicago and they would stamp my
> passport and all would be good.
>
> November 10th I took time off of work and drove into Chicago, only to
> find out that I needed to have an appointment. After some arguing I
> got a walk in appointment. At that point I was told that if they gave
> me a stamp they had to cut my 'green card' which would invalidate it,
> and that the stamp was only good for two months. The woman I was
> dealing with called Nebraska processing and assured me that the
> receipt was being mailed to me and I should have it within the week.
> So I went home with nothing except her word.
>
> It is now November 27th, I have no receipt. My card expired on October
> 22, 2006 and I am going to my best friends wedding in Canada next
> Tuesday. I just called Nebraska and still nothing has been mailed from
> their system. Apparently I got caught between system changes ffrom the
> old I751 system to the new CR189.
>
> I have a scanned copy of my cashed cheque, the case status printout
> from the USCIS website, the notice telling me they were sending me my
> receipt and all of my paperwork from the last seven odd years of
> immigration hassels.
>
> Is this sufficent information to reenter the United States from
> Canada?
>
> If I get the stamp then my green card is invalidated and even if I get
> the one year renewal notice, its useless and I have to take time off
> of work to drive two hours to downtown Chicago every two months to get
> the stamp renewed.
>
> Any suggestions?

I don't have a clue what a CR189 is but I have yet to see that there is
a new form I-751 or a change in the removal of conditions procedure.

As long as you have the cancelled check and the online status report
showing your I-751 is in the works you should not have a problem. Just
use your old green card for re-entry. If required they will scan the
card and the data base should show that you are in the process of having
conditions removed.

Of course, the above is my opinion and what I would do. Gather as much
information as you can and make an education decision.

Kattosha

> I'm not sure how to respond to your post, but I'm sorry for your
> trouble. If i were you, I wouldn't be travelling without some sort of
> approval. I'm not sure if the status you printed from the USCIS
> website would work.
>
> Why don't you just get the stamp? The expired green card is of no use
> as is right now. this is the first I'm hearing that the stamp is
> valid for 2 weeks - i always thought it was 1 year, guess you learn
> something new every day.
>
> It's your decision though, but if you really need to travel, you
> should take the stamp.
>
> Good Luck!! and let us know how it went

My biggest problem with the stamp is that I can't afford it. I figure
that I will be losing $200 + every time I need to renew the stamp just
for time off of work, travel, tolls and parking.

Frannod

> My biggest problem with the stamp is that I can't afford it. I figure
> that I will be losing $200 + every time I need to renew the stamp just
> for time off of work, travel, tolls and parking.

Well, you probably need to follow Rete's advice though. Your status
doesn't expire (once you file I751 that is). You have to decide what is
more costly to you.

Rete: CR189 is the new term after you file I751, and you need to
check the status online. you put the receipt # in, and it will refer
to "CRI89, PETITION TO REMOVE CONDITIONS OF PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS
RECEIVEDCR189-'

Rete

> Well, you probably need to follow Rete's advice though. Your status
> doesn't expire (once you file I751 that is). You have to decide what
> is more costly to you.
>
> Rete: CR189 is the new term after you file I751, and you need to
> check the status online. you put the receipt # in, and it will refer
> to "CRI89, PETITION TO REMOVE CONDITIONS OF PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS
> RECEIVEDCR189-'

thanks for that information ... will index it for the future.

Rete

> My biggest problem with the stamp is that I can't afford it. I figure
> that I will be losing $200 + every time I need to renew the stamp just
> for time off of work, travel, tolls and parking.

You don't need a one year stamp in your passport. You are still a CPR
and can continue to work and travel without it. Others have reported
that they have been allowed through POE's with the expired green card
because it is scanned through the system and they have had no problems.
If you want to take a day off of work, or a 1/2 day, and get the two
month stamp, for this trip then do it and worry about the next trip
when it comes up. If there is no next trip until your I-751 is
adjudicated you have saved yourself time and money by not going for
another 2 month stamp.

Kattosha

> You don't need a one year stamp in your passport. You are still a
> CPR and can continue to work and travel without it. Others have
> reported that they have been allowed through POE's with the expired
> green card because it is scanned through the system and they have had
> no problems. If you want to take a day off of work, or a 1/2 day, and
> get the two month stamp, for this trip then do it and worry about the
> next trip when it comes up. If there is no next trip until your I-751
> is adjudicated you have saved yourself time and money by not going for
> another 2 month stamp.

Thank you for the information. I'm trying to arrange some time to get to
Chicago before I leave for Canada. However I won't be as worried about
it as I was before if I dont manage to get the time off.

Andrea874

> My biggest problem with the stamp is that I can't afford it. I figure
> that I will be losing $200 + every time I need to renew the stamp just
> for time off of work, travel, tolls and parking.

You dont NEED to get the stamp every two months. You're still a PR, you
just dont have physical proof of it. If you need to prove it on a trip
out of the country, or for a new job or something, then make sure you
have the stamp. Otherwise, you're fine. Its not like once the stamp
expires you go back to square one or anything...