Traveling on Extension Letter?

[TabeaK 517]

33 minutes ago, AnaMS said:

Hi! I just got off the line with USCIS about this topic. She explained that the extension is from the date on the letter not the GC expiration day😕😕 this is so confusing 

The USCIS mis-information line. The letter itself states something else....

[MikeNZ1984 44]

So I thought I'd give my experience, I flew home to New Zealand a week or so ago and returned last monday.  My Greencard expired in May last year, and my extension letter expired on the 29th.  I have an I551 stamp in my passport now, and USCIS have my expired greencard and expired extension letter. I still have a photocopy.  I had no problem re entering the USA via LAX, they were great about it and it was painless. Leaving New Zealand via Auckland international airport on the otherhand was a nightmare. 

 

It took me over 1.5 hours to get my boarding pass as the airport staff had never seen an I-551 stamp in a passport, and were adamant that it should have a letter with it.  I had to bring up the USCIS pdf document in my phone and educate the staff of the requirements. They ended up wanting to photocopy every document I had, had to consult virtually every supervisor they had etc.  Of course I got really frustrated.  Eventually they printed out my passes.  Was flying air tahiti nui and checkin staff were air NZ. Ironically I complained to AIR NZ's social media (via facebook) and the person handling their social media understood to correct process, and apparently they are going to retrain the front desk staff. Moral of the story, carry as much supporitng documentation as possible, and add extra time if travelling on a extension letter or I551 stamp. 

[Ksenia_O 696]

1 minute ago, MikeNZ1984 said:

So I thought I'd give my experience, I flew home to New Zealand a week or so ago and returned last monday.  My Greencard expired in May last year, and my extension letter expired on the 29th.  I have an I551 stamp in my passport now, and USCIS have my expired greencard and expired extension letter. I still have a photocopy.  I had no problem re entering the USA via LAX, they were great about it and it was painless. Leaving New Zealand via Auckland international airport on the otherhand was a nightmare. 

 

It took me over 1.5 hours to get my boarding pass as the airport staff had never seen an I-551 stamp in a passport, and were adamant that it should have a letter with it.  I had to bring up the USCIS pdf document in my phone and educate the staff of the requirements. They ended up wanting to photocopy every document I had, had to consult virtually every supervisor they had etc.  Of course I got really frustrated.  Eventually they printed out my passes.  Was flying air tahiti nui and checkin staff were air NZ. Ironically I complained to AIR NZ's social media (via facebook) and the person handling their social media understood to correct process, and apparently they are going to retrain the front desk staff. Moral of the story, carry as much supporitng documentation as possible, and add extra time if travelling on a extension letter or I551 stamp. 

Sorry you experienced that nightmare ... And thanks for sharing!

I traveled with a "combo" of an Extension letter + an expired green card - no problem. Of course, it depends on Air Company and Lufthansa/Air Canada were just perfect - knowledgeable and friendly.

 

But I will be traveling this Fall just with a I-551 stamp. Feels like will have to show up at the airport few hours before flight, just in case they don't recognize the stamp... Sad.

Thanks again!!!! 

[mrs thb 331]

Just read this in another thread.

 

Heads up people....new news on traveling with extension letter and getting the I-551 stamp.  Might not be a need any longer.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/update-form-i-797-receipt-notices-form-i-751-and-form-i-829

 

 

Update to Form I-797 Receipt Notices for Form I-751 and Form I-829

Versión en español

As of June 11, 2018, petitioners who file Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, or Form I-829, Petition by Entrepreneur to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status, will receive a Form I-797 receipt notice that can be presented with their Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card, as evidence of continued status for 18 months past the expiration date on their Permanent Resident Card.

We are making the change from 12 to 18 months because current processing times for Form I-751 and Form I-829 have increased over the past year.

Additionally, we will issue new Form I-797 receipt notices to eligible conditional permanent residents whose Form I-751 or I-829 was still pending as of June 11, 2018. Those Form I-797 receipt notices will also serve as evidence of continued status for 18 months past the expiration date on petitioner’s Permanent Resident Card.

As a reminder, conditional permanent residents who plan to be outside of the United States for a year or more should apply for a reentry permit by filing Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, before leaving the country. Read more information on our Green Card webpage.

