I-751 "Approval Notices" May Only Be Transfer Notices
On June 5, 2008 the USCIS announced a clarification on I-751 transfer notices that may have led certain conditional residents to think that their I-751 (the Petition that’s filed in order to remove conditions on residence) has been approved when, in fact, the petition has only been transferred and not yet approved.
The problem started last month when the USCIS announced that it would soon require all Forms I-751 to be filed at only the California or Vermont Service Centers (depending on the residency of the petitioner). At the same time, it was also announced that until that filing change was final, the USCIS itself would transfer any I-751 petition that was still filed with either the Nebraska and Texas Service Centers to either California and Vermont for a decision.
When such a transfer happened, the USCIS has been sending out a notice of the transfer with the following language: “CRI89 approved removal of conditions (I89)”.
That language has understandably confused people who think their I-751 has been approved. But all the transfer notice really means is that the biometric portion of the case has been successfully transferred. It does not mean that the petition itself was approved.
Very confusing.
So the USCIS is going to remove the confusing language from the transfer notices. Any I-751 applicant should not consider that his or her I-751 application has been approved until he or she receives a specific I-751 approval notice from the Vermont Service Center or California Service Center (again, depending on the residency of the applicant).
