Travelling before and after filing Removing Conditions

[yvesandching 0]

Hi, Everyone,

It has been a long time since I visited here, I need some advise on what to do when traveling before or/and after filing Romoving Conditions.

My GC is going to expire in July 2011, and need to file removing conditions between April and July 2011.

I want to go home to see my family and friends, and now I am planning to go in Feb 2011 or July 2011, so my questions are:

1. Will I have any problems coming back here if I travel in Feb, due to GC expire in July 2011. (from what I understand is that you need to have a visa or GC that's good for at least 6 months to travel back to the US)

2. How long does it take usally to get the condition removed and receive a new GC? My best friend's wedding is going to be in July and I really want to attend.

3. If I remembered correctly, when I went for my interview last time, The officer told me that if I did not receive the new GC before this one expires after I filed, I can go to the USCIS to get my passport stamped which allows me an extension of 1 yr. Is that correct?

Thank you all for your answers in advance.

Good luck to all that's filed for removing conditions already.

[HeatDeath 430]

Hi, Everyone,

It has been a long time since I visited here, I need some advise on what to do when traveling before or/and after filing Romoving Conditions.

My GC is going to expire in July 2011, and need to file removing conditions between April and July 2011.

I want to go home to see my family and friends, and now I am planning to go in Feb 2011 or July 2011, so my questions are:

1. Will I have any problems coming back here if I travel in Feb, due to GC expire in July 2011. (from what I understand is that you need to have a visa or GC that's good for at least 6 months to travel back to the US)

2. How long does it take usally to get the condition removed and receive a new GC? My best friend's wedding is going to be in July and I really want to attend.

3. If I remembered correctly, when I went for my interview last time, The officer told me that if I did not receive the new GC before this one expires after I filed, I can go to the USCIS to get my passport stamped which allows me an extension of 1 yr. Is that correct?

Thank you all for your answers in advance.

Good luck to all that's filed for removing conditions already.

As long as you are back 4-6 weeks before the GC expires, so you have plenty of time to get the RoC submitted before the GC's expiry date, you won't have any problems. The requirement that a passport have 6 months of validity at travel time is usually a precaution to ensure that it does not expire during any unforeseen extension of the trip. GC's have no such requirement.

My understanding is that RoC usually takes 4-6 months. But that shouldn't affect traveling. When your RoC application is initially accepted, you get a letter which extends your GC validity for another year. Many people have traveled with an expired GC plus the extension letter with no problems at all. You just need to make sure you have someone very reliable collecting your mail, so you can receive / find out about, and respond to the biometrics appointment letter [or any other USCIS correspondence] in a timely manner.

As long as you are back in the US for your bio appointment, or can reschedule it in a timely manner, everything should be fine.

They don't normally give a stamp for the one year extension. You just carry the letter (it's actually your I-751 NOA1 receipt notice) with you.

[MsZ 6]

Some relevant documents from USCIS :

http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/Resources/B5en.pdf - about how long you can be out of the country, about biometrics, etc.

http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/Laws/Memoranda/Static_Files_Memoranda/Archives%201998-2008/2003/crextensn120203.pdf - about when a temporary I-551 (green card) stamp is to be issued in your passport

The upshot is, you'll only get a temporary I-551 stamp if both your Greencard and your NOA extending status for another year (I-797) from your I-751 (Petition to lift conditions) are expired.

Probably a good idea to carry the second document with you when crossing the border into the US since my husband was erroneously told that he needed the stamp once his GC expires.