Cruising with an expired green card

[darkchilde794 5]

Hello!

I just want to share my experience with traveling on an expired green card via cruise ship to anyone who may be doing it too --

I applied to remove the conditions off my green card last December. Like everyone else, the application is somewhere in limbo and I am looking at an 8 month wait for my green card to be renewed. Before finding out about this delay, my husband and I booked a cruise that departed from Baltimore to Bermuda. Naturally, I was worried about being denied boarding or having difficulty entering the US, etc. I was especially worried about NOT being allowed in Bermuda because I hold a passport from the Philippines and would have needed a visa to enter the country.

I am very happy to report that traveling with an expired green card and an extension letter was a breeze! I brought my passport, expired green card, letter of extension, marriage certificate (if needed) and photocopies of my documents. When checking in the cruise ship online, I put the "renewed" dated on my green card (ie. if GC expired 10-2-2011, I put down "10-2-2012"). At port, I showed my passport, green card and letter to the cruise personnel checking us in. She was unsure of what to do, but luckily decided to go to a manager right away. Her manager read the letter, told her to photocopy the document and gave the green signal to continue the check in procedure. I breathed a sigh of relief when she asked for a credit card for the room -- if they wanted our money, they wanted us in! Ironically, we were checking in beside another couple in the same situation as us! The wife had an expired green card and went to get her passport stamped (so she did not have a green card with her). The cruise ship personnel did not know what to do with it. I am unsure how long they ended up in the check in counter, but they did get in the cruise ship!

At port in Bermuda, I had no problems getting in and out of the cruise ship. I only showed my driver's license... they don't even check to see if you are able to officially enter/exit the country. I assume they rely on the cruise ship to do that.

Again, I was extremely worried going home. In fact, we were asked to line up in a different area in the customs section of the port. When we finally got to a customs officer, my expired green card posed no problem. I had the usual finger print check/photo done... and then we were asked to go to an office (I assume it was the port's secondary inspection area) where the customs officer handed my documents to a superior officer. My husband and I got a bit nervous at that point... but after a few minutes, he handed my documents back, said all was good and directed us to the hallway out of the building. Ironically, the same couple with the same situation that checked in at the same time as us, were also in line behind us at customs! I do not know how they fared because we left right after. The entire exit experience was a mere 20 minutes!

So anyway for those of you cruising, no worries, it will all be fine! I made several photocopies of my documents but did not need them at all (we were lucky to be in the cruise ship check in kiosk beside a photocopier, so the cruise ship personnel did it easily). I also brought a copy of our marriage license, but that was not needed as well. Just make sure you have all your original documents (I even brought the one about the biometrics), be clear with what is going on and don't be nervous. And enjoy your travels!

And oh! My husband and I are driving to Toronto on Wednesday so I might be back with my experience crossing the border with the extension letter

[engineer21 51]

Thanks for sharing! Sounds like life (and travels) go on with pending ROC.

Glad you had a nice trip

[jimmysmitts 9]

Thank you for posting this we are in the same situation and traveling to Bermuda. very helpful!

[VOL 425]

If it an closed loop cruise. Like leave from Florida and return to florida all you need is like your Driver Licenses and Social Security card. Did a close loop cruise a few years ago on a expired GC.