Filing 90 days before the expiration date or 20 days before the expiration date?

[annak1 0]

Hi all! 

First of all I apologize if this is something that has been discuss before, but I could not find an answer within the forum so I decided to start a new topic about it. 

My green card expires August the 21. I have plane tickets to Spain for June 14 and I will stay there with my family until August 2nd. I am really worried and confused about when to send the package with the I-751 to USCIS. At first I thought I would send it exactly 90 days before the expiration date, but now I wonder if that would be a bad idea since I will be gone to Spain for the summer and they may schedule me for biometrics while in Spain. At the same time I am afraid of what could happen at customs when I come back so close to my Visa's expiration date.

I would love to hear about your experience and learn from your advice.

Thank you all

[Cryssiekins 976]

The window to file opens 90 days prior, but you can certainly submit it when you return from your trip.  It just has to be there BEFORE the date of expiry.  Though not sure how that works if 20

days isn't sufficient lead time to receive an NOA which will extend the validity of your card for an additional year. 

[annak1 0]

1 minute ago, Cryssiekins said:

The window to file opens 90 days prior, but you can certainly submit it when you return from your trip.  It just has to be there BEFORE the date of expiry.  Though not sure how that works if 20

days isn't sufficient lead time to receive an NOA which will extend the validity of your card for an additional year. 

I was thinking about sending it with express certified mail or maybe having my husband send it July 24th while I am in Spain since I arrive 10 days after that date and it would give enough time for the paperwork to arrive to USCIS. 

Have you traveled with the extension? I have plane tickets for Christmas as well, I hope that is not a problem... 

Thank you so much for your help