Travelling to Canada with Approval Letter...No 10yr Green Card...

[antda 13]

Hi Everyone,

Well, it’s been awhile since I received my “approval letter” for my I-751 on April 15^th, but I still don’t have a physical 10yr plastic green card yet (which I spent $545 on and am still waiting 9 months for the entire process to be totally completed…what a waste!).

Nevertheless, I decided not to let the USCIS ruin my travel plans this time around (especially more so that I have to travel before I’m farther along in the pregnancy, so it’s “now or never” that I travel). Thus, I decided to travel back to Canada anyways, and this is what happened when I crossed the border recently:

April 25^th (Crossed the border from the USA to Canada, Rainbow Bridge)

D: Pays the $3.25 USD for the toll bridge, waiting ½ hr or so at the bridge. Hands over travel and identification documents for people in the vehicle (D=US birth certificate and US Enhanced Driver’s License, Ant=Canadian passport, US Expired 2yr green card, US I-751 Approved letter, US Driver’s License, Other Relative=Canadian passport)

Canadian Border Guard (looking at documents): What are your citizenships?

D: I’m United States and the other two are Canadian (Ant and other relative)

Canadian Border Guard: Where are you going?

D: We’re taking them (pointing at other relative in the backseat) back home to Canada, as they were in the USA to visit my wife and I the week before in the USA.

Canadian Border Guard: How long are you going to Canada for?

D: About a week.

Canadian Border Guard: Anything to declare?

D: No.

Canadian Border Guard (looks at Ant in the passenger front seat): Did you go shopping at the duty free shop?

Ant: No we didn’t.

Canadian Border Guard: Is there anyone else in the vehicle that is Canadian?

Ant: Just me and them (other relative) in the backseat.

Canadian Border Guard: Ok. Have a good day. (hands back the documents)

April 25^th to May 2^nd

D and I spend the rest of the week in Canada, meeting family, friends, visiting scenic places, and having a good time enjoying our “Canadian vacation”. We had a great time celebrating by going out to places too, especially on our third wedding anniversary and on D’s birthday. Oh how the years have gone by, as we go back in time and remember about “where it all began here”….

May 2^nd (Crossed the border from Canada to the USA, Peace Bridge)

D: Waiting 5-10 minutes or so at the bridge. Hands over travel and identification documents for people in the vehicle (D=US birth certificate and US Enhanced Driver’s License, Ant=Canadian passport, US Expired 2yr green card, US I-751 Approved letter, US Driver’s License)

American Border Guard: What are your citizenships?

D: I’m United States and my wife (Ant) is Canadian.

American Border Guard: How long were you gone for?

D: About a week. To visit her (points at Ant) family and friends.

American Border Guard (looking at documents, especially the letter): What is this?

Ant: It’s my approval letter for the 10yr green card. There is no card yet, so this is all I have for now. And I’m still waiting for the last 9 months or so for this…grrr….

American Border Guard: I guess there have been delays for them making green cards.

Ant: (thinking: no kidding…duh….as if I didn’t know that already…believe me, if I had the card now I wouldn’t be traveling with this letter to confuse you on purpose…but do not say this out loud, as I was tired and wanted to get home as quickly as possible…)

American Border Guard: Ok you’re good to go (hands back documents, and oddly enough, doesn’t question us further about the vehicle full of personal belongings….)

Needless to say, I’m relieved about not having any problems traveling, yet again for the 4^th time during the I-751 process with an expired 2yr green card (and 3 times with NOA letter, and 1 time with Approval letter) and still with no 10yr green card. Meanwhile I still wait for the physical plastic 10yr card…and am still frustrated about this process….Oh well, at least I’m approved (no more worries about deportation, interviews, or rfes), and have the letter to prove such, so at least I can be happy about that for now!…

Hmmm…do I dare travel again to Canada for a 5^th time with no 10yr green card? (lol…who knows, maybe it won’t come to that the next time around…)

So to all who are still waiting for their 10yr green cards, don’t give up! And don’t let the USCIS mess with your vacation/travel plans while you are waiting either! Good luck on the rest of your immigration journeys too!

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

P.S. By the way, I forgot the mention that my I-751/10yr green card case was “touched/LUD” by CRIS on 04/28/09, co-incidentally on the exact day of our third anniversary. Yet the status online still remains the same… “case is being processed at where it was transferred...”

“Happy Anniversary from the USCIS!”…lol…Now where is my 10yr card????

Funny too, that my AOS/2yr green card case was last touched on 04/28/07, co-incidentally on the exact day of our first anniversary….

[Emancipation 2]

Ant.. no offense intended by this post at all.. but a 9 month timeline for VT right now is a great one.. I understand that it's beyond frustrating to wait for a document that takes it's time getting to you when you've spent all this money on it.. but I don't understand why you think it's a big deal to travel with the extra documentation.. the system works, either with the extension letter or the stamp in passport and I understand that you have a bunch of "unknowns" in your current situation with the baby etc. but I guess I fail to see the travesty of justice in all of this.. I guess I'd just be counting my lucky stars it only took 9 months given the current wait time..

That being said I'm glad you had a good time home & that your approval came before the baby.. everything is falling into place!

[antda 13]

Hi Emancipation and Everyone,

No problem, as there wasnt any offense here at all by your post. Yes, I understand that 9 months for the VSC (VSC to CSC transfer really) is average, compared to those who have waited at the VSC for a longer time (by the way, I feel sorry for those who have to wait longer for such). However, one of the things that bothers me (and others I'm sure) is the inconsistency of this all, as some people get approved at a shorter time (especially those directly at the CSC) while others get approved at a longer time (such as those directly at the VSC). It doesn't seem fair at all this way! As well, they "promised" to meet their goal of processing I-751s "within 6 months", and to not meet that goal/promise isn't right to the "paying customer", especially when one has to pay so much for it, and yet get so little use out of it. Bad customer service from the USCIS, indeed!

As for travelling with extra documentation, I have no problems with that, as I have travelled before with the extension letter and approval letter, with not too many problems at all (though it can be confusing on both ends at times, which can cause additional stress while crossing the border). Heck, I would like to travel again back home to Canada soon, as I like visiting there, and would like to overall do more travelling before it is too late.

What bothers me more however, is like you mentioned, the "unknown", in terms of what happens to my case especially in my "unique situation". Believe me, the thought of being "deported, interviewed, rfed", while I'm travelling, in labour, or anything else happening emergency-wise, is not such a good idea at all, which did cause me more worry and stress and putting a lot of other things in my life at dangerous risk. Is this risk with the USCIS worth it for me and my family...absolutely not!

Overall, regardless of immigration and personal situation, I think justice is needed for all who are going through this immgration process. We all need "better USCIS customer service", right?

Hopefully "everything will fall into place" too for you and for everyone else! Until then, don't give up, and good luck on the rest of your immigration journeys too.

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

Ant.. no offense intended by this post at all.. but a 9 month timeline for VT right now is a great one.. I understand that it's beyond frustrating to wait for a document that takes it's time getting to you when you've spent all this money on it.. but I don't understand why you think it's a big deal to travel with the extra documentation.. the system works, either with the extension letter or the stamp in passport and I understand that you have a bunch of "unknowns" in your current situation with the baby etc. but I guess I fail to see the travesty of justice in all of this.. I guess I'd just be counting my lucky stars it only took 9 months given the current wait time..

That being said I'm glad you had a good time home & that your approval came before the baby.. everything is falling into place!

Edited May 6, 2009 by AntandD