Extension letter ambiguity and travel

[splatterpaint 0]

We submitted the I-751.  It's been about a week and we just received an "I-797 Notice of Action".  The notice begins, "Your conditional resident status is extended for a period of one year.  During this one-year extension you are authorized employment and travel."

 

It seems like that's it about travel.  This seems very ambiguous.  The GC is up next month (though I think this is the letter that extends it a year).  We'd like to travel overseas.  The problem is, if I were a foreign customs officer, I might not know this letter extends the GC expiration.  It may seem, to those not familiar with the process, that the expiration date on the GC is more official and important looking than this vaguely worded letter.

 

Is this indeed the right letter?  Has anyone had issues traveling back to the US with an expired GC and this letter?

[Sukie 1,465]

You have the correct letter.  It's not Immigration people who have trouble with this letter.  It's usually airlines when you go to check in.  Carry your letter (have a backup copy!) and your expired Green Card.  Be prepared to explain to airlines people that your Green Card date has been extended by one year.  If they fuss, ask for a supervisor.  If the supervisor fusses, ask them to contact your local Embassy or Consulate.  Many of us have been in your situation.  And we've all traveled.

 

You MAY (and that's a "MAY") be routed to secondary processing when you re-enter the US.  This is merely to validate your status - not because you are going to be kicked out of the US.

 

Just breathe a little, and have fun traveling!

 

Sukie in NY

[mindthegap 2,605]

 

For the majority of people, the only time you need to present it when traveling is when checking in for a flight back to the US, and at US immigration. 

Most airline check in staff (or to be more accurate, their systems) know what it is, if in doubt that is what supervisors, and the RCLG, are for. 

Yes, it looks sketchy and bogus, but legally it isn’t, and that is all that matters.

 

Remember that you must carry the original (watermarked) extension letter and the expired card for it to be valid - either one is useless without the other.

Edited March 4, 2018 by mindthegap