 

 

Edited June 12, 2018 by mrs thb

[Ksenia_O 696]

29 minutes ago, mrs thb said:

Just read this in another thread.

 

Heads up people....new news on traveling with extension letter and getting the I-551 stamp.  Might not be a need any longer.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/update-form-i-797-receipt-notices-form-i-751-and-form-i-829

 

 

Update to Form I-797 Receipt Notices for Form I-751 and Form I-829

Versión en español

As of June 11, 2018, petitioners who file Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, or Form I-829, Petition by Entrepreneur to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status, will receive a Form I-797 receipt notice that can be presented with their Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card, as evidence of continued status for 18 months past the expiration date on their Permanent Resident Card.

We are making the change from 12 to 18 months because current processing times for Form I-751 and Form I-829 have increased over the past year.

Additionally, we will issue new Form I-797 receipt notices to eligible conditional permanent residents whose Form I-751 or I-829 was still pending as of June 11, 2018. Those Form I-797 receipt notices will also serve as evidence of continued status for 18 months past the expiration date on petitioner’s Permanent Resident Card.

As a reminder, conditional permanent residents who plan to be outside of the United States for a year or more should apply for a reentry permit by filing Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, before leaving the country. Read more information on our Green Card webpage.

 

 

I've seen this..

But what if you leave the country BEFORE your "new" extension letter arrives, but you are coming back when your Extension letter #1 is expired?...Will they still stamp your passport with I-551?

 

Also, what about people, who got the stamp, but green card was taken by USCIS in exchange of stamp?... - in this case an Extension letter #2, 3, 4..whatever number won't do any good.... Feel like there are more questions than answers now...  

 

Sorry, moody Was hoping they will sort out their backlog...as they usually  did. In the past. But seems like now after this update they officially  have told us "nope, nothing is sorted out and ever will be.  Your I-751 will take forever"...

Edited June 12, 2018 by Ksenia_O

[mrs thb 331]

9 minutes ago, Ksenia_O said:

I've seen this..

But what if you leave the country BEFORE your "new" extension letter arrives, but you are coming back when your Extension letter #1 is expired?...Will they still stamp your passport with I-551?

 

Also, what about people, who got the stamp, but green card was taken by USCIS in exchange of stamp?... - in this case an Extension letter #2, 3, 4..whatever number won't do any good.... Feel like there are more questions than answers now...  

 

Sorry, moody Was hoping they will sort out their backlog...as they usually  did. In the past. But seems like now after this update they officially  have told us "nope, nothing is sorted out and ever will be.  Your I-751 will take forever"...

I  have the same questions as you. 

 

I was just about to book an info pass appt but thought I'd check VJ first.  Now I am totally unsure.

 

Do I put the horse before the cart. or the cart before the horse?  Certainly don't want to be SOL with an expired letter and GC?

 

And.....When is the new letter coming?  I have a trip planned....mind you it's not for a few weeks.  Will I get the new letter in time?  This especially timely since the my extension letter will have NOW expired????

 

I am not going to feak, I am not going to freak, I am not going to freak.  USCIS has my back right???

 

So how long are we to wait.....or should push come to pull I do a walk in infopass at the last minute?  Ie. 4-5 prior to my travel date?  OR still make that infopass appt and cancel it last minute should the letter arrive?

[Ksenia_O 696]

28 minutes ago, mrs thb said:

I  have the same questions as you. 

 

I was just about to book an info pass appt but thought I'd check VJ first.  Now I am totally unsure.

 

Do I put the horse before the cart. or the cart before the horse?  Certainly don't want to be SOL with an expired letter and GC?

 

And.....When is the new letter coming?  I have a trip planned....mind you it's not for a few weeks.  Will I get the new letter in time?  This especially timely since the my extension letter will have NOW expired????

 

I am not going to feak, I am not going to freak, I am not going to freak.  USCIS has my back right???

 

So how long are we to wait.....or should push come to pull I do a walk in infopass at the last minute?  Ie. 4-5 prior to my travel date?  OR still make that infopass appt and cancel it last minute should the letter arrive?

