When to file ROC with planned travel

[MarmiteC 68]

Well, I've been here for 2 full weeks now on a CR1 and already turning my thoughts to ROC! 

 

I know that I can't file until 07/02/2025 and my GC will expire on 09/30/2025.  Unfortunately we have a major family event planned in Europe for September 2025 which I need to travel for.  Is it a) better to file straight away as soon as it opens and hope I receive the extension letter or b) file as soon as I return?  I will have one week after returning before expiry of my GC.  I wish I could move the travel dates but that's not possible.

 

Thanks

 

[JKLSemicolon 411]

Technically you only need the extension letter if you are out of the country after the expiration date on the GC. Either way, it would seem prudent to file early rather than at the last minute for several reasons:

 

- If for some reason there is a problem with the first submission, you still have time to refile before the deadline;

- Better to have the extension letter in hand just in case travel plans change;

- Better to have correspondence from USCIS arrive when you are in the US to receive it versus out of the country;

- Peace of mind.

 

 

[SalishSea 17,818]

2 hours ago, MarmiteC said:

Well, I've been here for 2 full weeks now on a CR1 and already turning my thoughts to ROC! 

 

I know that I can't file until 07/02/2025 and my GC will expire on 09/30/2025.  Unfortunately we have a major family event planned in Europe for September 2025 which I need to travel for.  Is it a) better to file straight away as soon as it opens and hope I receive the extension letter or b) file as soon as I return?  I will have one week after returning before expiry of my GC.  I wish I could move the travel dates but that's not possible.

 

Thanks

 

You will have the extension letter (probably by then it will be for 60 months, lol) by then. 
 

You absolutely wouldn’t want to travel without it on an expired GC, primarily because you could be denied boarding by the airline.

[MarmiteC 68]

11 minutes ago, SalishSea said:

You will have the extension letter (probably by then it will be for 60 months, lol) by then. 
 

You absolutely wouldn’t want to travel without it on an expired GC, primarily because you could be denied boarding by the airline.

 I wasn't sure as the GC will expire after I return, but thought I might be risking it being that close.

[pnw12 7]

As long as your GC is not expired, you're fine to re-enter without the extension letter. 

 

If you were filing now, I would advise you to file asap, as most I-751 cases are receiving their extension letters within a couple weeks of filing. I-751s are moving to online processing, so I think that's a good sign for the future. 

 

Ultimately, I think it's best to wait and see what current I-751 processing is like in 2025. 

[Dashinka 24,488]

I agree with the others, best to file early when the window opens (make sure you don't file even one day before the 90 day window opens) even if the travel will be while the GC is still valid.  One never knows what kind of travel delays might come up.

 

Good Luck!

[Sinead91 249]

I've travelled home to Ireland with an expired GC and my extension letter for ROC (48 months for me ha ha!). But there were no issues at all.

 

I would file straight away, there's no harm in doing so. It's going to be a long wait either way. It's also an incredibly easy packet to put together.