Traveling on Extension Letter?

[Mike E 11,739]

26 minutes ago, kvito28 said:

I got the stamp. They took my CG but not my extension letter.

“CG” - Card of Green. 😂 yoda speak. 
 

That they kept your extension letter is a signal to me that you best travel with it.  Do not show it to the airline or cruise line. Have it ready for CBP.  
 

Hopefully you got a one year stamp.  

[GEOntificator 281]

34 minutes ago, Mike E said:

“CG” - Card of Green. 😂 yoda speak. 
 

That they kept your extension letter is a signal to me that you best travel with it.  Do not show it to the airline or cruise line. Have it ready for CBP.  
 

Hopefully you got a one year stamp.  

Haha meant to write GC.

 

Yep. I plan on printing my old GC copy, having my extension letter, and the passport with ADIT stamp. I do not think Anyone including CBP will ask for the letter but will have it just in case.

 

Yep. It is a one year stamp.

Edited July 28, 2022 by kvito28

[EllisAndRenz 196]

On 4/26/2017 at 12:54 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.

This link no longer seems to work.  

[WhatLoveBuys 10]

We just got back from visiting my husband's family in South Africa for 3 weeks - we were required to show the airlines the Extension Letter in order to be permitted to obtain his boarding pass as his GC shows that it expired last year (our extension letter is for 24 months). We showed this once in Johannesburg to get our boarding pass, again going through security at Amsterdam, and again before boarding in Amsterdam (also to verify that we did not need to provide additional COVID documentation). We then had the extension letter and GC together upon entering the US - took about an extra 15 minutes for them to verify that he still had valid status in the US, but luckily the lines were short either way. We also had a copy of our marriage certificate, daughter's birth certificate (she's a dual citizen), etc just in case they requested any of it. So make sure if you do have your GC and Letter of Extension that it is in your Carry-On and easily accessible for check-in on the way back to the US. 

[IndigoFlowers 130]

Recently got back from traveling to and from Canada with my extension letter (flying with Air Canada). On return to the US, everything went smoothly with US customs in Toronto Airport - I handed the customs agent my green card, passport and boarding pass. She typed some things into her computer, asked why I was in Canada, and then asked me for my extension letter. I handed the extension letter to her and she looked at both pages and told me goodbye. Very simple! 

[Mike E 11,739]

6 hours ago, IndigoFlowers said:

Recently got back from traveling to and from Canada with my extension letter (flying with Air Canada). On return to the US, everything went smoothly with US customs in Toronto Airport - I handed the customs agent my green card, passport and boarding pass. She typed some things into her computer, asked why I was in Canada, and then asked me for my extension letter. I handed the extension letter to her and she looked at both pages and told me goodbye. Very simple! 

The best thing about preclearance stations  is that they tend to not send aliens with extension letters or AP to secondary. 

[Moe428 129]

On 8/15/2022 at 8:34 PM, Mike E said:

The best thing about preclearance stations  is that they tend to not send aliens with extension letters or AP to secondary. 

Speaking from my limited experience, i.e. entering 3 times with extension letter, once on land border and twice in US airports, I was never sent to secondary.  

[Southern_Belle07 146]

My Philippine trip is coming up end of the month. I've got all documents ready including extension letter. Will be returning Jan 1 2023. I'm eligible for citizenship Aug 22nd. I'm thinking of delaying the submission of N400 until Nov or Dec. I'm gonna be okay right?

[OldUser 6,455]

10 minutes ago, Southern_Belle07 said:

My Philippine trip is coming up end of the month. I've got all documents ready including extension letter. Will be returning Jan 1 2023. I'm eligible for citizenship Aug 22nd. I'm thinking of delaying the submission of N400 until Nov or Dec. I'm gonna be okay right?

You can file N-400 whenever you're comfortable with doing it. If it's December, then it's December.

[Southern_Belle07 146]

1 hour ago, OldUser said:

You can file N-400 whenever you're comfortable with doing it. If it's December, then it's December.

Thanks. I just don't want to spend another expensive plane ticket as we all know USCIS schedules are unpredictable. This trip is work + personal related. 

[Mike E 11,739]

12 hours ago, OldUser said:

You can file N-400 whenever you're comfortable with doing it. If it's December, then it's December.

I don’t how you can file N-400 while outside the USA given:

 

* you have to list each absence from the USA 

 

* you have to provide an end date for each absence 

Edited August 18, 2022 by Mike E

[OldUser 6,455]

@Mike E somehow I missed the fact the person is going to be overseas when filing N-400 (didn't see Jan 2023). My understanding was they're hesitating whether to file now or once they're back. My bad.

[Mike E 11,739]

2 hours ago, OldUser said:

@Mike E somehow I missed the fact the person is going to be overseas when filing N-400 (didn't see Jan 2023). My understanding was they're hesitating whether to file now or once they're back. My bad.

Right.  
 

So OP’s trip is scheduled after OP is eligible to file.  OP can file this month  then go on the long trip. The risks are:

 

* the biometrics or interview are scheduled by OP is out of country. 
 

* after filing N-400, one is expected to continuously  to live in the USA.   https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1427&num=0&edition=prelim
 

“has resided continuously within the United States from the date of the application up to the time of admission to citizenship”

Given the length of the planned absence, I suggest filing after returning from the trip.  

Edited August 18, 2022 by Mike E

[Southern_Belle07 146]

On 8/18/2022 at 1:03 PM, Mike E said:

Right.  
 

So OP’s trip is scheduled after OP is eligible to file.  OP can file this month  then go on the long trip. The risks are:

 

* the biometrics or interview are scheduled by OP is out of country. 
 

* after filing N-400, one is expected to continuously  to live in the USA.   https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1427&num=0&edition=prelim
 

“has resided continuously within the United States from the date of the application up to the time of admission to citizenship”

Given the length of the planned absence, I suggest filing after returning from the trip.  

Thanks for the advice! I'll do that when I'm back.

[raviandquesty 18]

Hi All -

 

has anyone left the US and realized too late they had forgotten their extension paperwork. I came back to Canada for the weekend and I’m flying back to the US tomorrow. I just realized I have forgotten my extension paperwork, but have photos on my phone and I have my expired GC with me. 
 

I’ve never had this happen before and I’m not sure what to expect. It would be pre-clearance in Canada.