Traveling on Extension Letter?

[stackeria 280]

14 hours ago, ColGil said:

Mirroring what others have said, I previously had no issues travelling using expired GC and letter, however my most recent trip I was sent to secondary inspection.  My husband was told he was not allowed to remain with me, or even in the terminal and needless to say caused unnecessary stress.  It seems their policies may have changed in recent months (hmmm, wonder who could be behind that one) and they automatically send us straight to secondary, however the officer told me that a letter does not replace an expired green card and that i was in the wrong for believing so.  He told me next time I better have a stamp in my passport so I have made an infopass apt to get the stamp.  

 

My first experience with secondary inspection a couple of years ago  (before I even received my GC) scarred me for life.  It was a traumatic experience where I was treated like a criminal, all my belongings were just dumped out of my suitcase and every item including underwear was inspected.  I was left to pick everything up on my hands and knees as the officer bellowed at me to hurry up.  It was the most degrading experience of my life.  Now my most recent experience (which is the one with the expired GC) was actually quick and painless, but it triggered an anxiety attack in both me and my husband and I'm sure this is how it will be in future.  

 

It's for this reason I will not leave the office until I have a stamp in my passport, or a 10 year GC in my hand.  

 

That sounds like a bad experience. I'm sorry you had to go through that! Out of curiosity, which airport was this in?

 

When we flew back in to JFK with wife's expired GC and extension letter back in early January (prior to the new administration being sworn in), the immigration officer told us that until my wife had her 10y GC in hand, she would need to be processed in "the office." He apologized and politely escorted her to the office where her I-130 was originally processed on POE. I was told I couldn't go with her because he'd already processed me and to go straight to baggage claim.

 

It was slightly stressful because she had our 7 month old in a carrier and I had all our carry on stuff, including her cell phone and the diaper bag. However, they processed her quickly with her extension letter and didn't say anything about it.

 

We are scheduled to enter the US again at JFK at the end of August with the expired card and extension letter. I will post about that experience here.

[LUAL 43]

On 4/26/2017 at 0:54 PM, Derwood said:

There have been quite a few posts recently regarding traveling on an expired GC with the one year extension letter.

 

Page 38 of this document provides some reassurance:

 

https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Carrier Information Guide- English.pdf

 

It also makes clear that the 12 month extension is from the card expiry date, not the receipt date of the I-797.

You are correct in both. The 12 months extension is from the expiration of the GC and the extension works exactly as your GC so you shall travel with no issue. Just make sure to bring the original and leave copies at home. POE might give you issues with copies.

[theanswerisdance 144]

Question for those who have already travelled on the extension letter: do you show the letter right away with the green card when you approach the customs officer, or do you just give them the green card and only provide the letter if they ask for it or if they mention something about the expiry date of the card? I've read anecdotal experiences where people say they had no problems because when the IO swiped their GC it automatically came up as extended for another year, and then I've read stories where people say that IOs are not always familiar with the letter and it causes a hold-up or else they get sent to secondary. I'm traveling at the end of the month on the expired GC + letter and just wondered what shows up on their computer and if it's better to just hand over my GC first and see if they say anything before producing the letter, rather than potentially creating unnecessary confusion.

[hanamericana 1]

2 hours ago, theanswerisdance said:

Question for those who have already travelled on the extension letter: do you show the letter right away with the green card when you approach the customs officer, or do you just give them the green card and only provide the letter if they ask for it or if they mention something about the expiry date of the card? I've read anecdotal experiences where people say they had no problems because when the IO swiped their GC it automatically came up as extended for another year, and then I've read stories where people say that IOs are not always familiar with the letter and it causes a hold-up or else they get sent to secondary. I'm traveling at the end of the month on the expired GC + letter and just wondered what shows up on their computer and if it's better to just hand over my GC first and see if they say anything before producing the letter, rather than potentially creating unnecessary confusion.

 

I just travelled overseas twice in July and August (my GC is expiring in September). I just showed the letter with the card. 

