Green Card expires this week ROC

[Mily90 8]

You are not correct, sorry. If one needs to travel but already has an extension letter, USCIS will provide the I-551 stamp because the extension letter is not sufficient to return to the USA after travel.

Okay thank you for clearing that up

We are planning a trip to Mexico in April.

Deny because of what ?

You think because you filed 'on time and before the deadline' they might deny?

i am a stressful person i am very detailed and worry for everything. We have filed on time since k1 and now we just had to wait till the last moment.

[Dohan 133]

Moderators, please step in, we cannot be providing incorrect details to people. I am 100% certain that it is very risky to advise someone to leave the country without the I-551 stamp. The I-797 by itself is NOT a travel document, and not all immigration officers accept the I 797. All that letter is saying is that one has a petition pending. Also, I 797 is not even sufficient for financial institutions where you have to prove your status.

I have never heard of anyone being denied an I-551 stamp if their green card is expired while the new one is pending

[Mily90 8]

Moderators, please step in, we cannot be providing incorrect details to people. I am 100% certain that it is very risky to advise someone to leave the country without the I-551 stamp. The I-797 by itself is NOT a travel document, and not all immigration officers accept the I 797. All that letter is saying is that one has a petition pending. Also, I 797 is not even sufficient for financial institutions where you have to prove your status.

I have never heard of anyone being denied an I-551 stamp if their green card is expired while the new one is pending

Can you just ask for a stamp when you go get the biometrics?

[Dohan 133]

Can you just ask for a stamp when you go get the biometrics?

No the places that do biometrics don't have the ability to provide the I-551 stamp. Just get an infopass and do it.

[Mily90 8]

No the places that do biometrics don't have the ability to provide the I-551 stamp. Just get an infopass and do it.

Okay thanks if we really need it I will do or just wait for all this to be over then travel I just dont want to add more stress to the plate.

THANK YOU FOR THE FEEDBACK

[Pitaya 2,577]

The first paragraph of the Form I-797 ROC petition receipt (NOA1) 1-year extension letter clearly states:

Your conditional resident status is extended for a period of one year. During the one-year extension you are authorized employment and travel. .......

From our personal experience during our ninth month term awaiting ROC adjudication, my wife and I took a day trip to the Richmond, BC area from Seattle. Upon entering Canada, at the Blaine Peach Arch Border Crossing, I gave the Canadian officer our two unexpired (US and PRC) passports, her expired GC, the original extension letter, and a copy of our marriage certificate. We were allowed into Canada after we had answered a couple of basic questions. Had a fun day getting lost in the Vancouver area. Later on that day, we were headed back via the same border crossing. On the US side, I gave the CBP officer the same documents that I had previously given when entering Canada. He examined them, and motioned us on. We got home a couple hours later. No muss, no fuss, a fun day !!

We kept our original I-797 receipt notice in a plastic presentation sheet page protector,

YMMV.

Good luck on your immigration journey.

[NikLR 13,232]

SOME people have had issues returning to the USA with the NOA1 letter however majority of people have zero issues.

[washington1972 12]

No, you are not correct.

1. The extension letter is absolutely sufficient to return to the US, and it says so clearly on the letter and on all US government guides for what documents are needed to return to the US. Whether some airlines act incorrectly is another matter.

2. People have reported that USCIS refused to issue them an I-551 stamp because they already have an extension letter.

it make since, so when the one year extension letter expired, do we need to have I-551 passport stamp? if we don't receive green card before extension letter expired? thanks

[newacct 688]

it make since, so when the one year extension letter expired, do we need to have I-551 passport stamp? if we don't receive green card before extension letter expired? thanks

You can get an I-551 stamp within 90 days of the extension letter expiring.

[Lemonslice 4,977]

Moderators, please step in, we cannot be providing incorrect details to people. I am 100% certain that it is very risky to advise someone to leave the country without the I-551 stamp. The I-797 by itself is NOT a travel document, and not all immigration officers accept the I 797. All that letter is saying is that one has a petition pending. Also, I 797 is not even sufficient for financial institutions where you have to prove your status.

I have never heard of anyone being denied an I-551 stamp if their green card is expired while the new one is pending

Why would American immigration officers not recognize the I-797? I've heard of some foreign airline employees not being aware of the I797, but all stories ended with the immigrant coming back to the USA. I travelled to 12 or 15 countries during ROC without any problem presenting my I797 and expired green card to check in on my return flights to the USA.

While I agree that there is nothing wrong with requesting a I-551 stamp, there is no need to say that it is very risky to leave the country without it and get paranoid.

The letter says much more than you have a petition pending, it actually extend your status; my letter said clearly:

"Your conditional resident status is extended for a period of one year. During the one-year extension you are authorized employment and travel"

Edited February 10, 2016 by Boston~Montreal

[agrabs 246]

Moderators, please step in, we cannot be providing incorrect details to people. I am 100% certain that it is very risky to advise someone to leave the country without the I-551 stamp. The I-797 by itself is NOT a travel document, and not all immigration officers accept the I 797. All that letter is saying is that one has a petition pending. Also, I 797 is not even sufficient for financial institutions where you have to prove your status.

I have never heard of anyone being denied an I-551 stamp if their green card is expired while the new one is pending

My husband was denied an 1-551 stamp in September. They will not give it at the Kansas city office unless your extension letter is about to expire.

[kalusha 21]

Why would American immigration officers not recognize the I-797? I've heard of some foreign airline employees not being aware of the I797, but all stories ended with the immigrant coming back to the USA. I travelled to 12 or 15 countries during ROC without any problem presenting my I797 and expired green card to check in on my return flights to the USA.

While I agree that there is nothing wrong with requesting a I-551 stamp, there is no need to say that it is very risky to leave the country without it and get paranoid.

The letter says much more than you have a petition pending, it actually extend your status; my letter said clearly:

"Your conditional resident status is extended for a period of one year. During the one-year extension you are authorized employment and travel"

The evidence is clearly seen in your letter. Thanks for providing it.