Travelling overseas with extension letter

[crommm 0]

I received a letter from the CSC following I751 filing proclaiming that my permanent resident status has been extended for a year. Anyone travelled overseas using this letter as proof of permanent residence following expiry of their green card? Thanks.

[gatorlink 0]

I recently flew to mexico after I received my 1 year extension letter. Before flying I made an infopass appt and got my passport stamped to verify that my green card had been extended. I thought this stamp could be used instead of the letter, I was wrong. On my return flight my wife (US citizen) and I were "detained" by immigration for about an hour until my 1 year extension could be verified. To make a long story short the immigration officer told me that the letter is what I should use when travelling overseas

[Cassie 8]

I used mine with no difficulties.

[RichardS 0]

Letter has generally been accepted, without problem, by most VJ travelers!

Good luck!

[thea 1]

I used the letter twice now to travel: 1) United Airlines representative didn't understand the letter and it took forever until they let me actually check in in Frankfurt, no problems with immigration in DC - I got through within 2 minutes, 2) no problem with the airline (Lufthansa) but 2 immigration officers in DC didn't understand the letter and I ended up spending over an hour in secondary inspection until they got their supervisor to verify my status.

[Georgian 0]

I used the letter twice now to travel: 1) United Airlines representative didn't understand the letter and it took forever until they let me actually check in in Frankfurt, no problems with immigration in DC - I got through within 2 minutes, 2) no problem with the airline (Lufthansa) but 2 immigration officers in DC didn't understand the letter and I ended up spending over an hour in secondary inspection until they got their supervisor to verify my status.

Did you show them your expired Green Card as well?

[Cassie 8]

I've never showed my Green card to the airline peeps, only to the POE officials.

[thea 1]

I used the letter twice now to travel: 1) United Airlines representative didn't understand the letter and it took forever until they let me actually check in in Frankfurt, no problems with immigration in DC - I got through within 2 minutes, 2) no problem with the airline (Lufthansa) but 2 immigration officers in DC didn't understand the letter and I ended up spending over an hour in secondary inspection until they got their supervisor to verify my status.

Did you show them your expired Green Card as well?

sure - without it you don't usually get very far, no? the card isn't the problem - some people have trouble with the letter, thinking it's fake or something?

[thea 1]

I've never showed my Green card to the airline peeps, only to the POE officials.

probably depends on the airline or the place you are departing from - both Lufthansa and United wanted to see the card, even if it's expired, because the extension letter refers to extending the status for a year from the expiration date of the card and they need to enter that date into their system.

[Georgian 0]

I used the letter twice now to travel: 1) United Airlines representative didn't understand the letter and it took forever until they let me actually check in in Frankfurt, no problems with immigration in DC - I got through within 2 minutes, 2) no problem with the airline (Lufthansa) but 2 immigration officers in DC didn't understand the letter and I ended up spending over an hour in secondary inspection until they got their supervisor to verify my status.

Did you show them your expired Green Card as well?

sure - without it you don't usually get very far, no? the card isn't the problem - some people have trouble with the letter, thinking it's fake or something?

If you take the extension letter and face the light, you will clearly see 5 or 6 seals through it. I believe one can find it hard to fake the letter.

Eddie

[thea 1]

I used the letter twice now to travel: 1) United Airlines representative didn't understand the letter and it took forever until they let me actually check in in Frankfurt, no problems with immigration in DC - I got through within 2 minutes, 2) no problem with the airline (Lufthansa) but 2 immigration officers in DC didn't understand the letter and I ended up spending over an hour in secondary inspection until they got their supervisor to verify my status.

Did you show them your expired Green Card as well?

sure - without it you don't usually get very far, no? the card isn't the problem - some people have trouble with the letter, thinking it's fake or something?

If you take the extension letter and face the light, you will clearly see 5 or 6 seals through it. I believe one can find it hard to fake the letter.

Eddie

yeah, so? try educating the airline people and immigration officers

[Cassie 8]

I've never showed my Green card to the airline peeps, only to the POE officials.

probably depends on the airline or the place you are departing from - both Lufthansa and United wanted to see the card, even if it's expired, because the extension letter refers to extending the status for a year from the expiration date of the card and they need to enter that date into their system.

American Airlines from any place I have departed from in the US have never asked to see my green card. It's not part of my ID that I show when getting checked in. The only time I show my GC is going through US Customs & Immigration checkpoints. Curious that some airlines care about seeing the GC.

Edited November 21, 2007 by Cassie

[Big Papi 0]

American Airlines from any place I have departed from in the US have never asked to see my green card. It's not part of my ID that I show when getting checked in. The only time I show my GC is going through US Customs & Immigration checkpoints. Curious that some airlines care about seeing the GC.

From what I understand, the OP is referring to traveling overseas. Not only the Customs and Immigration folks will want to see your GC, but so will airline employees before you check in on a flight to the States.

On the same note, they want to see the GC, even though it's expired, because anybody can produce a letter that says a GC's duration is being extended, but nothing guarantees that the individual was ever issued one.

If they didn't ask to see the physical GC, one wouldn't have to fake the letter, but just need to borrow a real one, right?

[Cassie 8]

American Airlines from any place I have departed from in the US have never asked to see my green card. It's not part of my ID that I show when getting checked in. The only time I show my GC is going through US Customs & Immigration checkpoints. Curious that some airlines care about seeing the GC.

From what I understand, the OP is referring to traveling overseas. Not only the Customs and Immigration folks will want to see your GC, but so will airline employees before you check in on a flight to the States.

Erm, so am I I have never been asked by airline employees to show my green card when flying back to the US, ever. I am not sure if it's because I go through a PFI immediately afterwards or what.

The time I went through the PFI, I produced both my GC and extension letter, and the officer was very happy to see I had my paperwork in order. The extension letter (NOA1) is very distinctive, in the same vein as any Notice of Actions. Not really easy to fake them.

[tweety 1]

American Airlines from any place I have departed from in the US have never asked to see my green card. It's not part of my ID that I show when getting checked in. The only time I show my GC is going through US Customs & Immigration checkpoints. Curious that some airlines care about seeing the GC.

From what I understand, the OP is referring to traveling overseas. Not only the Customs and Immigration folks will want to see your GC, but so will airline employees before you check in on a flight to the States.

Erm, so am I I have never been asked by airline employees to show my green card when flying back to the US, ever. I am not sure if it's because I go through a PFI immediately afterwards or what.

The time I went through the PFI, I produced both my GC and extension letter, and the officer was very happy to see I had my paperwork in order. The extension letter (NOA1) is very distinctive, in the same vein as any Notice of Actions. Not really easy to fake them.

Cassie, it probably depends on the country you're flying out of. I know that in the case of Germany airline staff prescreens for visas or greencards (of non-US citizens) before checking in on a US-bound flight. I think it has something to do with some law that the airline is responsible for return transportation in case the passenger is denied entry into the US.