Do I travel on my 2-year green card or the extension paper?

[mbssss 106]

Hi all,

 

I am eligible to apply for removal of conditions in mid-March and my 2-year green card will expire in mid-June. Me and my husband are planning a trip to my home country sometime between April and June.

 

Do I travel on my 2-year card if we leave before it expires in June or do I travel on the extension paper I get when I apply for removal of conditions even if the card has not yet expired? I know it's pretty early but I would like to have an idea so I can keep that in mind as I plan our trip.

 

Thanks all! 

 

Also, I'm sure this question has been asked before so I apologize if this is redundant. 

[Mike E 11,739]

25 minutes ago, mbssss said:

Do I travel on my 2-year card if we leave before it expires in June or do I travel on the extension paper I get when I apply for removal of conditions even if the card has not yet expired? I

File I-751.  Receive a 2 year extension letter.  Pack the 2 year extension letter in your carry on bag for your trip whether your gc has expired or not.  
 

When you return to the USA, present your gc to the airline (which must not be Delta, Spirit, or Turkish) and CBP.  If your gc has expired, present your extension letter to the airline and to CBP as well.  CBP might ask for your extension letter regardless whether you gc has expired.  
 

Our experience:

 

* filed I-751 in October 2021

 

* went on two cruises in November and December 2021. Carried extension letter. Was not asked. December was at Miami cruise port which uses facial recognition and doesn’t check documents.  
 

* Took a cruise on a Friday in January, 2 days before the gc expired. As the gc was due to expire during the cruise, presented the extension letter.  Front line personnel had no clue. Second line personnel had no clue.  After an hour we got to third line personnel who had a clue.  Upon return, CBP didn’t look at the extension letter. 
 

* February 2022, flew to Cancun.  Front line and second line airline employees clueless. Third line had a clue and we were checked in. At the departure gate we go through the same drama.  Upon arrival in Mexico the federal border officer accepted the extension letter and gc.  On the return, first line airline employee had a clue.  Upon arrival, CBP asked for extension letter and verified the case status online before admitting us 

 

* July 2022 flight to Canada. Nightmarish checkin because airline refused to  check us in without using their kiosk.  3rd line airline employee let us check in.  Return from Canada was a breeze and CBP verified case status on extension letter.  
 

God I hate extension letters and for that matter green cards. I had a green card over 30 years. Never a problem flying with a gc, a Canadian passport, and white skin. My wife with her gc, Burmese passport, and golden skin has a much different experience.  Airlines are among the most racist entities I’ve seen.  Hopefully by March 1 her  travel nightmares end with a U.S. passport in hand. 

Edited December 26, 2022 by Mike E

[Chancy 6,241]

2 hours ago, mbssss said:

Do I travel on my 2-year card if we leave before it expires in June or do I travel on the extension paper I get when I apply for removal of conditions even if the card has not yet expired?

 

No need to present your extension letter if your GC has not yet expired.  You should still bring your original extension letter when you travel, in case your trip unexpectedly needs to be extended beyond your GC expiry date.

 

[Dashinka 24,478]

I agree with the above posters, but would add make a few copies of the extension letter.  My wife had an airline check-in clerk request to keep the letter and the original is needed for CBP when entering the US with the expired 2 yr GC and extension letter.

 

Good Luck!

[Alytes 31]

4 hours ago, Mike E said:

When you return to the USA, present your gc to the airline (which must not be Delta, Spirit, or Turkish) 

For future reference, why not Delta, Spirit or Turkish?  We use Turkish to travel regularly.

[Mike E 11,739]

12 minutes ago, Alytes said:

For future reference, why not Delta, Spirit or Turkish?  We use Turkish to travel regularly.

Because Turkish Airlines stranded an LPR who had  an extension letter.  

https://www.reddit.com/r/USCIS/comments/wy8ge3/stranded_in_istanbul/

 

Delta stranded an LPR with a 10 year green card (https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/791976-reapplying-for-petition/#comments) and also won’t board LPRs to Mexico who have extension letters (

https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/)

 

Spirit stranded a passenger with en endorsed  immigration visa (https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/762755-traveling-outside-of-usa-before-receiving-green-card-merged/)

 

 

 

Edited December 26, 2022 by Mike E

[iwannaplay54 985]

2 hours ago, Alytes said:

For future reference, why not Delta, Spirit or Turkish?  We use Turkish to travel regularly.

Qatar, Emirates, Etihad etc are excellent replacements and usually their ticket prices are pretty comparable.

[Thunderbolt 172]

I may add Korean Air as a good airline for extension letters

My wife's GC expired in September of this year and we've travel to Thailand in November. 

On the way back Korean Air check in staff looked at the letter and we had no problems getting boarding passes for our flights back home in US. 

Upon arrival at Dulles airport, CBP checked our passports and the agent requested the extension letter (I forgot to give it to him).

I showed him the original letter (I've made few copies before the trip as well, just in case).