International Travel on an Expired Green Card

[Toshtishtash 1]

Hi all,

I have a quick question for my Dad. He has lived in the states for 10 years now and his green card expired a month ago. He has just sent all the paperwork off to renew it and was supposed to receive a receipt number within 24 hours. He didn't receive it...

The problem is, his Mom lives in South Africa and is very sick. He wants to fly over there on Monday... If he doesn't have that receipt number, is he going to have issues?

I'd appreciate some advice!

Thanks

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Make an info pass appointment and try to get his passport stamped

[Dave&Roza 748]

Hi all,

I have a quick question for my Dad. He has lived in the states for 10 years now and his green card expired a month ago. He has just sent all the paperwork off to renew it and was supposed to receive a receipt number within 24 hours. He didn't receive it...

The problem is, his Mom lives in South Africa and is very sick. He wants to fly over there on Monday... If he doesn't have that receipt number, is he going to have issues?

I'd appreciate some advice!

Thanks

Good news is that it is the card that has expired and not his LPR status. He might want to call the airlines to see if there will be any troubles of them allowing him to board the airplane to return to the US. They might look at his GC and not allow him on the plane as it is expired. They may know that an expired GC for a LPR does not mean the status expires like it does for a conditional LPR. I would either get teh stamp in the passport or make certain the airlines will allow him on the return flight with his expired GC.

Good luck,

Dave

[newacct 688]

Get the stamp if possible. If not, the worst case is that he'll need to get a transportation letter from the U.S. consulate there if the airlines won't let him on. Or you can try to mail it to him while he's there.

Edited July 5, 2013 by newacct

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

He can leave, but he will not be allowed to return to the United States without a new Green Card as the airline will simply tell him to get lost. He would thus have to visit the US consulate in SA and get an I-551 stamp in his passport. It would be better for him to wait for the receipt from the USCIS and get this stamp here in the US of A.

I would have suggested for your dad to become a US citizen during the decade (or longer) he has been a resident, especially as it would have had no impact on his current citizenship.

Edited July 5, 2013 by Brother Hesekiel

[NickD 203]

This really hit home when my mom died, people that really never helped her or visited her when she was alive and healthy, seemed very obligated to show up at her funeral and even bring her lots of flowers.

Wife never had problems leaving with a green card, never had to show it, but sure had to show a valid passport, they claimed for identification purposes only before she would get her ticket. Only thing airport security wanted to see was that ticket showing a flight for that day before they would ever even get in line. Their only intestest was she wasn't carrying any bottles over 3 ounces.

Leaving her home country was a problem without a valid US visa, that is when she either had to show a valid green card, or an I-551 stramp in her foreign passport, or the last time, her US passport before her home country would even let her leave. Could be a problem for your dad also. Main problem could be entering the USA POE without that valid green card, or a visa, or a valid US passport, or that I-551 stamp. She came back with an I-551 because the USCIS was so darn slow in issuing her, her ten year card.

Thinking about that Edward Snowden guy now stuck in that Moscow transit zone as to how long is cash is going out paying those super high prices for food they charge at airports. Tom Hanks made out okay in that movie, "The Terminal", in about the same situation, but that was just a movie, not real life. Would get that I-551 stamp in his current valid foreign passport, if that isn't expired also.

Another problem my wife has, keeping that foreign passport valid, so she can visit her mom, and the consulate she has to go to, to show up in person, isn't exactly across the street from us.