Travel while on I-551?

[areyaar 0]

Hello, I am a US citizen and my wife came into this country on a K3 Visa. She got her 2 year Conditional Green Card in Jan 2005, and we filed the I-751 petition in a timely manner. In Feb 2007, she had her biometrics done.

After that, we have heard nothing. When the one year extension was almost up, and we hadn't heard anything, I called INS. They told us to get an InfoPass appointment, and we got the I-551 stamp on her passport for two months (the stamp expires on March 6, 2008).

I spoke to INS again today, and they still don't have any resolution. They told me they are processing 751 applications that came in on Feb 10, 2007. Our 751 date is Jan 10, 2007. So, the point of this long story is: we want to travel on a Mexican cruise on March 17, 2008. At that point, she may only have an I-551 stamp. Will this be an issue?

Actually, I am worried about booking the cruise because what if (God forbid) they come back and deny her green card. I can't imagine that, but still, you never know.

Do people book cruises and expensive vacations while still waiting to hear back on the permanent green card? Or, even worse, when they are past the 1 year date past the 751 and are now on I-551? Makes me kind of nervous. Any advice for the ultra-conservative likes-to-plan-everything and don't-like-booking-a-$2000-vacation-if-I-don't-know-she-will-have-her-green-card types??

Edited February 7, 2008 by areyaar

[Nyte 1]

My understanding has been that the I-551 stamp holds the same weight as the physical card. It shows PR status (And all the rights and privlages granted therein) until the date listed on the stamp.

Thats just my opinion. But I wouldn't worry as long as you have a stamp valid for the duration of your vacation.

[Lunnah 0]

I'm also going on a cruise with the extension-stamp on my passport and the expired green card. There should be no problem as long as you travel within the time they gave you the extension for.

[sib 7]

I was travelling on my I-551 stamp for years.

I filed I-751 (beginning of 2004), I got my first stamp in the passport end of 2004, the second end of 2005 and then in 2006 I got the removal of the condition and citizenship together.

No problem to travel with the stamp, it just needs to be still valid and always take the expired green card, too.

You always get a new stamp with an infopass appointment.

Good luck and enjoy your vacation.