Travelling to Canada again while I-751 case pending and soon approved...

[antda 13]

Hi Everyone,

I'm still waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting...(for the last 8 months) for my I-751/10yr green card to be approved....

My case was transferred from the VSC to the CSC on March 2nd, and I haven't heard from them again since March 6th, but I think I will get approved within the next few weeks or so, as most transfer cases get approved quickly after they are transferred.

Meanwhile, I have a trip back to Canada planned this month, sometime between April 10-20th...

So the question for me now is: "Will I get my new green card in time for the trip?"

Grant it, I have travelled before with the expired 2yr card and 1yr extension letter (which by the way, the ink is fading from and barely readable, is water logged since I accidently spilled water on it, and is very wrinkly and folded up in a million pieces in my wallet)., and haven't had too many problems travelling with it. However, I have encountered addtional confusion and/or questioning by the border officials when I come back home to the USA.

But what if this time around I'm "stopped at the border" for not having my new card, as in their system it shows that I already got it, but I haven't actually physically received it yet?

What if they pull me over for some other reason? What if....

Also, what if I get called for an interview and/or a rfe instead of being approved, while I'm away?

I can reschedule the trip, but....I cannot travel later on in this high risk pregnancy (lol..I was lucky that they even let me travel now), and I have non-refundable day event tickets during that week, and I have already made plans to meet family and friends there.

So I was thinking of the following:

a ) Stay for the entire time as planned and not worry about this (easier said than done for worrying). Meanwhile I "hold my mail" at the post office while I'm away, so that it doesn't get lost/misdirected.

b ) Go for the event for the day in Canada, leave right away and come back to the USA to wait for my card, and then go back to Canada again soon after I get my card.

c ) Hope that I get my 10yr green card in time, so that I dont have to worry about this.

d ) Don't go on the trip. Cancel all the plans. Stay home instead.

Which option would be the best for me? What should I do? Help!

Any thoughts, ideas, suggestions, etc. would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Ant (Still waiting for I-751, Still waiting for Baby...)

Edited April 2, 2009 by AntandD

[trailmix 77]

In my opinion - this is the only option

a ) Stay for the entire time as planned and not worry about this (easier said than done for worrying). Meanwhile I "hold my mail" at the post office while I'm away, so that it doesn't get lost/misdirected.

[antda 13]

Hi Everyone,

Thank you very much for your helpful and quick replies. Sorry that I didn’t get back to you all earlier, as I have been thinking and making plans about all of this, as I still continue waiting for the I-751 to be approved and to hopefully receive my 10yr green card soon.

Trailmix-Unfortunately, chances are that my green card won’t come before I leave. I can’t put the trip off too much longer though, as I can’t travel too much later on in the pregnancy. So “I either go now to Canada, or I don’t go at all”, and feel as though, like you said, "this is the only option" here.

Regardless, I’ll have to make a decision about this soon, and thanks again, for your support for this travel decision for me.

Good luck everyone, on the rest of your immigration journeys too.

Ant (Still waiting for I-751, Still waiting for Baby…)

P.S. I’ll keep you all updated on this message thread as to which travel option I will finally decide on and whether or not I hear anything back from the USCIS or not. In the meantime, I’ll just keep on waiting….

And yes, by all means, if anyone else has any more ideas, suggestions, thoughts, etc. on my situation, feel free to post these here too. Thanks in advance for your help

In my opinion - this is the only option

a ) Stay for the entire time as planned and not worry about this (easier said than done for worrying). Meanwhile I "hold my mail" at the post office while I'm away, so that it doesn't get lost/misdirected.

[Carlawarla 1]

I'd suggest going with what trailmix said! I'd definitely hope that the GC comes in time, but I certainly not suggest you cancel the trip! Let us know what you decide. You mentioned you didn't have any trouble with the extension letter before, so there is no reason to think you'd have a problem again.

[antda 13]

Hi Everyone,

Carlawarla-I’m ok with traveling with the extension letter, as I’ve traveled before to Canada and back to the USA, without too many problems, for about 3 times or so in the last 8 months. But do I dare do it again for a 4^th time? This time around, the situation is a bit different, as my case has been transferred from the VSC to the CSC, and I’m expecting a possible approval soon. And with this being approved soon, my status could ‘change’ while I’m traveling, which might cause more problems on the trip. Chances are that my green card won’t come before I leave, so I’m trying to put the trip off for as long as I can before I leave too. The only problem with that is that I can’t put it off too long, as I can’t travel too much later on in the pregnancy. So “I either go now to Canada, or I don’t go at all”.

Regardless, I’ll have to make a decision about this soon, and thanks again, for yours and everyone else’s well-wishes and support for this travel decision for me.

Good luck everyone, on the rest of your immigration journeys too.

Ant (Still waiting for I-751, Still waiting for Baby…)

P.S. I’ll keep you all updated on this message thread as to which travel option I will finally decide on and whether or not I hear anything back from the USCIS or not. In the meantime, I’ll just keep on waiting….

And yes, by all means, if anyone else has any more ideas, suggestions, thoughts, etc. on my situation, feel free to post these here too. Thanks in advance for your help

I'd suggest going with what trailmix said! I'd definitely hope that the GC comes in time, but I certainly not suggest you cancel the trip! Let us know what you decide. You mentioned you didn't have any trouble with the extension letter before, so there is no reason to think you'd have a problem again.

[antda 13]

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for your replies regarding my situation.

After much thought, I decided on the following:

d ) Don't go on the trip. Cancel all the plans. Stay home instead. (for April 10-20th as planned before)

However, I have also decided on the following options:

e ) The people from Canada visit me in the USA first (sometime in April, which they were ok with)

f) I go to Canada shortly afterwards. Hopefully I have my new green card by then (sometime in May)

Sigh, Thanks a lot USCIS for making me re-schedule my original travel plans!!!....

On the other hand, maybe it worked out for the best this way after all..(will explain more later)....

Sure, I could have gone as scheduled, but (as another VJer also said too, and is oh-so-true for me): "Knowing you tend to worry and be anxious by the sound of your posts and that you are having a high risk pregnancy, I think if the card doesn't arrive you should cancel your trip. If you are anything like me, you won't enjoy the trip anyway because in the back of your mind you'll be worrying about it the whole time...."

Anyways, I'll get to Canada, one way or other before I'm unable to travel anymore later on in the pregnancy.

Oh Canada, my home and native land, back home to visit I go in May....

Ant (Still waiting for I-751, Still waiting for Baby....)

Edited April 14, 2009 by AntandD