Traveling on Extension Letter?

[Thomianguy 36]

Wow! I had NO idea this question would lead to 750 responses and counting. My wife has since long gone and come back, now getting her citizenship in 4 days. 

[RS_ 74]

Update, just travelled back from Maldives & Dubai through Emirates Airlines. Extension Letter I-797 was seen by both counters at Maldives and Dubai and they understood what the letter was and they didn’t say anything. Everything was checked and given back to me within 5 seconds. Just wanted to ease anyone’s mind that’s worried about airlines counters knowing what the extension letter is! 

[wooozeee1 7]

Hi! Has anyone traveled overseas with extension letter with different last name?

 

For 10 year GC, I sent a cover letter for last name change request into my husband's and they approved it.

So my NOA is now in my husband's last name and my expired GC still has my maiden name and so does my passport. 

NOA letter also shows my maiden name as a middle name but I'm just a little bit worried if this is going to be a problem coming back to the country after my trip to Mexico. Has anyone traveled with their new last name in NOA and had any issues?

 

Thank you in advance! 

Edited March 1, 2021 by wooozeee1

[dunebuggy 18]

On 10/11/2020 at 6:58 PM, Thegirl said:

Your expired card and letter serves as a regular green card. You can travel with them and your passport to Canada you also need an eTa if you plan to fly there. The website:

https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=593&top=16

We may be in a pickle: we are currently abroad and have an expired green card AND expired extension letter (2 yr GC expired Aug 11, 2019; 18 month extension letter thus expired Feb 11, 2021). We need to travel back to the US for a I-751 interview in April. Has anyone else been in this situation with "double expiration"? Thanks

[Mike E 11,732]

On 3/17/2021 at 11:16 PM, dunebuggy said:

We may be in a pickle:

Definitely. 

On 3/17/2021 at 11:16 PM, dunebuggy said:

we are currently abroad and have an expired green card AND expired extension letter (2 yr GC expired Aug 11, 2019; 18 month extension letter thus expired Feb 11, 2021). We need to travel back to the US for a I-751 interview in April. Has anyone else been in this situation with "double expiration"? Thanks

Where are you now?

[Mike E 11,732]

On 2/8/2021 at 5:29 AM, kvito28 said:

My attorney advised me set up infopass appointment to get i-551 stamp in my passport before I travel. Is this a safer way than traveling with extension letter?

Having two forms of valid I-551 is better than having one form. Seems safer to me: lose one, you still have the other.

[Elisthuynga 5]

On 2/8/2021 at 8:29 AM, kvito28 said:

My attorney advised me set up infopass appointment to get i-551 stamp in my passport before I travel. Is this a safer way than traveling with extension letter?

Yes, It is safer way.

I will travel on July 2021, already make appointment for stamp in my case! 

 

[GEOntificator 280]

14 hours ago, Elisthuynga said:

Yes, It is safer way.

I will travel on July 2021, already make appointment for stamp in my case! 

 

I called the USCIS for infopass appt to get the stamp but they said they won't schedule I-551 appts unless your extension letter expires within one month of your request. Mine expires on 2/2022. 

[Elisthuynga 5]

1 hour ago, kvito28 said:

I called the USCIS for infopass appt to get the stamp but they said they won't schedule I-551 appts unless your extension letter expires within one month of your request. Mine expires on 2/2022. 

 

It's weird, my extension letter will expire on Sept 2022; I called USCIS and they send me email for waiting USCIS call me back for my appointment.

I will update when I get USCIS call me back.

[GEOntificator 280]

5 minutes ago, Elisthuynga said:

 

It's weird, my extension letter will expire on Sept 2022; I called USCIS and they send me email for waiting USCIS call me back for my appointment.

I will update when I get USCIS call me back.

Same happened to me and when they called back I was told what I wrote above. Good luck and keep us posted.

[KJ2 230]

On 3/19/2021 at 4:48 PM, Mike E said:

Having two forms of valid I-551 is better than having one form. Seems safer to me: lose one, you still have the other.

I called USCIS and they told me that they won’t grant us an InfoPass apt for a 551 stamp if our letter is still valid.  They said the stamp is only for expired extension letters 

On 3/26/2021 at 12:25 PM, kvito28 said:

I called the USCIS for infopass appt to get the stamp but they said they won't schedule I-551 appts unless your extension letter expires within one month of your request. Mine expires on 2/2022. 

Same here

[AnaidV 3]

Hi everyone!

 

Briefly the situation is - I filed for removing conditions late December last year, got extension letter, got fingerprints waived and left the country to visit my family. Curently im abroad. I checked my case status yesterday and out of sudden found out that my new green card had been issued without interview. They work fast when you do not need it 😆

So the question is - can I get back with expired green card + extension letter or I need to have a new green card and they wont let me in without it?

My husband tried to call USCIS but its always only machine on the line

 

We're thinking about mailing it to me. Does somebody know what postal service accept green cards for mailing? DHL?

 

Thanks in advance! 🙂

[Ksenia_O 696]

7 hours ago, AnaidV said:

Hi everyone!

 

Briefly the situation is - I filed for removing conditions late December last year, got extension letter, got fingerprints waived and left the country to visit my family. Curently im abroad. I checked my case status yesterday and out of sudden found out that my new green card had been issued without interview. They work fast when you do not need it 😆

So the question is - can I get back with expired green card + extension letter or I need to have a new green card and they wont let me in without it?

My husband tried to call USCIS but its always only machine on the line

 

We're thinking about mailing it to me. Does somebody know what postal service accept green cards for mailing? DHL?

 

Thanks in advance! 🙂

You are fine with a combo of Ext Letter+expired green card, don't stress yourself out

 

My 10 years green card was approved while I was abroad. I came back with I-551 stamp in my passport with NO issue, at all (ext Letter was already expired, so had to get the stamp before leaving)

 

[AnaidV 3]

Just now, Ksenia_O said:

You are fine with a combo of Ext Letter+expired green card, don't stress yourself out

 

My 10 years green card was approved while I was abroad. I came back with I-551 stamp in my passport with NO issue, at all (ext Letter was already expired, so had to get the stamp before leaving)

 

Ksenia, thank you for your responce!! 💐 I calmed down a little bit cause I thought Im the only one in such situation) though I dont have a stamp in my passport.

[Ksenia_O 696]

9 minutes ago, AnaidV said:

Ksenia, thank you for your responce!! 💐 I calmed down a little bit cause I thought Im the only one in such situation) though I dont have a stamp in my passport.

It doesn't matter - stamp or a 'combo".

 

A Green card, I-551stamp, a "combo" of an Ext Letter+an expired green card - they all represent Form I-551. And an expiration of one of those doesn't mean your status got expired - in the system you still are seen as a LPR, regardless what Form of     I-551 you present at the border.

 

So,  no worries - you will be fine. Besides, I wouldn't take any risk by mailing your new green card abroad. No way.

 

Enjoy your trip and safe travel!