Traveling on Extension Letter?

[jaysaldi 209]

 

2 hours ago, OldUser said:

Here is an article. Instructions make sense to me:

https://www.visatraveler.com/visa-guides/mexico-visa-requirements/

 

The instructions make sense but they now use a different website to make appointments and they have no appointments available at all the consulate in Houston or in any nearby cities.

[Sweetdreaming 384]

On 6/25/2023 at 8:23 AM, hlynnf23 said:

We are traveling to the Bahamas on a Disney Cruise in November and my husband’s conditional card expires on August 5th. We already have his 48 month extension letter, but the wording on the Disney Cruise website makes me nervous they won’t accept it. Anyone have experience traveling on a Disney Cruise with their extension letter? 

What's the wording? If still in doubt contact Disney cruise line 

[nerdcouple 126]

I have taken two trips since my Greencard expired at the end of May, and I am happy to report that there were no issues at departing airport or immigration in US (SIN-LAX on SQ and FRA-IAH on LH). It annoys me that the online check in doesn't work anymore since they ask for expiration date, but moving forward I might just use the expiration date plus 48 months to circumvent the issue 

[OldUser 4,961]

5 hours ago, nerdcouple said:

It annoys me that the online check in doesn't work anymore since they ask for expiration date, but moving forward I might just use the expiration date plus 48 months to circumvent the issue 

Not a great move. The problem with this approach - whether you check in online or not, on your inbound flight to USA, your physical GC will be checked by airline, security, CBP at multiple stages. Don't let this discrepancy lead to issues.

I find that being LPR or dual citizen, online check in may not work / worthless on international flights. Domestic US flights - sure.

Edited July 26, 2023 by OldUser

[Tani28 0]

I heard Costa Rica does not accept extension letters and I’m traveling there first week of October. I hold a Bangladeshi passport which normally requires a visa. Has anyone traveled to Costa Rica and did they give issues about the letter?

[Bavarian91 56]

On 7/25/2023 at 7:32 PM, nerdcouple said:

I have taken two trips since my Greencard expired at the end of May, and I am happy to report that there were no issues at departing airport or immigration in US (SIN-LAX on SQ and FRA-IAH on LH). It annoys me that the online check in doesn't work anymore since they ask for expiration date, but moving forward I might just use the expiration date plus 48 months to circumvent the issue 

I did the same thing couple weeks ago - Germany and Back - no issues - nationwide no issues at all (updated my PA driver license to the REAL ID one) just not to risk any trouble I made myself a folder in which I keep the (now expired) Greencard plus the 48 month Extension Letter. And take it with me on all flights and trips.

[top_secret 2,077]

On 8/14/2023 at 11:53 AM, Tani28 said:

I heard Costa Rica does not accept extension letters and I’m traveling there first week of October. I hold a Bangladeshi passport which normally requires a visa. Has anyone traveled to Costa Rica and did they give issues about the letter?

 

I have read accounts of people actually being denied entry to Costa Rica and returned to the US, or not being boarded for their flight there over an extension letter.   The Costa Rican Embassy is also quite specific that they do not accept extension letters and that persons from countries that normally require a visa still need to get one if their physical green card is expired and they have an extension letter.

 

http://www.costarica-embassy.org/index.php?q=node/24

 

Quote

Note 2: Permanent residents must show their residence card, which must be valid for at least 3 months. Letters of extension are not accepted. The residence card (Green Card) must meet the new security features according to the specifications by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The green card should have an expiration date according to the security features. Note 3: Residence stamped on passports, letters of extension (residence card) are not accepted, parole work cards are not accepted as exceptions, therefore, these people are require to apply for a visa at the Consulate of your jurisdiction.

 

[T&S_MTL 113]

I see that the expired GC can be an issue with online check-in. Mine is about to expired, but I already travelled multiple times and used my passport as a travel document. When coming back to the US, I show both my passport and GC, which works great.

 

My question is: are we required to use the GC card as the travel document? Seems like using my passport after my GC expires would be way less trouble (would still present both expired GC and extension letter to border agents).

 

Thanks 

Edited September 14, 2023 by T&S_MTL

[jackiegringa 357]

1 hour ago, T&S_MTL said:

My question is: are we required to use the GC card as the travel document?

For domestic US travel, no. However you are still supp to have your GC with you at all times, so don't leave it at home in case is requested. For international travel you can still use your passport to leave the country but there's a chance you will be asked to provide your GC. For returning to the US having the green card will always be required, maybe not on the online check in but at the airport for sure.

