Use InfoPass and New Photos upon I-485 Approval
Posted Oct 15, 2004
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Receiving an I-797 Approval Notice for the I-485 Adjustment of Status case is a joyous occasion. Most people want to follow up right away to obtain the I-551 stamp or the temporary evidence of lawful permanent residence status in the passport from the USCIS office. After a few months, there is the arrival of the actual I-551 card (the plastic "green card," which is no longer green in color!). If one follows the instructions on the current Form I-797 Approval Notice, however, s/he will be misdirected. Concerns regarding this matter, and the inevitable frustration experienced by those trying to follow the instructions, led the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) to question the USCIS Service Center Operations on September 27, 2004. The USCIS indicated that they will work to have the I-485 Approval Notice instructions changed, but it may take some time.
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The current approval notice only indicates that approved persons should go to the local USCIS office and take two ADIT-style photographs, in the format previously required. The proper procedure, however, is to set up an InfoPass appointment online using the USCIS Internet appointment system at a specific USCIS local office and to bring photographs under the recently-revised photo specifications, in order to obtain the I-551 stamp.
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Those who have been granted an I-485 approval notice should disregard the instructions on the approval notice and schedule an appointment through InfoPass at the local USCIS office. Further, the photos in the new format should be taken to the scheduled appointment for the I-551 stamp. By doing so, such persons will usually be able to get a temporary I-551 stamp in the passport as proof of status until the physical green card is received in the mail approximately 2 months to 12 months later.
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A number of articles concerning the implementation of the InfoPass system to schedule appointments throughout the United States can be found on the USCIS Service Center page on MurthyDotCom. More information about InfoPass is available on the USCIS WebSite. The photograph specifications are also available on the USCIS WebSite. By following these revised procedures individuals should manage to smoothly finalize the details of obtaining the proof of permanent residency.