Returning to US just before greencard expires

[Marielu 0]

Hello again forum!  We are leaving the country for the holidays and are returning to the US in January, arriving home about 10 days before my husband's conditional greencard expires. We just filed our I-751 application to remove conditions and we were hoping to have the receipt with us when we return as proof that we have begun the renewal process. However, if we do not have this receipt in hand before we leave, we are concerned that the immigration officer would have discretion to deny entry or detain my husband. I spoke with the National Customer Service Center and they reassured me that as long as we enter the US before the greencard expires, we will not have any issues coming back into the country and that the immigration officer at the airport only goes by the date on the greencard.  We both know people who have been turned away at immigration because they were returning just before their visa expired with no evidence that they were planning to leave before it expired or with evidence that they were renewing their visa. Granted, they were on a student visa, which is inherently temporary, but we are concerned nonetheless. Has anyone traveled under similar conditions and had issues? Or no issues? Thank you.

[Boiler 46,121]

You are either have a valid document or you do not, it is not subjective.

[WeGuyGal 1,052]

Why would CBP deny entry with a valid green card, if you're otherwise eligible? 

[gregcrs2 1,778]

You may end up missing your biometric appointment.

[sddude89 31]

There is no reason for the officer not to admit you. 

Furthermore, if your Green Card is current, you might be able to use the automatic kiosks (no officer involved).

 

F1 is a completely different story and not comparable at all.

 

Agree with poster above. Assuming you have just submitted your I-751 and you are at approximately 90 days before green card expiration then I assume you are going to be away for 80 days (almost 3 months).

If that's the case, you will most likely miss your biometric appointment which is a bigger concern, IMO. 

 

 

Edited December 4, 2017 by sddude89

[Forever4 1]

On 12/4/2017 at 10:46 AM, Marielu said:

Hello again forum!  We are leaving the country for the holidays and are returning to the US in January, arriving home about 10 days before my husband's conditional greencard expires. We just filed our I-751 application to remove conditions and we were hoping to have the receipt with us when we return as proof that we have begun the renewal process. However, if we do not have this receipt in hand before we leave, we are concerned that the immigration officer would have discretion to deny entry or detain my husband. I spoke with the National Customer Service Center and they reassured me that as long as we enter the US before the greencard expires, we will not have any issues coming back into the country and that the immigration officer at the airport only goes by the date on the greencard.  We both know people who have been turned away at immigration because they were returning just before their visa expired with no evidence that they were planning to leave before it expired or with evidence that they were renewing their visa. Granted, they were on a student visa, which is inherently temporary, but we are concerned nonetheless. Has anyone traveled under similar conditions and had issues? Or no issues? Thank you.

I'm in somewhat similar situation. Can you please update what happened to you? Thank you!!

[llllluka 0]

I recently re-entered on 9/9, with a green card expiry of 10/19 and no extension letter (still waiting on CSC, grr) at Vancouver airport. The kiosk scanned my card but did not provide me with a receipt and said to see an officer. I continued through to the counter and the officer asked if I had a receipt from the kiosk, I said it didn't give me one and that I had applied to renew my green card but was still waiting for a response. He admitted me with no further questions.