Travel with I 797 Extension

[Advetureboy07 3]

Hey guys !! So my conditional green card expired and I just got an I 797 notice of action form to extend it for a year. My lawyer told me that I can travel internationally with that document. I'm planning to go to Tunis for the summer through Air France. Do you think the Tunisian authority/ the airline will let me back to the U.S having that document? What if they don't know what an I797 extension is? Did anyone experience this situation recently? Thank you for your help.

[Crazy Cat 41,903]

Your expired Green Card along with the extension letter are valid re-entry documents.  However, some travelers have experienced problems with some airlines.  I would check with the airline carrier to ensure they know that your documents are valid for boarding and entry into the US.

[Crazy Cat 41,903]

Read page 13 of this carrier document.  You might want to take a copy: https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2017-Nov/carrier-information-guide-english.pdf

 

 

 

 

Edited June 13, 2018 by missileman

[Advetureboy07 3]

Thank you very much for your answer

[Hopefulrealist 0]

Hi, Advetureboy07!

 

I am in the same situation that you describe above (expired conditional green card with I-797 notice of action extending status, wanting to travel back to Tunisia but afraid that Tunisian customs and border will give me problems because they don't speak English and won't understand the documents).

 

Did you end up having any problems? Do you know anyone else who has gone through this? I'm trying to get as much information as I can about this before I travel and take the risk.

 

Thank you in advance!

[Advetureboy07 3]

15 minutes ago, Hopefulrealist said:

Hi, Advetureboy07!

 

I am in the same situation that you describe above (expired conditional green card with I-797 notice of action extending status, wanting to travel back to Tunisia but afraid that Tunisian customs and border will give me problems because they don't speak English and won't understand the documents).

 

Did you end up having any problems? Do you know anyone else who has gone through this? I'm trying to get as much information as I can about this before I travel and take the risk.

 

Thank you in advance!

Hi, I actually traveled to Tunisia with Air France this summer and it was a smooth sailing! Everyone was familiar with my documents. I didn't have any problems coming back to the U.S. The American authorities sent me to secondary inspection but it was a normal procedure. They do that for eveyone. You can absolutely travel with your I-797 document and don't forget you expired green card. I hope this helped :)

[Hopefulrealist 0]

5 minutes ago, Advetureboy07 said:

Hi, I actually traveled to Tunisia with Air France this summer and it was a smooth sailing! Everyone was familiar with my documents. I didn't have any problems coming back to the U.S. The American authorities sent me to secondary inspection but it was a normal procedure. They do that for eveyone. You can absolutely travel with your I-797 document and don't forget you expired green card. I hope this helped

Thank you so much for replying so quickly! That is indeed reassuring. Have you heard of any other cases like this? Any friends that went through it?

 

To be clear: are you a Tunisian citizen? I am worried because I know Tunisian customs officials can be strange when dealing with their own citizens (not believe them, make up invented rules, etc.). I am just trying to be very cautious since if I could not come back it would be very disruptive to my entire life.

 

Thank you again!

[Advetureboy07 3]

4 minutes ago, Hopefulrealist said:

Thank you so much for replying so quickly! That is indeed reassuring. Have you heard of any other cases like this? Any friends that went through it?

 

To be clear: are you a Tunisian citizen? I am worried because I know Tunisian customs officials can be strange when dealing with their own citizens (not believe them, make up invented rules, etc.). I am just trying to be very cautious since if I could not come back it would be very disruptive to my entire life.

 

Thank you again!

Yes I'm a Tunisian citizen and I did travel with my Tunisian passport. Before leaving, I asked  few people in the same situation as me, and they told me they had no issues either. My lawyer also gave me the green light. 

[Hopefulrealist 0]

5 minutes ago, Advetureboy07 said:

Yes I'm a Tunisian citizen and I did travel with my Tunisian passport. Before leaving, I asked  few people in the same situation as me, and they told me they had no issues either. My lawyer also gave me the green light. 

Thank you this is really helpful!