British Airway refused daughter boarding with I-551 stamp

[OldUser 6,616]

1 minute ago, Lyz said:

We probably have to do this but it is so unfair to be assured by US immigration that we can use this as a travel document just for it to be rejected. Traveling through a different country means we have to cough up at least $800 on short notice

I'm sorry you're going through this. USCIS can only assure you can leave and reenter the US on I-551 stamp. They cannot assure you can transit via other countries with the stamp / green card / anything else. Those are details the traveller must check independently before planning the trip.

 

[Lyz 29]

1 minute ago, OldUser said:

I'm sorry you're going through this. USCIS can only assure you can leave and reenter the US on I-551 stamp. They cannot assure you can transit via other countries with the stamp / green card / anything else. Those are details the traveller must check independently before planning the trip.

 

Gotcha! We live and we learn. Note to self: Ditch BA completely!

[OldUser 6,616]

3 minutes ago, Lyz said:

Wow! Thank you! I wish we had known this. The officers should probably let people keep their expired GC till naturalization just in case of such issues

I think there should never be expired Green Cards in the first place. Extension letters, stamps etc confuse other countries and airlines. USCIS should be printing limited term green cards whenever somebody is waiting for N-400, renewing GC or waiting for I-751.

[Lyz 29]

19 minutes ago, OldUser said:

I think there should never be expired Green Cards in the first place. Extension letters, stamps etc confuse other countries and airlines. USCIS should be printing limited term green cards whenever somebody is waiting for N-400, renewing GC or waiting for I-751.

I completely concur

[Boiler 45,451]

I do not see what BA did wrong.

[SalishSea 17,810]

1 hour ago, Lyz said:

Why would the USCIS issue a document, take away the physical green card and assure us we can travel with it if we can't? That is the only travel document she has from the US so I don't know who dropped the ball here. Super frustrating

USCIS has NO authority over the ability of GC holders to transit other countries.  This issue is 100% between the UK and Kenya.

[SalishSea 17,810]

1 hour ago, Lyz said:

We probably have to do this but it is so unfair to be assured by US immigration that we can use this as a travel document just for it to be rejected. Traveling through a different country means we have to cough up at least $800 on short notice

It isn't within the scope of practice of individual USCIS officers to keep tabs on transit visa requirements for thousands of GC holding nationals traveling to thousands of other countries.  That isn't really a reasonable expectation to have...

[nastra30 2,284]

The stamp guarantees entry through US borders and not borders of other countries. Heck, countries that exempt GC holders can choose to go back to require transit visas for green card holders to travel through their borders; US doesn't control this. Even US requires transit visas for everyone (including permanent residents of other countries) transiting through it's borders except VWP. 

It's best to do your due delegience and research before booking a flight especially if transit is involved.

[manyfudge 285]

9 hours ago, Lyz said:

hy would the USCIS issue a document, take away the physical green card and assure us we can travel with it if we can't? Tha

They have the authority with respect to boarding a plane landing in the U.S.

 

They were not talking about a plane landing in the UK. 

[Crazy Cat 41,814]

10 hours ago, OldUser said:

I think airline staff is right this time. Citizens of Kenya cannot transit via UK without visa or valid GC or GC + extension letter. Stamp is not valid.

 

 

Wow! Nice find.  I have never heard of this before.  I guess we need to start advising everyone to hang on to those expired conditional Green Cards and extension letters. 

Edited April 29 by Crazy Cat

[manyfudge 285]

@Lyz, do you have the card and extension letter? Is the letter still valid? Maybe FedEx to Nairobi.

[manyfudge 285]

11 hours ago, Lyz said:

BA completely!

You need to check the requirements of every transit country.

 

What this says to me is that people forge the i551 stamps to get into the U.S.

 

@Crazy Cat, wanna bet that some people forged the i551 stamps.  Got into U.S. somehow.  Though presumably caught at CBP.  Then claimed asylum at the airport. 

 

Maybe then they claim asylum?  Would not surprise me if CBP starts expanding its presence overseas with preclearance.  
 

[Crazy Cat 41,814]

1 minute ago, manyfudge said:

@Crazy Cat, wanna bet that some people forged the i551 stamps.  Got into U.S. somehow.  Though presumably caught at CBP.  Then claimed asylum at the airport. 

Makes perfect sense.  

[Lemonslice 4,832]

1 hour ago, Crazy Cat said:

Makes perfect sense.  

Would be the easiest/cheapest thing to fake - $20 stamp and you're good to go.  I've ordered "official" stamps and the verification process was... let's say minimal.  Always bothered me.

[Crazy Cat 41,814]

17 minutes ago, Lemonslice said:

Would be the easiest/cheapest thing to fake - $20 stamp and you're good to go.  I've ordered "official" stamps and the verification process was... let's say minimal.  Always bothered me.

Yep.  Personally, I wonder why it is still an allowable boarding document in the CBP Carrier Information Guide.