Travel back using expired card and extension letter after a new card was issued

[Unicornuno9 3]

I’ve been a silent reader, and this forum has been incredibly helpful in preparing for applications, gathering the necessary evidence, and tracking application progress. First of all, I would like to thank everyone for sharing their experiences and feedback; it has definitely helped people like me. I submitted my application on February 9, 2023, and today (on a holiday?) I received a notification that a new card is being produced. I’m not sure whether to feel excited or worried because I’m flying out of the country tomorrow and will return on the 26th of October. I’m uncertain if I can still use my expired card and extension letter to re-enter the country after the new card has been issued. Any insights from similar experiences would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Lemonslice 4,830]

Yes, absolutely.  You could have been traveling without access to the Internet and not even know the new card is in production.  

Some people have had trouble by discussing the status update with foreign check-in agents at the airport, since there is no need to confuse them (expired card+letter of extension=valid documents)

 

"B. U.S. RESIDENTS — must provide one of the following:
• Permanent Resident Card, Form I-551
• Expired Conditional Resident Card, Form I-551 accompanied by Original Form I-797, Notice of Action indicating the card validity is extended 
[...]" see page 10/92:
https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2023-Nov/Carrier Information Guide ENGLISH.pdf

[Unicornuno9 3]

6 minutes ago, Lemonslice said:

Yes, absolutely.  You could have been traveling without access to the Internet and not even know the new card is in production.  

Some people have had trouble by discussing the status update with foreign check-in agents at the airport, since there is no need to confuse them (expired card+letter of extension=valid documents)

 

"B. U.S. RESIDENTS — must provide one of the following:
• Permanent Resident Card, Form I-551
• Expired Conditional Resident Card, Form I-551 accompanied by Original Form I-797, Notice of Action indicating the card validity is extended 
[...]" see page 10/92:
https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2023-Nov/Carrier Information Guide ENGLISH.pdf

 

Thank you for responding! I feel a little better now knowing that the official documentation states I can re-enter using my expired card and extension letter. That definitely puts my mind at ease.

[OldUser 6,589]

33 minutes ago, Unicornuno9 said:

 

Thank you for responding! I feel a little better now knowing that the official documentation states I can re-enter using my expired card and extension letter. That definitely puts my mind at ease.

If you search the forum, you'd see this question popping from time to time. AFAIK nobody had issue entering on old GC and extension letter. At least nobody reported issues. All replies were success stories.

[OldUser 6,589]

By the way, if you have USPS Informed Delivery, you'll see letter from Lee's Summit Production Facility.

This is your GC. You may see tracking there days before tracking will be posted in your USCIS status.

[Unicornuno9 3]

7 hours ago, OldUser said:

If you search the forum, you'd see this question popping from time to time. AFAIK nobody had issue entering on old GC and extension letter. At least nobody reported issues. All replies were success stories.

 

7 hours ago, OldUser said:

By the way, if you have USPS Informed Delivery, you'll see letter from Lee's Summit Production Facility.

This is your GC. You may see tracking there days before tracking will be posted in your USCIS status.

Thank you, @OldUser! I do have informed delivery, will keep an eye out.

[Kürbis&Tannenbaum 21]

Hi there, the other users have already answered your question, but I figured I'd just add my 5 cents. I have never travelled with an expired greencard + extension letter, but I've travelled with a greencard stamp in my passport + a letter about a pending I-90 case that my card is being replaced. If anything, it was the foreign airline in Germany that gave me troubles, because they were not familiar with such documents. They had to call in their supervisor, and then the supervisor called the USCIS to confirm, and once USCIS confirmed, I was allowed to check in for my flight. And when I arrived in the US, the customs officer basically just waved me through, because he sees those types of "weird greencard combos" (I.e. stamp + letter) all the time. Hence, I would think it'd be the same for the expired GC + letter. Likely no trouble at all at the US border, but maybe the airline will give you trouble, especially if it's not a US-based airline. At a minimum, online check-in usually doesn't work for those types of docs. They only accept the "actual" greencard, but no letters, in my experience.

Edit:  Just to clarify - by "trouble" I just mean nuisances that are fixable. Nothing that would prevent you from re-entering the country.

Edited October 19 by Kürbis&Tannenbaum

[OldUser 6,589]

1 minute ago, Kürbis&Tannenbaum said:

Hi there, the other users have already answered your question, but I figured I'd just add my 5 cents. I have never travelled with an expired greencard + extension letter, but I've travelled with a greencard stamp in my passport + a letter about a pending I-90 case that my card is being replaced. If anything, it was the foreign airline in Germany that gave me troubles, because they were not familiar with such documents. They had to call in their supervisor, and then the supervisor called the USCIS to confirm, and once USCIS confirmed, I was allowed to check in for my flight. And when I arrived in the US, the customs officer basically just waved me through, because he sees those types of "weird greencard combos" (I.e. stamp + letter) all the time. Hence, I would think it'd be the same for the expired GC + letter. Likely no trouble at all at the US border, but maybe the airline will give you trouble, especially if it's not a US-based airline. At a minimum, online check-in usually doesn't work for those types of docs. They only accept the "actual" greencard, but no letters, in my experience.

Yes, most of the trouble when travelling with extension letter comes from the airlines, not US CBP.

 

I was never able to check in online when on expired GC and extension letter. However, others on VJ typed in +4 years from expiration date on their GC and were able to check in online. I find online check useless on international flights. You still have to show actual documents before boarding multiple times.

 

[Kürbis&Tannenbaum 21]

5 minutes ago, OldUser said:

Yes, most of the trouble when travelling with extension letter comes from the airlines, not US CBP.

 

I was never able to check in online when on expired GC and extension letter. However, others on VJ typed in +4 years from expiration date on their GC and were able to check in online. I find online check useless on international flights. You still have to show actual documents before boarding multiple times.

 

Very interesting about the +4 years working! True; you still have to show all your docs, but at least if you check in online, you can get your boarding pass already. I had to stand in line for over an hour to get my boarding pass in person and then you also have to stand in line later for the security check. Just a potential delay I'm always trying to avoid if I can help it