You described so perfectly everything what's crossing my mind now!!! lol  And my favorite part is "USCIS has my back"... right???? The biggest question

 

We have to make an Infopass anyway - my son has never had an Extension Letter and they stamped his passport , his green card was taken. Stamp is expired in July. 

 

My Ext. letter is expired on June, 19. My trip is in August. If the letter extends a green card (people are getting different answers), so I'll be coming back with both, letter and green card, expired. And if I don't have that "miracle" , a new Extension Letter by the time of my departure, when i'll try to get a stamp anyway. Maybe even during son's Infopass in July.

 

So, hopefully, after this "update" they will still stamp your passport with I-551, depending on your circumstances...  Will figure this out , soon I guess

 

P.S. Can't get rid of a filing that bigger mess has been created with this Extension Letter #2?.... 

Edited June 12, 2018 by Ksenia_O

[asima00213 0]

can anyone share their sample extension letter?

[DanaPhillips 0]

Hi everybody, I have a trip coming up in August from Atlanta to Kazakhstan through Istanbul (Turkish Airlines ) did anybody travel with Turkish Airlines with 2 yrs  expired GC and I 797 NOA ? I have a little fear if I will have any issues on the way back to Atlanta .. I went to USCIS and the officer was confident that I will be fine with my original documents to travel. However, on the website says that I have to check with airlines and when I called to Turkish Airlines they couldn’t give me an answer to my case. 

 

Thanks in advance 

[MikeNZ1984 44]

1 minute ago, DanaPhillips said:

Hi everybody, I have a trip coming up in August from Atlanta to Kazakhstan through Istanbul (Turkish Airlines ) did anybody travel with Turkish Airlines with 2 yrs  expired GC and I 797 NOA ? I have a little fear if I will have any issues on the way back to Atlanta .. I went to USCIS and the officer was confident that I will be fine with my original documents to travel. However, on the website says that I have to check with airlines and when I called to Turkish Airlines they couldn’t give me an answer to my case. 

 

Thanks in advance 

Print this out, have it bookmarked and a PDF: https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2017-Nov/carrier-information-guide-english.pdf

 

It saved my butt when they didn't recognise it at Checkin for Air NZ/Air Tahiti Nui in Auckland, NZ.  Budget extra time as well. 

[DanaPhillips 0]

2 minutes ago, MikeNZ1984 said:

Print this out, have it bookmarked and a PDF: https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2017-Nov/carrier-information-guide-english.pdf

 

It saved my butt when they didn't recognise it at Checkin for Air NZ/Air Tahiti Nui in Auckland, NZ.  Budget extra time as well. 

Thanks, I downloaded this book. 

 

What about applying for I131A ? It’s kind of pricy and I hesitate to apply for it if I won’t need it at all . 

[Hayley1980 7]

6 minutes ago, DanaPhillips said:

Thanks, I downloaded this book. 

 

What about applying for I131A ? It’s kind of pricy and I hesitate to apply for it if I won’t need it at all . 

not sure why you would apply for that, you can legally travel on the extension letter, its basically a paper green card - the only thing you may need to do is show them the download mentioned above in case they haven't physically seen one before

[TabeaK 517]

I traveled internationally for the first time today using my extension letter - as my Green card finally expired 3 months ago. United Airlines in Frankfurt was clued in about the letter and just added 1 year to my GC expiration date. Online check-in did not work, so I had to do everything at the airport. Still pretty quick.

 

Upon arrival in Newark I knew I wouldn't be able to use my normal Global Entry, so got in the US citizen and resident line. They were guiding everyone to kiosks scanning passports (is that mobile passport? I am not sure); not to the CPB agents. As I suspected the machine wouldn't take kindly to the extension letter, I asked a member of staff who let me bypass the line and go directly to a CBP officer. They checked passport, GC & extension letter, took finger prints and photos, stamped passport and sent me on my way.

 

Pretty easy altogether. I have a few more international travels coming up - hopefully the process will be similarly smooth when I am flying non-American airlines.

[Ms Per 4]

What will i need to travel to Mexico? I'm still waiting for my greencard and my extension letter has expired. Thank you

 

[TabeaK 517]

You cannot travel without an I-551 stamp. Make an Infopass to get one.