Edited September 14, 2023 by jackiegringa

[OldUser 4,961]

1 hour ago, T&S_MTL said:

I see that the expired GC can be an issue with online check-in. Mine is about to expired, but I already travelled multiple times and used my passport as a travel document. When coming back to the US, I show both my passport and GC, which works great.

 

My question is: are we required to use the GC card as the travel document? Seems like using my passport after my GC expires would be way less trouble (would still present both expired GC and extension letter to border agents).

 

Thanks 

For domestic travel - you can travel with Real ID (driver's license / state ID just fine). No need for passport, no need for GC.

 

How do complete online check in with passport only for international travel to the US? Every time I traveled with big airlines such as United, it asked for passport details and then for visa or GC details. It couldn't complete check me in online and I had to show documents at the airport.

As far as I know passport is a must for international air travel and has to be provided no matter what. GC is what CBP want to see when you enter the US. You need valid passport, GC and extension letter to re-enter the US by air.

Edited September 14, 2023 by OldUser

[T&S_MTL 113]

1 hour ago, jackiegringa said:

For domestic US travel, no. However you are still supp to have your GC with you at all times, so don't leave it at home in case is requested. For international travel you can still use your passport to leave the country but there's a chance you will be asked to provide your GC. For returning to the US having the green card will always be required, maybe not on the online check in but at the airport for sure.

That's right I present my GC to the agent when coming back to the US (along with the passport, and the extension letter when my GC is expired). I never had to enter any info for check-in though (my wife does it for us and I believe she only uses the passport info), is that an issue? Never had to enter GC info for check-in, I'm wondering if this is based on the country (Canadian passport)

Edited September 14, 2023 by T&S_MTL

[OldUser 4,961]

5 minutes ago, T&S_MTL said:

That's right I present my GC to the agent when coming back to the US (along with the passport, and the extension letter when my GC is expired). I never had to enter any info for check-in though (my wife does it for us and I believe she only uses the passport info), is that an issue?

As long as you're presenting GC and extension letter to airline and CBP, you're good.

 

I just don't think online check in for international flight is the same as online check in for domestic flight. The whole point for me of checking in online when travelling domestically is to never see an agent. For international flight you gotta see an agent regardless. In addition, you're never fully checked in, as it asks to "complete check in" at the airport. Hense I was curious about your experience.

[Pantshot 1]

Cross-posting my question here since it's kind of an edge case:

 

My wife has an expired green card with a I-797 (NOA) giving a 2-year extension of green card validity for work and travel (issued by USCIS due to I-751 processing delays).

 

There are quite a few countries that will allow visa-exempt travel if you hold lawful permanent residence in the US or if you hold a valid US visa (Mexico, for example). However, in many cases the countries will not accept the paper I-797 as "proof of valid permanent residence," (since the physical residence permit [green card] shows an expired date) so she has to go through the standard visa application processes.

 

My question: She also has a US visitor visa (B1/B2) in her passport from when we were dating that is not expired. Is this visitor visa still considered "valid" for use/entry into other (non-US) countries? The State Department website on visitor visas says "Unless canceled or revoked, a visa is valid until its expiration date."

 

A few examples of countries that allow visa-free travel if you have a valid US visitor visa are shown here.

 

If it's relevant, she got a K-1 visa, moved to the US, filed for AOS, got a conditional GC, then filed for Removal of Conditions. I don't think that the Visitor Visa is formally canceled or revoked as part of any of these processes.

 

I know she can't travel into the US on the visitor visa (she'd use her green card + I-797), but I think the US visitor visa is still valid from the perspective of other countries? Hoping someone else has had some experience with this...

[DaisyJ 35]

On 9/14/2023 at 11:04 AM, OldUser said:

For domestic travel - you can travel with Real ID (driver's license / state ID just fine). No need for passport, no need for GC.

 

What about those of us that don't have a driver's license or state ID yet? Has anyone had issues flying domestically in the US using their foreign passport, GC + extension letter? Travelling over the weekend my GC expires and I'm not sure exactly how things will go down.... 

[OldUser 4,961]

31 minutes ago, DaisyJ said:

What about those of us that don't have a driver's license or state ID yet? Has anyone had issues flying domestically in the US using their foreign passport, GC + extension letter? Travelling over the weekend my GC expires and I'm not sure exactly how things will go down.... 

You can be at slight disadvantage using foreign passport or GC. The thing is, usually nobody cares about immigration status etc when using DL / state ID. But as soon as you show passport, they start flilpping pages and occasionally ask about US visa etc.

 

In your particular case, I'd be showing GC and GC + extension letter when GC expires. No need to show passport really domestically. But you can carry it just in case.

Edited September 16, 2023 by OldUser