Travel while waiting for AOS

[RobBell 32]

My wife just started a new job which is asking her to travel to China on March 28. Trouble is her 2 year green card expires on March 26. She had her biometrics appointment on Feb 3, but it sounds like it is not likely that she will have her new green card in time.

What are her options for travel if any? I did not submit an I-131 when I submitted the I-751 as her new job was not even a consideration at that time.

[BigDaddy28 228]

She will be fine if she has the extension letter with her

[RobBell 32]

She will be fine if she has the extension letter with her

We don't have an extension letter? Just for I-797C notice of appointment. Should we receive that before her gc expires?

[Dave&Roza 748]

We don't have an extension letter? Just for I-797C notice of appointment. Should we receive that before her gc expires?

Read the I-797C very carefully. There is a section on it that states that this acts to extend the validity of the applicant's GC for a period of one year--so this IS the extension letter.

If this is not the extension letter, you will need to make an INFOpass appointment to show the USCIS that your wife has imminent travel and needs an I-551 stamp in her passport so she can re-enter the US. That is quicker than requesting another copy of the NOA and actually will work in your favor in the future as most airlines recognize the I-551 stamp, but it is hit and miss for the extension letter.

Dave

[Pitaya 2,577]

~Moved from Fam.-based AOS to ROC Forum~

~Inquiry about ROC-related travel, past AOS~

[RobBell 32]

Read the I-797C very carefully. There is a section on it that states that this acts to extend the validity of the applicant's GC for a period of one year--so this IS the extension letter.

If this is not the extension letter, you will need to make an INFOpass appointment to show the USCIS that your wife has imminent travel and needs an I-551 stamp in her passport so she can re-enter the US. That is quicker than requesting another copy of the NOA and actually will work in your favor in the future as most airlines recognize the I-551 stamp, but it is hit and miss for the extension letter.

Dave

Thanks! We made an Infopass appt for Monday afternoon. Hopefully that will work out.

[RobBell 32]

Just in case someone stumbles into this topic in the future. I found out that the original I-797 is the one that states it extends the validity of the current green card. This is the one that allows travel as long as you carry the I-797 and the green card together.

The confusion is that most of the other forms that come after the fact also are I-797 but like I-797c or something like that (I assume they all have an extra letter at the end). The I-797c form that I was looking at was the appointment letter. This one does not have the statement that it extends the GC.

I did find the original I-797 with the statement so that should be sufficient.

Thanks!

[charmander 692]

We don't have an extension letter? Just for I-797C notice of appointment. Should we receive that before her gc expires?

So you never received the first NOA letter? If you look at the biometrics appointment letter, under "application/petition/request number" there should be two tracking numbers. If you go USCIS case tracking website, one of those numbers should not work, and the other would bring a screen "On xxx date, we received your CRI-89...." That date is when they mailed you your 1 year extension letter. If you haven't received that letter, call the customer service number asap and ask for that NOA 1 year extension letter. I am sure they can mail you another copy right away but who knows they may ask you to do an infopass appointment as well. Once you have that letter in hand, you are good to travel wherever you want.

[charmander 692]

Just in case someone stumbles into this topic in the future. I found out that the original I-797 is the one that states it extends the validity of the current green card. This is the one that allows travel as long as you carry the I-797 and the green card together.

The confusion is that most of the other forms that come after the fact also are I-797 but like I-797c or something like that (I assume they all have an extra letter at the end). The I-797c form that I was looking at was the appointment letter. This one does not have the statement that it extends the GC.

I did find the original I-797 with the statement so that should be sufficient.

Thanks!

I guess we submitted posts at the same time. Never mind my first posting. I'm glad you found the letter. Enjoy your trip!

[RobBell 32]

I guess we submitted posts at the same time. Never mind my first posting. I'm glad you found the letter. Enjoy your trip!

Thanks!