Travel question during removal of conditions

[Gage 2]

If this has been covered here before, I apologize. I couldn't find anything exactly like our situation:

My wife recently applied for removal of conditions. Shortly thereafter she received a form letter saying that her GC was being extended for 1 year while the I-751 is being processed and they schedule her biometrics, etc, etc. No big deal so far.

Here's the rub we just realized today: Her current GC expires mid December. We just booked a trip to Central America for February 2012. If her 10 year GC hasn't been issued by that time, she's going to be trying to come back in to the U.S. with an expired GC at the end of that trip.

Will their computer system simply note her extension when they scan her card coming back in to the US, or are we going to have a problem? Unfortunately we seem to have lost this form letter stating her GC was being extended 1 year, whether that would have made any difference or not.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

If this has been covered here before, I apologize. I couldn't find anything exactly like our situation:

My wife recently applied for removal of conditions. Shortly thereafter she received a form letter saying that her GC was being extended for 1 year while the I-751 is being processed and they schedule her biometrics, etc, etc. No big deal so far.

There is your answer. She must take that letter with her when she travels outside US and use it to re-enter country.

Here is a somewhat similar (in 2009, my wife was still in ROC and had not received the plastic GC) experience:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/198902-litany-of-to-and-fro-journeys-of-trip-to-india

Here's the rub we just realized today: Her current GC expires mid December. We just booked a trip to Central America for February 2012. If her 10 year GC hasn't been issued by that time, she's going to be trying to come back in to the U.S. with an expired GC at the end of that trip.

Will their computer system simply note her extension when they scan her card coming back in to the US, or are we going to have a problem? Unfortunately we seem to have lost this form letter stating her GC was being extended 1 year, whether that would have made any difference or not.

When you leave Central America for US, the airport officials will look at the letter (they may not have seen too many), but after that delay the only problem you will (potentially) have is that of being robbed at Customs.

[Brit Abroad 166]

That letter acknowledging receipt of the I-751 application, when presented with the expired green card, extends the expiry date on it. If you've lost it, you need to make an Infopass appointment and ask them for a replacement OR to put the temporary I-551 stamp in her passport, extending her expiration date on the green card.

It's possible she could receive her 10 year card in that time frame, but that relies heavily on your application being perfect and being processed within the 6 month window, which is not probable, based on the dates we're seeing at present.

[Gage 2]

That letter acknowledging receipt of the I-751 application, when presented with the expired green card, extends the expiry date on it. If you've lost it, you need to make an Infopass appointment and ask them for a replacement OR to put the temporary I-551 stamp in her passport, extending her expiration date on the green card.

It's possible she could receive her 10 year card in that time frame, but that relies heavily on your application being perfect and being processed within the 6 month window, which is not probable, based on the dates we're seeing at present.

Bummer. Oh well, at least we know what we have to do and we have plenty of lead time. I managed to get an InfoPass appointment by the 17th of this month, so it should all be fine. I appreciate the advice!