Green Card Approved
After 539 days Kristien finally achieved conditional permanent residency status. Her passport is stamped and the green card is in the mail. The I-551 stamp allows her to travel to and from the United States freely. She may also work without explicit authorization from the government.
We arrived at the Department of Homeland Security office 15 minutes before our scheduled appoinment. After waiting in an air conditioned trailer for five minutes Kristien was called. We then went through the security checkpoint and waited another five minutes. Kristien was called again and we proceeded to the immigration officer’s meeting room.
We were first sworn to tell the truth. After briefly scanning over our (huge) stack of submitted documents the officer concluded that everything was in order. What accelerated the process is that Kristien was previously interviewed at the US Embassy in Brussels. On the negative side is that our $170 for the advance parol (travel document) is probably gone. He said the travel document will probably be approved but the passport stamp should override it.
The next and final step is to remove Kristien’s conditional status 90 days before the 2-year expiration date printed on the green card.
Photographers
Today’s entry is a follow-up to one posted a few days after our wedding. I later mentioned that a review of the photographer was pending until proofs arrived in the mail. The proofs arrived but I thought, why not wait until the final prints are in-hand? After two deliveries we have the final prints and my review is ready.
Ups and downs included, it was a positive experience. Enchanted Forest Photography provided very personal service from start to finish.
You might be wondering what the “down” part is about. Actually, it has little to do with EFP and more to do with the mail carrier. Although our prints were sent via flat-rate USPS priority mail, the mailman thought it was okay to bend the package into our tiny mailbox, disregarding the rigid cardboard used inside. Unfortunately, two of the 5×7 prints were bent on the edge as a result.
Adding to the moment, upon opening the package I found that the 5×7 photos (four in total) came in two uncut sheets. Why not cut them? The wallet prints were cut and the edges trimmed to nice half-rounds. The 4×5s were cut. It was a detail that slipped through the cracks.
After only a few e-mails the problem was resolved and replacement 5×7 photos were sent via UPS at no charge. No one likes problems but when they’re resolved quickly and without fuss, that’s good service. EFP is very much an entrepreneur-level business, both in price and operation but they genuinely care about getting the job done right.
I-797C, NOA for Interview
Kristien received her Notice of Action for the Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. It’s great to see this notice arrive so quickly. The subject of the NOA is “request for applicant to appear for initial interview.” It’s quite clear (in bold print) that her husband is supposed to come with her to the interview. The interview is scheduled for July 31. It’s only been 20 days since the biometrics appointment.
The notice enumerates about 50 different papers, copies, proof, etc, that we need to bring. Many of the bulky items are things already submitted for previous forms. It says to bring them unless already submitted. They mostly want proof of our relationship: photos, joint accounts, marriage license, and other things.
I-797C, Notice of Action
The receipt for the I-131 travel document came in the mail today.
Sent Form I-131
Form I-131, Application for Travel Document is used to obtain advanced parole. For a temporary resident to travel outside the United State and return without abandoning his or her visa status, this is necessary. It’s required for Kristien to travel back to Belgium before she officially has her status adjusted.
This is one of those e-forms you may have seen on the USCIS web site. The I-131 has a $170 fee. This isn’t cheap but waiting for the I-485 to process to completion isn’t viable with our current plans.
Even though the form is e-filed, supporting documents are required. You’ll also have to send:
- Confirmation Receipt of E-filing form I-131
- 2 passport photos
- Copy of I-797, Notice of Action
- Copy of I-797, Notice of Action, ASC Appointment Notice
- Copy of driver’s license
- Copy of passport information page
It’s nice to have the driver’s license because it serves as another layer of identification for government forms. The burden for this document wasn’t bad. The online aspect expedites delivery but it also generates the actual I-131 as a PDF for your own records.
