Traveling overseas with expired GC but with extension letter

[Moonspell360 1]

My wife's green card expired a few months but received extension letter letter up to 18 months, yesterday she went for finger prints ( removal of conditions) , we are planning on traveling for about 2 weeks to colombia, will it be a problem when reentering united states? She is panicked she will be denied re entering us 

[Crazy Cat 41,899]

She is very, very unlikely to have any significant issues as long as she has her expired Green Card and her extension letter.......that is the whole purpose of extending the card......she should relax and enjoy her travels.

[USS_Voyager 1,972]

21 minutes ago, Moonspell360 said:

My wife's green card expired a few months but received extension letter letter up to 18 months, yesterday she went for finger prints ( removal of conditions) , we are planning on traveling for about 2 weeks to colombia, will it be a problem when reentering united states? She is panicked she will be denied re entering us 

There is no problem at all. Tens of thousands of people have entered using the extension letter, including a couple of my own family members. One note is that, she needs BOTH the expired green card AND the extension letter. 

[Russ&Caro 1,549]

My wife traveled to and from Colombia while her i751 application was pending. She had no issues re-entering the United States with an expired green card and the original extension letter.

 

Take pictures of the expired green card and original extension letter with your phone in case you were to lose either during the trip. Make sure you travel with the original extension letter, not a photocopy. Good luck.

Edited June 12, 2019 by Russ&Caro

[Sukie 1,463]

And tell your wife that she might have to go to "secondary" screening, but NOT to worry about this.  Yes, it will take a little more time.  Sometimes the officer at the immigration counter needs someone with higher ranking to verify her extension.  It happened to us about two out of five times. 

 

Have fun!

 

Sukie in NY

[HeartNYC 1]

As long as she has both the expired green card and the extension letter on her as she enters the US - she’ll be fine.  

Even airline agents overseas are aware about US immigration requirements and they accept the expired green card and the extension letter to issue a boarding pass so your wife should just relax and enjoy her trip. 

Safe travels. 

[Dashinka 24,519]

Upon arrival at the POE, tell the CBP guide you are traveling on an extension letter and they will direct you, do not try to use the kiosks.  Additionally, take a few copies of the extension letter with you, one time the airline requested to keep a copy and you do not want to give away the original which you will need at the POE.  Otherwise, your wife should have no issues, my wife traveled multiple times with her expired GC and extension letter.