Traveling on Extension Letter?

[WeGuyGal 1,052]

It can be a hit or miss with the stamp and any inexperienced check-in agents. 

[torres10 34]

Hello everyone ,

 

I just came back from a 3 weeks trip , I travelled with an expired green card and extension letter.....No issues at all , everybody seems to know the combo.

 

Thanks

[Mena28 35]

Hi! Came to say I just successfully traveled internationally with an expired greencard plus extension letter. Was no problem with carriers or at the border.

The only one who didn't know the combo was a check-in agent at a small European airport, who was happy to read the lines pointed out and just called a supervisor to check that this was indeed a thing. She apologized and said she had just never seen it and wanted to make double sure. 

At the actual border control in the US I wasn't able to use the electronic check points (where you have to fill out the homeland security forms and get a receipt before speaking to a border control officer), and was directly sent to speak to an actual person. Again, low stress, no problems whatsoever.

[Ksenia_O 695]

3 minutes ago, Mena28 said:

Hi! Came to say I just successfully traveled internationally with an expired greencard plus extension letter. Was no problem with carriers or at the border.

The only one who didn't know the combo was a check-in agent at a small European airport, who was happy to read the lines pointed out and just called a supervisor to check that this was indeed a thing. She apologized and said she had just never seen it and wanted to make double sure. 

At the actual border control in the US I wasn't able to use the electronic check points (where you have to fill out the homeland security forms and get a receipt before speaking to a border control officer), and was directly sent to speak to an actual person. Again, low stress, no problems whatsoever.

Glad you had a great experience!!! 

 

Next Sunday I'm traveling with I-551 stamp in my passport. My flights are with Lufthansa and return ticket is with Austrian Airlines, trough Vienna.

 

Never have  had any problem with both Air Companies, traveling with a "combo" of an Extension letter & expired green card. 

 

Hope,  my trip with the stamp will be the same smooth as it was  with the combo

[Mandinea 0]

Hi everyone,

I am sorry if the answer has already been given in this discussion...but I had a question. How long after sending your I-751 application did you receive your extension letter? I will be sending mine early October and will need to travel mid-February...

Thank you! :)

[WeGuyGal 1,052]

26 minutes ago, Mandinea said:

Hi everyone,

I am sorry if the answer has already been given in this discussion...but I had a question. How long after sending your I-751 application did you receive your extension letter? I will be sending mine early October and will need to travel mid-February...

Thank you!

Anywhere between 2-6 weeks in most cases. 

[Mandinea 0]

1 minute ago, WeGuyGal said:

Anywhere between 2-6 weeks in most cases. 

Wonderful, thanks a lot!

Edited August 18, 2018 by Mandinea

[thatgrl 0]

Hello,

Is it unusual to get a 2nd NOA (Extension Letter)? We filed my husband's I-751 9/17, received the 1st extension (12 months) 10/17, and received a 2nd extension (18 months) 8/11/18. It just seems crazy to be looking at 2 1/2 years to get the conditions lifted. 

[TabeaK 516]

6 hours ago, thatgrl said:

Hello,

Is it unusual to get a 2nd NOA (Extension Letter)? We filed my husband's I-751 9/17, received the 1st extension (12 months) 10/17, and received a 2nd extension (18 months) 8/11/18. It just seems crazy to be looking at 2 1/2 years to get the conditions lifted. 

They have been sending out these letters to help with massive back-log. Processing time at CSC can approach 2 years these days. Your second extension letter extends the validity of the original green card by 18months, so it is not 12+18months, it is just 18months. After that you'll have to get a stamp in your passport.

[citybou 2]

Hi everyone. Another long-time reader here. A quick question on Dublin airport. I have my expired green card and new 18 month letter and plan to go home for Christmas, returning via Dublin... Has anyone had any experience in Dublin airport where they do immigration there and then? Was thinking of having my hometown of San Francisco as my POE but if it’s safe to go via Dublin I will! (Much cheaper!) Any thoughts?

[Nolabound 3]

I just successfully re-entered the US from Canada with an expired green card and my extension letter with no issues. 

[chiggins82 88]

I just returned from Canada using the I-551 Stamp (expired green card was taken when I got the stamp)

 

No real issues, but the stamped confused the airline when I went to get my boarding pass, but she printed it without trouble after I explained the stamp. Then in customs, the IO wasn't sure about the stamp. I told him that I applied to remove conditions, but the extension letter was going to expire, so I had to get the stamp to allow me to travel/work. He asked me three times to explain my immigration story (K1, AOS, now ROC etc etc). Finally he said, "have a good vacation" (I was returning home from vacation). I didn't correct him

 

Whole process didn't take long, but the stamp definitely seemed to confuse people a bit!

[WeGuyGal 1,052]

15 minutes ago, chiggins82 said:

I just returned from Canada using the I-551 Stamp (expired green card was taken when I got the stamp)

 

No real issues, but the stamped confused the airline when I went to get my boarding pass, but she printed it without trouble after I explained the stamp. Then in customs, the IO wasn't sure about the stamp. I told him that I applied to remove conditions, but the extension letter was going to expire, so I had to get the stamp to allow me to travel/work. He asked me three times to explain my immigration story (K1, AOS, now ROC etc etc). Finally he said, "have a good vacation" (I was returning home from vacation). I didn't correct him

 

Whole process didn't take long, but the stamp definitely seemed to confuse people a bit!

Boils down to the individual. Per the law of averages, there's bound to be an inexperienced airline check-in agent or a CBP officer unfamiliar with the stamp (or extn letter). If an initial explanation falls on deaf ears, ask for a higher up. Keeping this guide handy may be helpful too. Pg 38/39. 

[chiggins82 88]

3 minutes ago, WeGuyGal said:

Boils down to the individual. Per the law of averages, there's bound to be an inexperienced airline check-in agent or a CBP officer unfamiliar with the stamp (or extn letter). If an initial explanation falls on deaf ears, ask for a higher up. Keeping this guide handy may be helpful too. Pg 38/39. 

I'm aware, just sharing experience. I've traveled a number of times with the combo card + letter and never had to explain what it was. I realize that's anecdotal, but there is a lot of worry about traveling and I think it helps for people to see these experiences. Especially since more people will need to use the I-551 stamp if the ROC wait time continues to be over 12 months.

 

I have the guide and totally agree with you. Good to have, just in case.

[TabeaK 516]

Has anyone travelled with the recently introduced 18 month letter? I received mine just a couple weeks ago.

My next international travel is coming up and I wonder which letter to take - 12 or 18 months, as I now have both and my 12 month letter is still valid till April 2019.