Travel to Argentina with expired GC and Extension Letter

[AmberAnne 1]

I am an overcompensator but I am asking to set my mind at ease. My husband has his expired green card and his one year extension letter. His passport is Argentine and we are traveling via United Airlines.

Questions:

He travels on his ARGENTINE passport correct?
Do we need to take the ORIGINAL 751 Doc or can we take a copy (the original doc is like sacred to me)
Has anybody had any issues with United Airlines and these documents and this process?

Where can I find the source for these answers? Its frustrating that I cannot find the answer laid out on USCIS's website or CPB's website. United Airlines is somewhat vague but they do reference a 're-entry' permit.

Does anybody have any experience traveling to Argentina on their 751 extension letter?

thank you SO MUCH!!

I am so nervous for this trip - He hasn't seen his family in 3 years and really needs to!

[lost_at_sea 995]

He travels on his ARGENTINE passport correct? <- Yep. But he'll show his expired GC and extension letter on his way back into the USA along with his passport.

Do we need to take the ORIGINAL 751 Doc or can we take a copy (the original doc is like sacred to me) <- I've only ever done it with the original - don't know if people ever use copies. I'd take the original. Can always get a passport stamp at an infopass appointment if you lost it and needed to do the same trip before the new GC comes.

Has anybody had any issues with United Airlines and these documents and this process? <- Nope. I've flown UA a bunch internationally. I find sometimes their online check-in gets confused about my status, but it's always sorted out at the check-in desk in-person in the worst case. Have him make a United account and fill in all his personal details and document details before he goes, and that should make it easy for him to do things like online check-in.

P.S. Re-entry permits are for GC folks who intend to leave the USA for long periods of time (like, 6 months+ in one go, IIRC). For just a holiday trip, he doesn't need to get a re-entry permit - the expired GC + extension letter does the job.

Edited July 25, 2016 by lost_at_sea

[AmberAnne 1]

Thank you so much for your reply. I had already purchased the tickets and filled his information out through account because I purchased the tickets together with my own. His information is correct but it's purchased under my own account. Do you know where I can find this information on an 'official'website? Thank you again....

[lost_at_sea 995]

I think it says something about it in the letter itself, but I can't remember. You can google about and restrict search results to just USCIS pages and find it mentioned, but their websites suuuuuuck.

But, for example: https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Laws/Memoranda/Static_Files_Memoranda/Archives%201998-2008/2003/crextensn120203.pdf

[AmberAnne 1]

thank you again. Its just emotionally helpful to talk to an actual person. I have seen that document that you referenced in the URL link and yes his extension letter does state that this extends his stay for work and travel for the span of one year. I was just concerned about some United Airlines rep not recognizing the extension letter....

and you are right, USCIS's website is frustrating.

I keep checking the status of my husbands case and it stops with the biometrics but I assume that is normal because the VERMONT service center seems to have such a long processing time. We sent the application in January and got our NOA in february along with biometrics. vermont is averaging 270 days for processing.... As far as I can understand the processing times table. Its just disconcerting to not have any information. I've done all this myself and I've been a trooper (no fear) through the entire thing but its wearing on me. (starting to panic for no reason)

[lost_at_sea 995]

thank you again. Its just emotionally helpful to talk to an actual person. I have seen that document that you referenced in the URL link and yes his extension letter does state that this extends his stay for work and travel for the span of one year. I was just concerned about some United Airlines rep not recognizing the extension letter....

and you are right, USCIS's website is frustrating.

I keep checking the status of my husbands case and it stops with the biometrics but I assume that is normal because the VERMONT service center seems to have such a long processing time. We sent the application in January and got our NOA in february along with biometrics. vermont is averaging 270 days for processing.... As far as I can understand the processing times table. Its just disconcerting to not have any information. I've done all this myself and I've been a trooper (no fear) through the entire thing but its wearing on me. (starting to panic for no reason)

The lack of good information from USCIS is exactly why a forum like this ends up existing! It's the only way to stay sane.

[AmberAnne 1]

One more question. When they stamped his passport after arriving in USA they mark what class it is? I believe it says ' tourist' but he is not a tourist. They scrawled something that I cannot make out... Looks like 'Arg'he came from Argentina.... I would assume that green card trumps all right?

They detained him for an hour just to ask some questions and stamp his passport. What did your stamp look like?

[newacct 688]

One more question. When they stamped his passport after arriving in USA they mark what class it is? I believe it says ' tourist' but he is not a tourist. They scrawled something that I cannot make out... Looks like 'Arg'he came from Argentina.... I would assume that green card trumps all right?

They detained him for an hour just to ask some questions and stamp his passport. What did your stamp look like?

Probably "ARC" for Alien Registration Card, which is what is usually written for the class of admission for permanent residents. The stamp doesn't really matter for permanent residents anyway.

[AmberAnne 1]

Thank you, your answer is much appreciated. And it does look like ARC too. Thanks for the clarity, it helps a lot!

Thank you, your answer is much appreciated. And it does look like ARC too. Thanks for the clarity, it helps a lot!