I-751 horrible experience while (attempting) to travel abroad

[merc0230 28]

Costa Rica has been VERY difficult for us as my wife never got her original green-card so she had to travel using the stamp. Several times we were delayed while they tried to figure out that "valid for one year" meant just that. It was horrible, we were always concerned that she would not be able to leave CR. Last time, they told us we were going to have to go to the US embassy and get a letter from them...fortunately, my wife is nicer than me and talked some sense into them. (I was about to explode ).

We finally have her GC, but now I'm concerned her married name doesn't match her passport

[General Buhari 46]

So we're traveling in about 3 weeks to Nigeria.

We went into USCIS and got stop in the passport and we'll still take the letter with us. The USCIS lady still managed to screw up the star and crossed something out and I hope the gestapos at lagos don't take issue with it.

Here's the kicker, she almost didn't give us the stamp and took me asking for a Supervisor before she went and asked and then cam back grudgingly to give us a stamp and said she has to do background check first.

OP, sorry you went through this.

[Cathi 5,755]

a green card expired or not, extension letter or not does not allow you to travel to other countries without a visa. Period. Until you become a US citizen you need the appropriate visa to travel abroad. My husband travels to China all the time for work, he must obtain a visa to China with his JORDANIAN citizenship. Hopefully within the year he will have his US citizenship and life in the traveling will be easier. But common sense would tell you that you are not a citizen here and therefore you don't not share the benefits of being a citizen until you become one

[Lemonslice 4,858]

a green card expired or not, extension letter or not does not allow you to travel to other countries without a visa. Period. Until you become a US citizen you need the appropriate visa to travel abroad. My husband travels to China all the time for work, he must obtain a visa to China with his JORDANIAN citizenship. Hopefully within the year he will have his US citizenship and life in the traveling will be easier. But common sense would tell you that you are not a citizen here and therefore you don't not share the benefits of being a citizen until you become one

Unless it's Canada...

[Tinypumpkins 2]

But common sense would tell you that you are not a citizen here and therefore you don't not share the benefits of being a citizen until you become one

Oh of course, it's common sense, isn't it? When the Costa Rica embassy website explicitly states that a permanant resident DOES NOT need a visa. Also, nothing about not accepting an extension letter. Things may be easy for you, presumable as a U.S. Citizen, but I just want it known that it isn't as a permanent t resident. After 13 years as a resident, I consider the U.S. as my home. I just want other in the same situation to be aware. It is not always "common sense." It depends on the person's nationality and their situation.

[raven52 233]

Gosh, had no idea about such a thing.

I thought that the "one year extension letter" was a 'gold ticket' to anywhere.

I was sure thinking wrong. Thank you very much, for relating your experience with us, it 'opened my eyes' as wife will file ROC in October.

[jordan85 8]

Am I missing something here? If you travel anywhere outside the US, don't you need a passport to enter another country? A green card alone won't get you into anywhere without a passport, Canada maybe being an exception.

Edited August 18, 2015 by jordan85

[Boiler 45,538]

So is Switzerland.

[NancyNguyen 1,657]

Am I missing something here? If you travel anywhere outside the US, don't you need a passport to enter another country? A green card alone won't get you into anywhere without a passport, Canada maybe being an exception.

I believe you are missing whole story here, please read it from beginning.

[Shauneg 762]

a green card expired or not, extension letter or not does not allow you to travel to other countries without a visa. Period. Until you become a US citizen you need the appropriate visa to travel abroad. My husband travels to China all the time for work, he must obtain a visa to China with his JORDANIAN citizenship. Hopefully within the year he will have his US citizenship and life in the traveling will be easier. But common sense would tell you that you are not a citizen here and therefore you don't not share the benefits of being a citizen until you become one

Not entirely true. Many countries don't require a visa if you have a green card and are residing in the U.S....just input information here and it will let you know....

https://www.visahq.com/

Edited August 18, 2015 by Shauneg

[Shauneg 762]

Sorry use this...http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/560341-foreign-spouse-here-and-want-to-know-if-you-need-a-visa-to-travel/

[Hotter Otter 1,211]

Thanks for sharing as I didn't know that would be an issue or that Costa Rica was that strict. Sorry it ruined your trip.

As a born worrier I probably wouldn't travel with the expired green card and letter as I'd be expecting something like that.

Edited August 18, 2015 by Hotter Otter

[Tinypumpkins 2]

Am I missing something here? If you travel anywhere outside the US, don't you need a passport to enter another country? A green card alone won't get you into anywhere without a passport, Canada maybe being an exception.

Yes I had my passport--valid until 2022. I didn't mention it because I assumed everyone knew that I would require a passport to travel anywhere. I showed the Costa Rican immigration officer my US visa (also unfortunately expired) and my drivers license in desperation but it didn't help, because they were all US docs. I also don't think it helped that I have an Indian passport--one flight attendant questioned me about having a "yellow card." Apparently when you're from certain countries you need to show proof that you don't have yellow fever. I later checked about this on their website, and India isn't even one of the countries on the list. I had no idea what she was talking about and simply responded that I've lived in the U.S. for 13 years. She just said ok and let me board.

[Russ&Caro 1,549]

Yes I had my passport--valid until 2022. I didn't mention it because I assumed everyone knew that I would require a passport to travel anywhere. I showed the Costa Rican immigration officer my US visa (also unfortunately expired) and my drivers license in desperation but it didn't help, because they were all US docs. I also don't think it helped that I have an Indian passport--one flight attendant questioned me about having a "yellow card." Apparently when you're from certain countries you need to show proof that you don't have yellow fever. I later checked about this on their website, and India isn't even one of the countries on the list. I had no idea what she was talking about and simply responded that I've lived in the U.S. for 13 years. She just said ok and let me board.

Oh yes, I forgot all about this requirement when I related my earlier story. I mentioned that USC's generally have no problem when traveling to Costa Rica. However, if you're traveling to CR from one of the countries on the list as a risk for yellow fever, then you need a "yellow card" which is given to you by a doctor after vaccination for yellow fever. But there's another catch... you need the vaccination to occur some 2 weeks before you arrive in CR. I was fortunate. I realized this requirement almost immediately upon my arrival to Colombia. I got the vaccination and was able to depart directly to CR a few weeks later. So if you're hopping to different countries on your trip, don't assume your US Citizenship status will get you by all the travel restrictions.

Moral of the story: If you travel abroad, know precisely all of the requirements for that travel.

[KierenHby 899]

That was the only thing, I only lost about $200 total because of transportation and some hotel policies. The airline didn't charge me anything, as I had booked using my miles--which I plan to get back because they shouldn't have let me board in the first place. The amount of embarrassment, frustration and shame involved in the whole ordeal made me feel like a lost a lot more though!

Good luck with that. The airline is not responsible for enforcing immigration policies. CR immigration made the decision to deny you entry; airline is not at fault.

I've seen youtube documentaries with passengers denied entry at airports and being sent back on the next flight. In such situations, the inadmissible passenger is detained, escorted to the flight by security, and passport is handed to the flight crew until arrival. Turning away happens more often than you think. You didn't break any laws, therefore nothing to be ashamed of.