Traveling on Extension Letter?

[bellylaugh 14]

55 minutes ago, stackeria said:

 

Can you share how you navigated through immigration and customs? On our previous entry at JFK on the extension letter, we had to first go to the automated kiosks before we were sent to the long "X" line and when we finally got up to the front, the officer told my wife to go to the office in the back to be processed. It took a long time just to be told to go to the processing office and I wonder if we could just go straight there when we fly in again next week?

We also had to go to the automated kiosks. In April, when I flew into Philadelphia, it was much less busy and I was able to explain to an agent that I couldn't use the kiosk and she sent me straight to an officer. At JFK, it's much more like a cattle run and they were just herding people through the system. When we got to the kiosk, I was able to explain my sistuation, but the agent still wanted my husband (USC) to use the kiosk, and then she directed us both to wait in line for an officer. Luckily, an officer had just opened his line so we didn't have to wait long there.

 

The officer didn't seem totally familiar with the extension letter but he figured it out and after the usual electronic finger printing, we were through. 

[Dashinka 24,634]

3 minutes ago, bellylaugh said:

We also had to go to the automated kiosks. In April, when I flew into Philadelphia, it was much less busy and I was able to explain to an agent that I couldn't use the kiosk and she sent me straight to an officer. At JFK, it's much more like a cattle run and they were just herding people through the system. When we got to the kiosk, I was able to explain my sistuation, but the agent still wanted my husband (USC) to use the kiosk, and then she directed us both to wait in line for an officer. Luckily, an officer had just opened his line so we didn't have to wait long there.

 

The officer didn't seem totally familiar with the extension letter but he figured it out and after the usual electronic finger printing, we were through. 

We will be coming back in a few days from Russia via China and this will be Katya's second trip using the same route while on her extension letter, but the first with me there as well.  One thing she mentioned on her first trip was that the Delta agent in Beijing retained a copy of the extension letter for their records (luckily she had the original plus additional copies), so I made sure to make more copies before this trip.  I wondered about the kiosks which are also present in Detroit which will be our POE.  I guess I will have to use it as head of household, then Katya and I will see an officer for her processing.  I will let everyone know if there are any hiccups.  I enter through Detroit a lot and even with multiple international flights arriving at the same time they seem to move people through quickly.

[Scazy 78]

Hi guys. I just got back from almost a month long trip using extension letter when returning. It's my second time going out of country with NOA. First time it took a while to process me but I got admitted without secondary. And now I did ended up on secondary, officer checked something on computer and I was out in 15 mins.  Hope that helps 

[stackeria 280]

2 hours ago, Scazy said:

Hi guys. I just got back from almost a month long trip using extension letter when returning. It's my second time going out of country with NOA. First time it took a while to process me but I got admitted without secondary. And now I did ended up on secondary, officer checked something on computer and I was out in 15 mins.  Hope that helps 

 

It seems that some CBP officers aren't able to process the extension letter and send LPRs to secondary for processing.

 

This happened to us last time around. My advice for people traveling together is to be prepared for that situation. Last time my wife (LPR) was sent to secondary. I (USC) was told to go straight to baggage claim. She had the baby. I had all the carry ons including her cell phone and the diaper bag. 

[stackeria 280]

Just flew back in tonight. JFK terminal 1.

 

Managed to avoid the much hated automated kiosks. When we got up to the officer, he stated LPR wife would have to be processed in secondary because of extension letter. He called in his superior to walk us over to secondary. Superior got there, looked at the screen and said he would just process it right there and then. Boom.

 

Got home an hour later and new 10y green card was waiting in the mailbox. Goodbye extension letter!

[OshunMY 4]

9 hours ago, stackeria said:

Just flew back in tonight. JFK terminal 1.

 

Managed to avoid the much hated automated kiosks. When we got up to the officer, he stated LPR wife would have to be processed in secondary because of extension letter. He called in his superior to walk us over to secondary. Superior got there, looked at the screen and said he would just process it right there and then. Boom.

 

Got home an hour later and new 10y green card was waiting in the mailbox. Goodbye extension letter!

Thank you for sharing your good experience. And congratulations on the 10-year green card! Can you share how long you had to wait for it? 

[stackeria 280]

4 hours ago, OshunMY said:

Thank you for sharing your good experience. And congratulations on the 10-year green card! Can you share how long you had to wait for it? 

 

Thanks. The details are in my timeline and signature.

[ivanalex1980 34]

Hi guys

My question got ignored so will post again

What is the maximum amount of time you can stay outside USA and come back with extension letter?

Thanks

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

Hello- do we have to get a stamp in the passport? Or do we only need extension letter and expired green card while traveling? Thank you.

[jptl85 25]

19 minutes ago, Luckycuds said:

Hello- do we have to get a stamp in the passport? Or do we only need extension letter and expired green card while traveling? Thank you.

As long as your extension letter has not expired (1 year past the date of your current GC expiry) you can travel with the letter/expired green card.

You may have to go to secondary inspection, but it is painless... just a longer wait.

 

I have travelled seven times on extension letter and only went to secondary twice. Once when i first used the letter and the last time when i entered (I think because i was approved while out of the country).

[YacineSade 0]

3 hours ago, jptl85 said:

As long as your extension letter has not expired (1 year past the date of your current GC expiry) you can travel with the letter/expired green card.

You may have to go to secondary inspection, but it is painless... just a longer wait.

 

I have travelled seven times on extension letter and only went to secondary twice. Once when i first used the letter and the last time when i entered (I think because i was approved while out of the country).

Thx jptl85 thank you soo much. In planning to travel this Wednesday with extension letter and an expired GC. And I'm sooooooo worry. This will be my first travel

[deezwho 7]

On 5/6/2017 at 11:00 PM, zuluweta said:

What about at check-in for the flight back to the US? Did the airline employees at the check-in counter raise questions about the expired GC and did they know that the extension letter extended GC validity by 1 year from the expiration date?

 

I'm traveling soon on expired GC with extension letter. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

 

Just got back from overseas with my wife traveling on extension letter...

 

Most of the airlines are aware of the extension letter and it's validity... but YMMV so we got the the airport 2-3 hours before our flights to make sure there were no issues. The ones we spoke to seemed to believe whatever we told them about the validity period, etc.

 

Also came back via Orlando... had to bypass the kiosk and then agent processed us directly, didn't get sent to secondary...

 

 

[YacineSade 0]

Plz if there are some ones experienced traveling with Air France using extension letter. I need to know if they are familiar withe the NOA or not.

[stackeria 280]

On 9/1/2017 at 11:45 PM, ivanalex1980 said:

Hi guys

My question got ignored so will post again

What is the maximum amount of time you can stay outside USA and come back with extension letter?

Thanks

 

The extension letter is irrelevant. For more information on maintaining permanent resident status, see: https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/after-green-card-granted/maintaining-permanent-residence

 

[Dashinka 24,634]

Just an update.  Arrived back in the states yesterday at Detroit Metro Airport.  Told the agents directing folks at immigration that Katya had an extension letter, and they sent both of us to the line processing foreign entrants.  Waited in line about 5 minutes then the USCIS officer processed both of us and except for some computer issues with the fingerprint scanner, we were through in about 10 minutes.  Our luggage was waiting for us and we were out the door in about 15 minutes total.  We were not sent to secondary, and the airlines in Beijing were quite familiar with the extension letter so there were no delays there either.