Travel while on ROC? Can we still do that?

[Lights 56]

Hello everyone, 

 

It's been awhile since I've come to this forum. With all that's going on, we're a bit nervous with our ROC and whether we can still fly and travel outside the US. 

 

My country of birth is Canada and we travel internationally quite often (for both my husband and my careers and family). We have travel planned for March, April, and May so far (to Canada). We recently submitted our ROC paperwork and have read that I can travel with my GC and my NOA. 

 

We have provided:

 

- joint bank account statements

- joint tax returns

- our names on all our insurance policies and each other as beneficiary 

- multiple confirmations of travel with us two and our intermediate family members

 

We don't believe we'll have any issues with our ROC, but of course I'm nervous with leaving the country on a "expired" GC while waiting for my ROC to pass through. Would CBS Agents recognize the NOA, while I'm traveling on a GC that the date is "expired"?

 

 

 

 

 

[Sukie 1,465]

You are fine to travel with your expired Green Card and your NOA1 letter.  Do be prepared to go to secondary screening when you return.  Don't be frightened if you are taken there - but it is happening.

 

My spouse is Australian and we are both in our 60s.  She was taken to secondary screening at JFK last December when we came from a trip to Oz.  She was really scared - but during these absolutely bizarre days here in the US, nothing should surprise you.

 

Have fun!

 

Sukie in NY

[charmander 692]

Yes you can ( I traveled back home 4 months after my GC expired with the NOA letter) but no one could attest for whether a CBP agent would acknowledge the NOA or not. It happens rarely but we've seen people stopped at even major airports. Hit or miss but you have better chance at airports or land borders that sees ROCs frequently. If you are going to drive to Canada, pick crossings that sees more traffic than others. If you are going to fly, pick bigger airports, increase your chance with dealing with a CBP agent that has seen the NOA paperwork before. Know your rights, if you ever get referred to secondary and the agents seem ignorant about the NOA, ask to speak with their supervisor.

[Lights 56]

28 minutes ago, Sukie said:

You are fine to travel with your expired Green Card and your NOA1 letter.  Do be prepared to go to secondary screening when you return.  Don't be frightened if you are taken there - but it is happening.

 

My spouse is Australian and we are both in our 60s.  She was taken to secondary screening at JFK last December when we came from a trip to Oz.  She was really scared - but during these absolutely bizarre days here in the US, nothing should surprise you.

 

Have fun!

 

Sukie in NY

 

25 minutes ago, charmander said:

Yes you can ( I traveled back home 4 months after my GC expired with the NOA letter) but no one could attest for whether a CBP agent would acknowledge the NOA or not. It happens rarely but we've seen people stopped at even major airports. Hit or miss but you have better chance at airports or land borders that sees ROCs frequently. If you are going to drive to Canada, pick crossings that sees more traffic than others. If you are going to fly, pick bigger airports, increase your chance with dealing with a CBP agent that has seen the NOA paperwork before. Know your rights, if you ever get referred to secondary and the agents seem ignorant about the NOA, ask to speak with their supervisor.

 

Thank you both so very much!! I have gone to secondary inspection before (when I was on an EAD/AP and did not yet receive my GC). I wasn't nervous either times and luckily got very friendly CBP agents. 

 

I have been lucky to have a company and clients based out of my home country, so I get to "go home" often. But as you mentioned, with the things happening in the US, nothing surprises me anymore.

 

Thank you both so much for responding and giving me some peace of mind.