Case Approved but no card yet...traveling abroad

[854Turbo 20]

It just seems like the complications with USCIS just never end... My I-751 had been pending since Sept 2021 until last week when it was finally approved! Great news, right? Case status changed from We Ordered Your New Card to Case Was Approved....but it hasn't changed to Card was produced yet. It's been a week.

 

Here is the kicker - I have international travel planned in early March. I figured it was pretty safe to travel with my expired card and the 4-year extension letter. But the approval notice explicitly says "You should not travel outside the United States until you receive your new Green Card, as you may have difficulty entering the United States"....blah blah blah...make an appointment for a I-551 stamp.

 

I know this is standard language, and I wonder if I could still just use my expired card and 4-year extension letter in lieu of the I-551 stamp (assuming the worst - that the new card does not arrive in time).

 

Two questions:

1) Has anyone faced a similar situation?

2) People who have been recently approved (in the past month) - have you received your new cards yet? How long did it take for the status to change to Card Produced, and how long until the card actually arrived?

 

Thanks!

 

[SalishSea 17,818]

Not sure why you're so worried.  It's only been a week, and sounds like you won't be traveling for >one month?

 

Do you have USPS Informed Delivery?  If not, I recommend it.  

 

It is normal for it to take a couple of weeks to receive a new card.

[mindthegap 2,590]

Yes, assuming your extension letter is still within its validity period, your extension letter in conjunction with your expired card will remain valid for travel purposes, if for some reason your new card has not arrived.

A stamp will also work just fine should you manage to navigate the muppetshow of actually getting an appointment. 

 

In the grand scheme of things its a nice non-problem to have really. Don't worry about it. 

[OldUser 6,633]

Took about 3 weeks from approval to receiving GC in the mail.

 

Make sure to monitor the mail with USPS Informed Delivery.

 

USPS Hold Mail, Mail Forwarding, Intercept - none of them worked for me. GC arrived at address where it was mailed.

 

Can you travel on GC + valid extension letter? Probably yes. Can I recommend it? No. Simply because people get denied boarding with it all the time, not related to 10 year GC being produced (airline won't know).

Edited January 30 by OldUser

[854Turbo 20]

I’m probably overreacting, indeed. I just didn’t expect to see this language in the approval notice. 
 

The reason for my freak out is because I expected the status to change from Approved to Card was produced in just a few days (that’s what a couple of websites indicated) but it has been a week already. 
 

I’m not overly concerned about airlines/boarding. 
 

Travel is scheduled for March 1, so yes I do have a reasonable window in which the card should arrive (unless I’m very unlucky). 
 

yes, I have informed delivery turned on and I’m watching it like a hawk. But first I expect to see the change in status to Card was Produced. 

Edited January 30 by 854Turbo

[Crazy Cat 41,836]

39 minutes ago, 854Turbo said:

I’m probably overreacting, indeed. I just didn’t expect to see this language in the approval notice. 
 

The reason for my freak out is because I expected the status to change from Approved to Card was produced in just a few days (that’s what a couple of websites indicated) but it has been a week already. 
 

I’m not overly concerned about airlines/boarding. 
 

Travel is scheduled for March 1, so yes I do have a reasonable window in which the card should arrive (unless I’m very unlucky). 
 

yes, I have informed delivery turned on and I’m watching it like a hawk. But first I expect to see the change in status to Card was Produced. 

Even if the card didn't arrive, you could travel with an expired Green Card along with a valid extension letter.  You are a legal resident.  No worries.

 

The airlines will allow you to board.  CBP will allow you to enter the US.  They will not deny entry to a legal resident.

Edited January 30 by Crazy Cat

[854Turbo 20]

1 hour ago, Crazy Cat said:

Even if the card didn't arrive, you could travel with an expired Green Card along with a valid extension letter.  You are a legal resident.  No worries.

 

The airlines will allow you to board.  CBP will allow you to enter the US.  They will not deny entry to a legal resident.

Thanks!

