I-751 1 yr extension expired. Do you have to get an Infopass stamp?

[mindthegap 2,590]

If my understanding is correct, when your I-751 1-year extension letter expires but you are not yet approved, your current (legal) status simply continues as it is despite the 1 year extension letter expiring, and the 1 year extension letter is just a letter to show anyone that may require proof of status during that one year, but is not your status itself.

The Infopass appointment stamp is available if needed to show further proof of legal presence beyond this, but it is NOT a legal requirement to get one.

With that in mind, does your I-751 pending status show up in US immigrations systems - say at pre-clearance at a Canadian airport - therefore giving no issue re-entering the US with an expired 1 yr extension letter and no Infopass stamp?

Flying from Canada and via pre-clearance there would be no issue with the airline as there could potentially be in other countries, as once you are past pre-clearance you are classed as within the US and legally on a US domestic flight, so the sole point of contact and potential issue is US immigration.

In this case, there is no other need for 'proof' of status, and drivers license is valid for several months past the extension expiry. It is just this particular issue which is in question, and it would save the (quite considerable at this time) hassle of the Infopass appointment.

Firm evidence/experience of this would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Edited April 20, 2016 by mindthegap

[lost_at_sea 995]

You only need the extension letter, yes. The border systems don't know anything, even if you had a stamp in your passport, from what I can tell (if they do, they're REALLY good at playing dumb about your status). Do you use nexus or global entry? I've been using GE just fine and used it while my RoC was pending without a stamp and only the letter.

No need to infopass. They'll just want to see your expired GC and the letter at the pre-clearance stop.

Edited April 20, 2016 by lost_at_sea

[Mollie09 1,543]

You only need the extension letter, yes. The border systems don't know anything, even if you had a stamp in your passport, from what I can tell (if they do, they're REALLY good at playing dumb about your status). Do you use nexus or global entry? I've been using GE just fine and used it while my RoC was pending without a stamp and only the letter.

No need to infopass. They'll just want to see your expired GC and the letter at the pre-clearance stop.

I sent the DHS an email asking about this and they never got back to me. I'm waiting for my ROC, green card will expire soon. Can I continue using GE? Did you take your letter to a GE interview center, or did you just keep using it without problems?

(sorry to hijack, but thanks in advance if you can help)

[lost_at_sea 995]

I sent the DHS an email asking about this and they never got back to me. I'm waiting for my ROC, green card will expire soon. Can I continue using GE? Did you take your letter to a GE interview center, or did you just keep using it without problems?

(sorry to hijack, but thanks in advance if you can help)

Yep, I used GE while doing RoC. When you get a new GC, you need to drop into the GE center and have them update your records.

[lost_at_sea 995]

You know, I just went back and looked in my calendar, and during the 3 months between my GC expiring and getting my new GC, I didn't actually leave the USA (I travel a bunch, it's easy to forget). I think I would have needed to stop into the GE center to update them with that document for the system not to have got mad at me. I updated them with the new GC when I got that.

So, in short. Ignore me and my use of GE with RoC. Sorry.

Proper order is: Drop into GE office if you need to travel between your 2-year GC expiring and the new one showing up, show them your extension letter and they should extend the GE-OK window. If you're not travelling in that period of time, there's no need to bother - just wait for the 10-year.

When you get the 10 year GC, drop in again and have them update the details.

You don't need to make an appointment to do GE document updates - they do them as walk-ins.

Also, if you don't bother to update your info with GE, the system will just say "invalid details" or whatever and you just do the immigration dance like a non-GE user, so it's not a problem - just means you're back in the slow queue for a while.

Edited April 20, 2016 by lost_at_sea

[Mollie09 1,543]

You know, I just went back and looked in my calendar, and during the 3 months between my GC expiring and getting my new GC, I didn't actually leave the USA (I travel a bunch, it's easy to forget). I think I would have needed to stop into the GE center to update them with that document for the system not to have got mad at me. I updated them with the new GC when I got that.

So, in short. Ignore me and my use of GE with RoC. Sorry.

Proper order is: Drop into GE office if you need to travel between your 2-year GC expiring and the new one showing up, show them your extension letter and they should extend the GE-OK window. If you're not travelling in that period of time, there's no need to bother - just wait for the 10-year.

When you get the 10 year GC, drop in again and have them update the details.

You don't need to make an appointment to do GE document updates - they do them as walk-ins.

Also, if you don't bother to update your info with GE, the system will just say "invalid details" or whatever and you just do the immigration dance like a non-GE user, so it's not a problem - just means you're back in the slow queue for a while.

Thank you for the response! I'm not sure what I'll do, I travel a bunch and GE is an enormous help.