I-751 - Travel abroad when Conditional Permanent Resident is Expired, I-751 is still processing

[D&Wontheroad 3]

Hi team!

 

Does anyone have any experience with traveling abroad while they are processing the removal of conditions and the current permanent resident card w/ conditions has (or will be) expired. Doing my research and bringing my current (expired) card + the letter notice of extension + a I-551 stamp should do the trick, but wondering if anyone has any experience .

 

I travel frequently outside the US - for work and leisure, but did get a little worried once I saw the processing times. Based on the information I find, as long as I take the expired card, stamp AND the letter I should be fine. But would love to hear any experiences from people who are/have been in the same boat.

 

My card expires end of January - and my next travel to Europe will be in March. I751 was sent in back in November, Bio taken in December, now just waiting

 

Any feedback/experiences will be appreciated

Thanks team!

[andy78 178]

Yes, I did it and it worked. I showed the expired card and the stamp and had no issues.

[SM & EF 41]

If the letter is still valid, you shouldn't even need the stamp.  

 

As I understand things, the stamp is what one gets when the I751 is still pending and the extension letter is about to expire.

 

Good luck!

 

Edited January 12, 2017 by SM & EF

[Lemonslice 4,853]

The stamps is not required when you have the expired card and extension letter.  I travelled the world during ROC and had zero problem. 

[dburnt 59]

I'm curious about the same thing, with a twist.  My I-751 includes a name change.  I'll take my letter and my marriage certificate of course.  While I'm not so worried about border crossings (I also travel to Canada a few times a year), I'm curious about re-entry after a cruise.  Would the agents there be familiar with the letters?

[rjm_cmyk 75]

I traveled via Heathrow with an ROC extension letter. No problems at all although I had to point out the extension bit in the letter to the checkin person who had probably not seen one before. I also had my expired GC.

Edited January 13, 2017 by rjm_cmyk

[ArroyM 2]

Conditional Green Card expires Jan 28, 2017.  We filed I-751 for my wife on December 6, 2016, it was received December 12, 2016.  Today January 13, 2017 had appointment for Biometrics.  When will USCIS send "Extension Letter" so we may travel out of the county?

[rjm_cmyk 75]

On 1/13/2017 at 2:00 PM, ArroyM said:

Conditional Green Card expires Jan 28, 2017.  We filed I-751 for my wife on December 6, 2016, it was received December 12, 2016.  Today January 13, 2017 had appointment for Biometrics.  When will USCIS send "Extension Letter" so we may travel out of the county?

The first letter you get from them after you've submitted is the extension letter which will have a heading of I-797 Notice of Action. The one that tells you , you will be getting subsequent letter about the biometrics. That very first response is the extension letter. Hope you've still got it. If you never got it (and just got the biometrics appt letter) then you need to call them.

[jolyn69 28]

i will travel on march 15 2017 until april 1..but my extension letter in until May 2,2017.Do i need to get 1551 stamp before i leave the US.Pls i need your reply because i am worried.thank you

[TYorke1 9]

9 minutes ago, jolyn69 said:

i will travel on march 15 2017 until april 1..but my extension letter in until May 2,2017.Do i need to get 1551 stamp before i leave the US.Pls i need your reply because i am worried.thank you

No you do not need the stamp as your extension letter is valid for the entire length of your travel.

 

I have heard stories on here where people have had issues when they have arrived in the US with both valid extension letter and a stamp.

[jolyn69 28]

2 hours ago, TYorke1 said:

No you do not need the stamp as your extension letter is valid for the entire length of your travel.

 

I have heard stories on here where people have had issues when they have arrived in the US with both valid extension letter and a stamp.

thank you so much TYorke1 .now i relieved  because that is my worries that i get some issues when i get back here in US

[lholitz eric 0]

hello .I will be flying to the philippines too in May with my expired green + letter of extension, I wonder if the airline/ check in counter staff are also familiar with dealing expired green card+ letter of extension. BEcause I know once you get to the US everything is on the system,so there should no problem finding our name on file. I am worried about airline.Hope anybody here could answer me ..Thanks  

[Nick jason 1]

Just wanted to share a update for all who are wondering. My wife is a Indian citizen, she has a expired green card and is awaiting her 10 year green card. They have given her form i-797 which allows for work and travel while she awaits her new green card. We are travelling to mexico in October 2017. For all whom are in the same situation, you do need a Mexican visa. Travelling with a expired GC and form i-797 will not be enough to enter mexico. The visa process is simple, some states require a appointment and others don't. Be sure to look at the general and tourist visa requirements. In addition to what is listed, if he/she is applying as your dependent you will need original and copy of marriage cert. As well as a copy of your American passport/ID. Still remember to bring your expired GC and i-797 on your trip as you will need it to re-enter the United States. 

I Have heard and read stories where the visa is not needed, and even speaking to USCIS they said we were fine without it. However, that doesn't mean the customs official in Mexico will feel the same way. It only cost us $36.00...small price to pay and easy process. Hope this helps!

[friendlyusa 37]

On 09/19/2017 at 1:20 PM, Nick jason said:

Just wanted to share a update for all who are wondering. My wife is a Indian citizen, she has a expired green card and is awaiting her 10 year green card. They have given her form i-797 which allows for work and travel while she awaits her new green card. We are travelling to mexico in October 2017. For all whom are in the same situation, you do need a Mexican visa. Travelling with a expired GC and form i-797 will not be enough to enter mexico. The visa process is simple, some states require a appointment and others don't. Be sure to look at the general and tourist visa requirements. In addition to what is listed, if he/she is applying as your dependent you will need original and copy of marriage cert. As well as a copy of your American passport/ID. Still remember to bring your expired GC and i-797 on your trip as you will need it to re-enter the United States. 

I Have heard and read stories where the visa is not needed, and even speaking to USCIS they said we were fine without it. However, that doesn't mean the customs official in Mexico will feel the same way. It only cost us $36.00...small price to pay and easy process. Hope this helps!

I agree..... If your passport is from a country which requires a Visa to travel most of the world,.  Then you may need to get a visit Visa, or even a transit Visa.... check the immigration web site of the country traveling and or transiting.....

[JeanF 32]

On 9/19/2017 at 12:20 PM, Nick jason said:

Just wanted to share a update for all who are wondering. My wife is a Indian citizen, she has a expired green card and is awaiting her 10 year green card. They have given her form i-797 which allows for work and travel while she awaits her new green card. We are travelling to mexico in October 2017. For all whom are in the same situation, you do need a Mexican visa. Travelling with a expired GC and form i-797 will not be enough to enter mexico. The visa process is simple, some states require a appointment and others don't. Be sure to look at the general and tourist visa requirements. In addition to what is listed, if he/she is applying as your dependent you will need original and copy of marriage cert. As well as a copy of your American passport/ID. Still remember to bring your expired GC and i-797 on your trip as you will need it to re-enter the United States. 

I Have heard and read stories where the visa is not needed, and even speaking to USCIS they said we were fine without it. However, that doesn't mean the customs official in Mexico will feel the same way. It only cost us $36.00...small price to pay and easy process. Hope this helps!

I saw your post the night before my husband and I flew to Cancun (9/28). Needless to say, I did not sleep, I was so worried! I have a Kenyan passport so I definitely would not have been able to enter visa free.

Luckily I was able to enter without a problem, they didn't even check my extension letter, just my expired green card and that's only because I offered it. My extension letter was examined on our return to the US and even that was relatively simple.