 

Thinking about it some more: the language in the letter is standardized, so it's very possible that it's there to deter people who just got approved for their initial 2-year card from traveling before they receive it (read: traveling with no green card whatsoever).

 

I'm also starting to think that an ADIT stamp functions the same as expired card+extension letter.

[Crazy Cat 41,836]

29 minutes ago, 854Turbo said:

I'm also starting to think that an ADIT stamp functions the same as expired card+extension letter.

Both are evidence of status as a legal resident.  

[mindthegap 2,590]

48 minutes ago, 854Turbo said:

I'm also starting to think that an ADIT stamp functions the same as expired card+extension letter.

 

It does indeed (I've had 12 of them)....although with just the stamp you will have a visit to secondary every time to verify your status.

With the expired card + letter combo it is usually taken care of at the booth. 

 

[Thrillhouse 193]

My ROC changed to "Card is being produced" on Jan 22nd (last Monday) and "Approved" on Jan 23rd. My status hasn't yet updated with the mailing details, but among those who were approved at the same time, neither has anyone else's (yes, I've been checking). They're probably doing them in batches and I expect to hear something by the end of the week, if AOS was any indication.

 

As others have said, with your expired GC and the extension letter, you're fine. I know you're excited to get the new card - I am too! - but just chill, it'll happen soon.

Edited January 31 by Thrillhouse

[SalishSea 17,818]

6 hours ago, 854Turbo said:

But first I expect to see the change in status to Card was Produced. 

Don't forget that USCIS is notorious for failure to properly update statuses.  There have been VJ members whose status has remained at "interview was scheduled" long after they received their card.

 

Honestly, I think you're fine.  

[Rocio0010 5,579]

9 hours ago, SalishSea said:

Don't forget that USCIS is notorious for failure to properly update statuses.  There have been VJ members whose status has remained at "interview was scheduled" long after they received their card.

 

Honestly, I think you're fine.  

Exactly. 

To add, there have been cases in which the card just shows up in the mail without any status update, so everything can happen.

[Beth & Achraf 328]

19 hours ago, 854Turbo said:

It just seems like the complications with USCIS just never end... My I-751 had been pending since Sept 2021 until last week when it was finally approved! Great news, right? Case status changed from We Ordered Your New Card to Case Was Approved....but it hasn't changed to Card was produced yet. It's been a week.

 

Here is the kicker - I have international travel planned in early March. I figured it was pretty safe to travel with my expired card and the 4-year extension letter. But the approval notice explicitly says "You should not travel outside the United States until you receive your new Green Card, as you may have difficulty entering the United States"....blah blah blah...make an appointment for a I-551 stamp.

 

I know this is standard language, and I wonder if I could still just use my expired card and 4-year extension letter in lieu of the I-551 stamp (assuming the worst - that the new card does not arrive in time).

 

Two questions:

1) Has anyone faced a similar situation?

2) People who have been recently approved (in the past month) - have you received your new cards yet? How long did it take for the status to change to Card Produced, and how long until the card actually arrived?

 

Thanks!

 

Has USICS aver moved fast ?,  No, give it a bit of time.  

You have back up for travel if needed, but doubt it will come to that.

[854Turbo 20]

12 hours ago, Thrillhouse said:

My ROC changed to "Card is being produced" on Jan 22nd (last Monday) and "Approved" on Jan 23rd. My status hasn't yet updated with the mailing details, but among those who were approved at the same time, neither has anyone else's (yes, I've been checking). They're probably doing them in batches and I expect to hear something by the end of the week, if AOS was any indication.

 

As others have said, with your expired GC and the extension letter, you're fine. I know you're excited to get the new card - I am too! - but just chill, it'll happen soon.

Oh good, so we have very similar dates of approval - please keep me updated when (if) you get the Card was Produced status update. I'll do the same.

[Strontium 70]

Ours didn't update to "card mailed" until after 7 days this time around, unlike AOS which was very quick (1 day).  Someone said they have fewer people working at the card production facility, now.  Which would explain it taking longer.