 

July

The agency at the airport check-in counter knew what it was and had no problem to check in, but when I got to the Houston airport custom, I was sent to the secondary.

I was confused but it turns out that the officer who questioned me didn't know about the letter very well.

The secondary room officer told me the letter is fine and I could travel without problems (I was asking since I was going to go overseas very soon).

 

August

The second time was much smoother and quick (it was in Hawaii). The officer knew what the letter was and he even fixed the problem I had on my information!

I guess my information on the system still had my student visa information, which confused the first officer more apparently.

 

So it was a bit scary for the first time, but you don't need to worry as long as you have GC and the letter together.

My one year period is going to expire soon, so I am going to get the stamp with Infopass.

Edited August 9, 2017 by hanamericana

[bellylaugh 14]

2 hours ago, theanswerisdance said:

Question for those who have already travelled on the extension letter: do you show the letter right away with the green card when you approach the customs officer, or do you just give them the green card and only provide the letter if they ask for it or if they mention something about the expiry date of the card? I've read anecdotal experiences where people say they had no problems because when the IO swiped their GC it automatically came up as extended for another year, and then I've read stories where people say that IOs are not always familiar with the letter and it causes a hold-up or else they get sent to secondary. I'm traveling at the end of the month on the expired GC + letter and just wondered what shows up on their computer and if it's better to just hand over my GC first and see if they say anything before producing the letter, rather than potentially creating unnecessary confusion.

Traveling back from the UK in april...

 

at check in, they waved my green-card and documents away saying they had all the information they needed already in the system. At immigration, In Philadelphia, I handed over the green card and letter together. The officer knew exactly what it was and had no problem processing me (no secondary inspection or anything). 

 

Traveling again in a few days so we'll see if it's the same smooth sailing.

[YacineSade 0]

Hi guys. Any one knows about travel permit card. One of my friend advised me to do it before I travel home to my country. Coz they don't know about the extension letter over there. 

[Ms Per 4]

Is Notice of action same as extension letter? Thank you.

[theanswerisdance 144]

1 minute ago, annperalta said:

Is Notice of action same as extension letter? Thank you.

The Notice of Action you receive in response to submitting your I-751 is your extension letter. One of the first lines of the letter should say something like "Your conditional resident status has been extended one year from the date of expiry on your resident card." 

 

[Ms Per 4]

Are they going to send it after biometrics? or before?

[theanswerisdance 144]

4 minutes ago, annperalta said:

Are they going to send it after biometrics? or before?

You should receive it before you receive your biometrics appointment notice. When did you mail your I-751?

[Ms Per 4]

Just now, theanswerisdance said:

You should receive it before you receive your biometrics appointment notice. When did you mail your I-751?

May this year.. I have the Notice of Action.

[theanswerisdance 144]

1 minute ago, annperalta said:

May this year.. I have the Notice of Action.

Ok. That's your extension letter. It should say that your conditional resident status has been extended for one year. 

[Ms Per 4]

18 minutes ago, theanswerisdance said:

Ok. That's your extension letter. It should say that your conditional resident status has been extended for one year. 

Sorry, but it doesn't say here that it"s extended. i'm afraid i lost or misplace it.

[theanswerisdance 144]

10 minutes ago, annperalta said:

Sorry, but it doesn't say here that it"s extended. i'm afraid i lost or misplace it.

USCIS sends Notices of Action for a lot of things in each stage of the immigration process, but you should have received the I-751 extension letter on a special thicker letterhead that has a watermark on it, not regular paper like most of the NOAs. If you never received it, you can schedule an InfoPass appointment to try and get an I-551 stamp in your passport?

[Ms Per 4]

9 minutes ago, theanswerisdance said:

USCIS sends Notices of Action for a lot of things in each stage of the immigration process, but you should have received the I-751 extension letter on a special thicker letterhead that has a watermark on it, not regular paper like most of the NOAs. If you never received it, you can schedule an InfoPass appointment to try and get an I-551 stamp in your passport?