Traveling to Ghana with expired green card and NOA

[J J Moose 3]

Hello fellow VJers,

My husband (PR) and I (USC) are going to file for ROC in March 2013, and I was doing some research here to know what to expect. I see from other posts that it's highly unlikely that his new green card will arrive before the old one expires. Of course, he was planning on traveling home to Ghana in June, right when the conditional green card will expire. I know that from the USCIS side of things, the expired green card and the NOA will get him right back in to the United States. However, we have had some issues with poorly trained airport staff in Ghana. They barely took his (costly and long-time battled for) K-1 visa to allow him to board the plane, all because his passport was "old" even though it was unexpired. Seriously, they had to call in higher-ups to clear him to board.

So I'm nervous about them identifying the letter as legitimate and not causing him to miss his flight. I won't be traveling with him, either. We would move his travel dates closer (prior to the expiration of the green card) but unfortunately work and school obligations won't allow it.

Has anyone traveled to Ghana (or even to Africa) and dealt with this issue? Did you have any trouble departing from the airport?

Thank you for any insight you can give.

[minae 5]

Hello fellow VJers,

My husband (PR) and I (USC) are going to file for ROC in March 2013, and I was doing some research here to know what to expect. I see from other posts that it's highly unlikely that his new green card will arrive before the old one expires. Of course, he was planning on traveling home to Ghana in June, right when the conditional green card will expire. I know that from the USCIS side of things, the expired green card and the NOA will get him right back in to the United States. However, we have had some issues with poorly trained airport staff in Ghana. They barely took his (costly and long-time battled for) K-1 visa to allow him to board the plane, all because his passport was "old" even though it was unexpired. Seriously, they had to call in higher-ups to clear him to board.

So I'm nervous about them identifying the letter as legitimate and not causing him to miss his flight. I won't be traveling with him, either. We would move his travel dates closer (prior to the expiration of the green card) but unfortunately work and school obligations won't allow it.

Has anyone traveled to Ghana (or even to Africa) and dealt with this issue? Did you have any trouble departing from the airport?

Thank you for any insight you can give.

Well! I will advise you that if his trip is not urgent and compulsory, he should postpone it till he has the 10-yr GC. Somebody (a VJer) went to Nigeria and was not allowed to board the plane even though he has a valid EAD/AP card. The airport authority claimed that the EAD/AP card doesn't carry his finger print (Biometrics). You can imagine what complication this is, when he successfully left US with the same card with a return ticket only to be denied return to the US. I think your husband maybe fine if he will be going out of US to a familiar terrain who accepts the NOA notice as extension of GC.

[J J Moose 3]

Thanks for your reply, minae. I think your advice is probably smart.