Travel during waiting period

[Autumnal 25]

I am just about to file for lifting the restrictions on residency, since I have a 2 year conditional green card which expires in May. I realize I'm a little late, but between getting the flu twice and some other expenses, I had neither the time nor the ability to pony up the $600 for the renewal!

I'm in the midst of doing some research and making sure my package will be complete. I would like to know how waiting on the renewal of the green card can affect international travel, specifically returning to the United States. A good family friend will be visiting Montreal, Canada in July and I (a Canadian citizen) would like to go up with my husband for a weekend trip to visit him. We have our normal photo ID and my passport, and getting into Canada won't be the problem. It's driving back at the border crossing that I am concerned about.

What will happen if I don't have a green card which isn't expired and I try to re-enter into the United States? Can they refuse me because it isn't valid (IE: they won't believe I have a valid residency in the country)? Can I show them a receipt from USCIS? I don't even know if I will have a receipt by then! Will it not be an issue? Do I have to make a second application ($100+) for the travel waiver like when I was waiting on the green card in the first place?

Thanks for the help!

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Ideally, once you submit your I-751 the service center you send it to (Vermont?) should issue you an NOA that contains the statement that your greencard is extended for one year and you can both work and travel. You carry the expired green card and the extension letter together. If, for some reason, you have not received the NOA extension letter by the time you need to travel, make an infopass appointment at the USCIS office for your area and request the I-551 stamp placed into your passport. This serves as your proof of legal residency in the US. You will require one or the other if you travel outside of the country, even to Canada. You have to be able to prove to US border authorities that you are legally authorized to live in the US.

[Autumnal 25]

If, for some reason, you have not received the NOA extension letter by the time you need to travel, make an infopass appointment at the USCIS office for your area and request the I-551 stamp placed into your passport. This serves as your proof of legal residency in the US. You will require one or the other if you travel outside of the country, even to Canada.

Right, I remember that from waiting to get the green card in the first place. Thanks for the confirmation though, it makes me feel a little steadier about the information.

I hadn't known that the letter was released. My service center is whichever Illinois' feeds to -- I'm guessing it's going to be Nebraska again.

[Cassie 8]

If, for some reason, you have not received the NOA extension letter by the time you need to travel, make an infopass appointment at the USCIS office for your area and request the I-551 stamp placed into your passport. This serves as your proof of legal residency in the US. You will require one or the other if you travel outside of the country, even to Canada.

Right, I remember that from waiting to get the green card in the first place. Thanks for the confirmation though, it makes me feel a little steadier about the information.

I hadn't known that the letter was released. My service center is whichever Illinois' feeds to -- I'm guessing it's going to be Nebraska again.

Nebraska is doing transfers to California right now, and approving people on a fairly quick basis, you should be ok.

[Ashish 1]

If, for some reason, you have not received the NOA extension letter by the time you need to travel, make an infopass appointment at the USCIS office for your area and request the I-551 stamp placed into your passport. This serves as your proof of legal residency in the US. You will require one or the other if you travel outside of the country, even to Canada.

Right, I remember that from waiting to get the green card in the first place. Thanks for the confirmation though, it makes me feel a little steadier about the information.

I hadn't known that the letter was released. My service center is whichever Illinois' feeds to -- I'm guessing it's going to be Nebraska again.

The first letter that extends your status seems to be arriving within 2-4 weeks for people applying to Nebraska. So if you apply now you should have it long before July...