Expired Green Card and I-797

[Shonenknife 0]

My wife's Japanese, and we live in Richmond, Va. We're traveling to Seattle next month, and we wanted to go up to Vancouver, BC for a day. She is an LPR with a Green Card that expired in January, but we have an I-797 that declares her status has been extended for a year. She also has a Japanese passport that's still valid.

My main question is, will the expired green card and I-797 get us into Canada, but most importantly, will she be able to get back in??? I found another post that pretty much said she should have no problem getting into Canada, but nobody had any insight on getting back into the states. I guess everyone's trying to get out and we're the only schmucks trying to get in.

Also, while I'm at it, we had our appointment to remove the conditional status where we do our biometrics and what-not back in January. It's August now. Does it usually take this long to get back to us? I checked our case number on uscis.gov and it said our case was "still pending." Is this normal or is it safe to assume our application fell between the seats, so to speak?

Thanks all!!!

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Hi, I responded to your post on the other thread about entering Canada. You shouldn't have any problems travelling with the expired green card and extension letter. Just present those along with her Japanese passport when returning to the US and she will be admitted.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=137789

Your I-751 was filed at VSC. VSC is notoriously slow at processing Removal of Condition applications. They are currently working on applications submitted last September and October so no, you haven't fallen through the cracks - you are still in line. Unfortunately, for VSC, that is normal.

Edited August 29, 2008 by Kathryn41

[antda 13]

Hi Shonenknife,

Likewise, I posted a similar question and got answers to this message thread, about travelling to Canada with an expired green card and an extension letter. For more info, see the following: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...c=144829&hl=

From what I gathered from that thread, there shouldn't be any problems for anyone travelling to Canada with an expired green card and an extension letter, so therefore, your wife shouldn't have any problems travelling with those immigration documents. Funny though, there doesn't seem to be many problems going into Canada, as they are pretty relaxed border-wise there. It's the coming back to the USA that causes more problems, really, as the border guards are more stricter here.

Hope this helps.

Have fun and enjoy your trip back to Canada. Good luck with the rest of your immigration journey too.

And yes, from what I've read, the VSC is slow still too in approving the I-751s. Welcome to "waiting on the VSC boat", just like the rest of us!

Ant (Still waiting at the VSC boat...)

My wife's Japanese, and we live in Richmond, Va. We're traveling to Seattle next month, and we wanted to go up to Vancouver, BC for a day. She is an LPR with a Green Card that expired in January, but we have an I-797 that declares her status has been extended for a year. She also has a Japanese passport that's still valid.

My main question is, will the expired green card and I-797 get us into Canada, but most importantly, will she be able to get back in??? I found another post that pretty much said she should have no problem getting into Canada, but nobody had any insight on getting back into the states. I guess everyone's trying to get out and we're the only schmucks trying to get in.

Also, while I'm at it, we had our appointment to remove the conditional status where we do our biometrics and what-not back in January. It's August now. Does it usually take this long to get back to us? I checked our case number on uscis.gov and it said our case was "still pending." Is this normal or is it safe to assume our application fell between the seats, so to speak?

Thanks all!!!

[Anastassia 0]

I don't think you will have problems. I traveled to Mexico two weeks ago with the same documents (GC also expired in January 08). On top of it I had a temporary Polish passport (this worried me a little too because this passport looks like kids made it at home ec class). I have different last names in passport and my green card. The officer at re-entry checked my green card and extension letter, it lasted one minute.

Good luck !!!