Can I travel - while I-751 is pending?

[j25 0]

I got I-751 receipt notice stating, “your conditional status is extended for one year. During one year you are authorized employment and travel”

Do I have to carry receipt notice along with passport on trip out of US?

[payxibka 10,047]

I got I-751 receipt notice stating, “your conditional status is extended for one year. During one year you are authorized employment and travel”

Do I have to carry receipt notice along with passport on trip out of US?

yes

[Kathryn41 3,205]

You also need to carry the expired green card. The green card and the NOA letter together make up the necessary proof that you are legally entitled to work and to travel, and it is the date on the green card that is used to determine the 'year'.

[j25 0]

You also need to carry the expired green card. The green card and the NOA letter together make up the necessary proof that you are legally entitled to work and to travel, and it is the date on the green card that is used to determine the 'year'.

I have heard that some people go and schedule InfoPass in order to get I-551 stamp as proof of legal status while their I-751 is pending. Is this true?

What good is receipt notice in some foreign country? Their custom officer will not accept this receipt as proof of green card – and will not let you board plain on way back to US – once they see expired conditional green card.

[Immigrant2009 0]

You also need to carry the expired green card. The green card and the NOA letter together make up the necessary proof that you are legally entitled to work and to travel, and it is the date on the green card that is used to determine the 'year'.

I have heard that some people go and schedule InfoPass in order to get I-551 stamp as proof of legal status while their I-751 is pending. Is this true?

What good is receipt notice in some foreign country? Their custom officer will not accept this receipt as proof of green card – and will not let you board plain on way back to US – once they see expired conditional green card.

Hi j25,

I read here on VJ the some people have concern regarding travel aboard and the immigration folks over there not accpeting the NOA. I haven't heard any issue yet. I know having a stamp (I-551) seems official and more valid than a piece of paper but it's on official document from USCIS. Plus if you have the biometric letter as well that adds more credibility to the NOA.

I tried getting I-551 although I had NOA, but the IO (Immigration Officer) didn't give me one. He said, that both employers and immigration officer at US borders and aboard should accept it as it's document from US Immigration. He argued with him for 10-15 minutes or so but to no avail, he said if I didn't have NOA he would have no problem giving me a stamp but NOA is same as having a stamp in the pasport. You can try getting Infopass and try getting a stamp, it all depends on the Immigration officer.

Good Luck.

[j25 0]

Hi j25,

I read here on VJ the some people have concern regarding travel aboard and the immigration folks over there not accpeting the NOA. I haven't heard any issue yet. I know having a stamp (I-551) seems official and more valid than a piece of paper but it's on official document from USCIS. Plus if you have the biometric letter as well that adds more credibility to the NOA.

Hi,

I am more concerned about foreign customs. Once here in US I am sure that they will (must) accept their own document – but what about foreign countries.

I am very skeptical that they will accept anything other then green card or stamp in passport.

Thank you for your input. I appreciate it.

[HappyNathy 0]

I have the same concerns.

I am taking a trip to London this June to visit my sister. At that stage my actual green card will be expired and I will be traveling with the extension letter and my stamped biometrics notice.

[Alex 0]

I have the same concerns.

I am taking a trip to London this June to visit my sister. At that stage my actual green card will be expired and I will be traveling with the extension letter and my stamped biometrics notice.

Why would you be concerned with a valid document that says your green card is extended for one year? Paranoia runs rampant in this place.

[HappyNathy 0]

It's not paranoia when one has had unnecessary difficulties in the past.

I have certainly had the misfortune of dealing with people in power who were not as informed as what they should have been. All we are expressing is a concern.

And perhaps if you have nothing to add, then you should add nothing?

[isleta521 5]

Just thought I could mention:

Went to Norway for work and took my Val with me. We spent a couple days in Amsterdam on the way back home. We went with her expired 2yr greencard and her extension letter. Val also had to renew her old passport so she had to show them two Brasilian passports. They studied both passports and documents and didnt give it a second look. Val did not have any problems at all with her docs. But me . . . . . . they gave me the third degree departing Amsterdam to the US . They questioned me about my work, what I was doing in Norway, why I was in Amsterdam. It seemed never ending. Finally, after dumping my briefcase and showing them my work documents, they "released" me.

Anyway, back to topic. I think if you feel better to get the stamp in your passport, then try it - it cannot hurt. But we didnt have any problem with Val's.

[fozzie 41]

From what I understand they will NOT give you the stamp if you have the NOA1.

[j25 0]

Why would you be concerned with a valid document that says your green card is extended for one year? Paranoia runs rampant in this place.

Let me tell you something about paranoia:

Extension letter might be valid document here in US, but it is nothing more then piece of paper in foreign countries. Trust me on this. What does this piece of paper means to non-english speaking person? What they want to see is either un-expiried green card or passport with valid visa. They do not care and do not know for anything else. And frankly, they shouldn't. Sometimes it is very dificult to catch fake visa in passport - not to mention piece of paper that can be easily forged.

Even if they let you go after secondary investigation - what about missed plane connection, lost luggage, absence from work, additional hotel fares etc. ?!

USCIS should provide us with extended green card instead of this letter - so we don't have problems while travelling.

And by the way - it took me half hour to explain this extension letter to my employer... aftre he saw that my green card expired. And he was still in doubt - keepin expired green card in hand...

[Killer_Clown_2009 0]

I haven't travelled a whole lot and so haven't had the experience of having a non english speaking person at customs. Wouldn't the person at customs for planes going to the US speak English? Or am I just being dumb?

I think you should make an infopass appointment, if you plan on travelling and see if they can give you some better documentation. Worst case is that they turn you down.

I know all about paranoia. My greencard expired last Thursday (and I filed to remove conditions 2 days before that).

[Alex 0]

It's not paranoia when one has had unnecessary difficulties in the past.

I have certainly had the misfortune of dealing with people in power who were not as informed as what they should have been. All we are expressing is a concern.

And perhaps if you have nothing to add, then you should add nothing?

I'll add whatever I feel like. People in power know these documents exist and if they don't then you tell them and stand your ground. My wife has left her country many times with this document and yes they gave her a hard time but you know what? She gives them a hard time back and she has no problems, of course she's not paranoid about the immigration process because she knows we are in the right.

Edited May 20, 2009 by Alex

[Italian_in_NYC 259]

First of all, there's no such thing as foreign customs/immigration checking your status in the US.

The only people who check are airlines employees or ICTS (agency that screens passengers for security reasons) employees.

I traveled 4 times on my expired green card. The only time the employee took more than 5 seconds to realize was at Heathrow, I guess he wasn't the brightest one of the bunch. Anyways, no problem, he just checked my paperwork several times.