What to do? :(

[CoffeeVegan 223]

I have filed for ROC and my temporary GC has expired. I have to fly back to my countryfor a family emergency(very devastating) .What should I do? My NOA has a line which says "this extension and authorization for travel does not apply to you if your GC has expired". Would there be an issue upon return even if I proceed to get  an I 55 stamp? Please help me. Thank uou so much.

[Sukie 1,460]

Go get your I-551 stamp.  They will probably collect your expired green card so be sure to have copies of both side of it.  When you travel, take your extension letter (the original), a copy of your expired green card and, if you get any other letters, bring them too.

 

With all these in hand, you should not have any issues.  You may get sent to secondary, but do not worry.  I am sorry for your devasting situation.

 

Sukie in NY

[CoffeeVegan 223]

Thank you so much, you are most kind. Why would they take away the green card I wonder:(

[mindthegap 2,590]

Did you definitely file your I-751 before expiry of your 2yr card?

Please post up a picture of the I-797 (with personal info redacted of course).

I have not seen or heard of one that has that wording, given the primary purpose of the letter is proof of status for an expired card, and also for travel!

 

 

As for collecting the expired card, some (not all) agents/offices do that when issuing an I-551 stamp. Mine hasn't been collected at any of my (many) infopass appointments for stamps or anything else.

YMMV

 

Edited June 28, 2017 by mindthegap

[frontgear 194]

Here's what mine shows. I think the OP meant to say that "if your conditional status has been terminated", and not "if your GC has expired."

 

Edited June 28, 2017 by frontgear

[mindthegap 2,590]

26 minutes ago, frontgear said:

Here's what mine shows. I think the OP meant to say that "if your conditional status has been terminated", and not "if your GC has expired."

 

 

Yes exactly ( and the same as mine), which means something very different to what the OP stated!

[CoffeeVegan 223]

Oh goodness. How silly of me. Yes it says terminated not expired. Mind has been too woozy from trying to process the tough news .I went ahead and scheduled the infopass for the I551 stamping. Will update here how the process goes. Should I be taking any specific documents with me, like documents pertaining to the emergency health situation back home?

[mindthegap 2,590]

12 minutes ago, kay&K said:

Oh goodness. How silly of me. Yes it says terminated not expired. Mind has been too woozy from trying to process the tough news .

 

You dont need an infopass for a stamp - you are good to go (assuming your 2yr GC expired less than 1yr ago). Depending on when your extension letter was issued they may well not give you a stamp anyway.

 

Make sure when you travel that you take both the original letter (it is watermarked), and the expired GC. 

[NYCruiser 423]

10 hours ago, kay&K said:

Oh goodness. How silly of me. Yes it says terminated not expired. Mind has been too woozy from trying to process the tough news .I went ahead and scheduled the infopass for the I551 stamping. Will update here how the process goes. Should I be taking any specific documents with me, like documents pertaining to the emergency health situation back home?

Sorry about your situation. Hope you can find peace. 

I would take any print out (if possible) or recording (?) of the situation with you as well. Normally, if one needs the stamp, impending airline travel evidence is good to show.

[Lemon23 400]

@mindthegap This is actually one of my concern as well, because most airline employees on the check in counter dont know the meaning of the extension letter, they are more aware of I-551 stamp on the passport, my fear is, the airline employee might not allow me to travel back in the US because of the extension letter and expired green card without the i-551 stamp on my passport.  I will travel to my country next year with expired GC and less than 3 months before my expiration status as CR. I will just stay to my home country for 3 weeks so technically my status as CR is still valid based on the extension letter. Should I go ahead and have an infopass for the I-551 stamp on my passport? and since the expiration of my CR is less than 3 months on the day of my flight and return here in the US, would they allow me to have my passport stamp for I-551?  

[Pickle 65]

This might be useful to you (it helped me out at my job).  Take the guide with you like it is suggested in the thread (maybe on your phone if you can):  

 

[CoffeeVegan 223]

Thanks to everyone for the kind response. I will try to see if I can procure any documents from the hospital. Will keep everyone posted on how the infopass appointment goes.

 

One more question, if they demand I surrender my expired GC &NOA1 in lieu for the I551 stamp, what would be the better step to take? Would it be ok if I reject the stamp and hold on to GC ? Would that affect my application process in any way? I am an April filer for ROC .Thank you all most kindly.

Edited June 28, 2017 by kay&K

[shell20 746]

3 hours ago, kay&K said:

Thanks to everyone for the kind response. I will try to see if I can procure any documents from the hospital. Will keep everyone posted on how the infopass appointment goes.

 

One more question, if they demand I surrender my expired GC &NOA1 in lieu for the I551 stamp, what would be the better step to take? Would it be ok if I reject the stamp and hold on to GC ? Would that affect my application process in any way? I am an April filer for ROC .Thank you all most kindly.

I'm a bit perplexed. If you filed in April which April this year or last year? If its this year you should have no problem travelling with the extension letter and the expired GC. If it was last year then you will need to get the i55i stamp. Some offices do take the card from you, some don't but you shouldn't have a problem with the stamp and extension letter for travelling.  If this is the case I would strongly advise you not to refuse the stamp, as you most likely will have problems getting back into the country. I recently travelled from Ireland with just the stamp and extension letter and did not have a problem. My GC had been stolen.

[CoffeeVegan 223]

2 hours ago, shell20 said:

I'm a bit perplexed. If you filed in April which April this year or last year? If its this year you should have no problem travelling with the extension letter and the expired GC. If it was last year then you will need to get the i55i stamp. Some offices do take the card from you, some don't but you shouldn't have a problem with the stamp and extension letter for travelling.  If this is the case I would strongly advise you not to refuse the stamp, as you most likely will have problems getting back into the country. I recently travelled from Ireland with just the stamp and extension letter and did not have a problem. My GC had been stolen.

Sorry to hear that it has been stolen. It sucks that there are people out there who would add on more hassle to an already tiresome process of dealing with the USCIS by stealing something that doesn't belong to them.

 

I filed for ROC April 2017. I read mixed inputs on how you need the stamp vs not needing it at all and that the expired GC& NOA1 would suffice.  My dilemma is a ticket agent in another country to whom a piece of paper and an expired GC would be a no-no.

Thanks again for your response.

Edited June 28, 2017 by kay&K

[Lemonslice 4,838]

7 hours ago, kay&K said:

Thanks to everyone for the kind response. I will try to see if I can procure any documents from the hospital. Will keep everyone posted on how the infopass appointment goes.

 

One more question, if they demand I surrender my expired GC &NOA1 in lieu for the I551 stamp, what would be the better step to take? Would it be ok if I reject the stamp and hold on to GC ? Would that affect my application process in any way? I am an April filer for ROC .Thank you all most kindly.

You do not need a stamp, just the letter. Simply cancel your appointment and save yourself the trouble (and questions).

Airlines employees will figure it out. I travelled extensively with the letter and never ran into an issue. I can post a line to the guide on documents airlines have to accept later.