QUOTE(lucyrich @ Jul 28 2008, 03:36 PM)

A Venezuelan citizen with a current Venezuelan passport (Pasaporte bolivariano de la republica de Venezuela) can always enter Venezuela. No visa required. You're coming home, at least in the Venezuelan government's eyes.
To get back to the US, you'll need your passport with that current I-551 stamp, plus your expired green card. If you have any I-797 NOA letters regarding your I-751 filing, it wouldn't hurt to bring them, as well.
Also, you should probably bring your Cedula, not so much for entry/exit but for use while inside Venezuela.
LOL, say hello to my step daughter, Jessica, she is down there now, but fortunately she just received her ten year green card before going down, and we did get her a brand new Red passport book, we also dug up her old Venezuelan ID card. In Venezuela, she is an Venezuelan. She had no problems going down.
I assume you already have applied for the I-751 and still waiting if you have that I-551 stamp, how many days is it good for? Some officers are very stingy in this respect, so you better return before that expires as well.
As lucyrich suggested proof that you have applied for your new green card, if your case status is on line perhaps only with the original receipt notice, print that out as well, with your one year extension, biometrics completed, and definitely your expired green card as well, assuming it is expired. This shows immigration on return that you have done everything in your power to apply for your new card.
Wife an I traveled with her one year extension and expired card, I also brought along proof that we applied, officer said good, at least you applied for the I-751, many don't and he was well aware of the USCIS really taking their sweet time in processing I-751 applications, so wife had no problems getting back in. I had a US passport and told the officer, this is my honey, and my wife.
I understand that women travelling alone seem to have the most problems returning even with a ten year card, that isn't right. Hope they do not give my step-daughter a hard time.