[mkinzie]

Hello! I haven't posted in a while so I'm slightly confused by all the new gadgets! Anyway.......
When you get refingerprinted, do they send you a new I171H or do you just assume you are OK? I didn't ask when we went to be refingerprinted and now I am sorely regretting it! We received a form saying we were fingerprinted and a receipt but that was it. Thanks for any help!

[cungar]

I'm not sure I understand your question. Re-fingerprinting is not all you need to do to renew your I-171H. You also have to renew your homestudy and pay $545 again. Fingerprints expire after 15 months. The I-171H expires after 18 months.

[mkinzie]

Our fingerprints expired today. Not the I171H. The fingerprints only last for 15 months from the date of the original fingersprints. I wanted to know if we received some time of confirmation taht we had this done. That's what I had to get redone. My I171H expires in Februrary so I'll have to pay the $545 again + an additional 140 then. However, because I am in Ohio I will not have to update my homestudy. Our homestudy is good for 2 years. Sorry if I wasn't clear!

[specialk4b]

Did you file a new I600a? or just a request to be refingerprinted? If you didn't refile the I600a (or some sort of request to extend the 171h), nothing will happen on the 171h front.

[DPline]

We did eventually recieve a new 171H with our new fingerprint expiration date. It took several weeks - it actually came after we were already home with our son from Guatemala - but just like I600A processing, I don't know if it varies by state. (I am in Michigan.)

I am not familier with the process for China and if this would be a concern for you, but we did verify that the Embassy in Guatemala had received our updated prints, since we were so close to traveling when we were printed and didn't want to get down there and find out there was a glitch.

[chinagirl2006]

Melissa - Great question. Our LID is near yours & we need to get re-fingerprinted shortly too. I'll be curious what BTDT families say about this.

[smbcpc]

We had our fingerprinting renewed a few weeks ago, approximately two months prior to the expiration. The timing was based on a recommendation of our agency and the USCIS (I spoke to them on the phone). They sent us an updated I-171H form within a few days after the fingerprinting renewal. Our I-171H expires in February and we will have to renew it a couple of months before it expires if a referral is not received by then.

[specialk4b]

Now, I get it - forgive me if I was dense and not following your original question.

I guess I need more sleep.

[chinagirl2006]

Sue - we have the same LID...its strange how each agency is different as to when to get re-fingerprinted. Our SW just emailed me saying she'll let us know soon. Our fingerprints expire 10/8 & I600 expires 3/5.

[Trace7]

Not sure if it varies by state, but for MN - we were told by our SW to send in our fees and copy of I-171H and request to be re-fingerprinted about 6 weeks before ours expired (ours expire on 10/15). So we sent that all in on 9/1, and our re-fingerprinting appt was sent back to us, and we got our fingerprints re-done on 9/15. Our SW says they will last another 15 months from 9/15, and that we will not have to be re-fingerprinted if we have to re-do the I-171H (ours expires on 4/15).

[chinagirl2006]

Tracy - Gosh you're ahead of us & your LID is after us! We haven't been told to do anything. Our SW said that the group before us hasn't been re-fingerprinted & we'll go after them. So maybe our agency waits until the very last minute??? I guess they know how this works better than me

[Trace7]

Originally Posted by chinagirl2006

Tracy - Gosh you're ahead of us & your LID is after us! We haven't been told to do anything. Our SW said that the group before us hasn't been re-fingerprinted & we'll go after them. So maybe our agency waits until the very last minute??? I guess they know how this works better than me

I think as long as you aren't traveling anytime soon, then it's no big deal if they expire or are close to expiring (that's my guess), as long as you update them at some point.

[smbcpc]

Originally Posted by chinagirl2006

Sue - we have the same LID...its strange how each agency is different as to when to get re-fingerprinted. Our SW just emailed me saying she'll let us know soon. Our fingerprints expire 10/8 & I600 expires 3/5.

Amy, it is strange how agencies provide different information. However, I spoke to a USCIS officer on the phone and he did say that re-fingerprinting should be done about 2 months prior to the expiration date. Since yours is expiring very soon, I would take care of it as soon as possible. Good luck

[cungar]

I think a lot of these CIS people say not to let your fingerprints expire because they think your referral could come at any time. I don't think they realize there are people whose fingerprints are expiring in two months but don't have a chance of getting a referral for 5 months or more. Nothing I've read indicates that if your finger prints lapse a little beyond expiration you will have any problems renewing your I171H or completing the process.