Travel on ROC with Expired Greencard

[alborosie8090 17]

Hi all -

I've seen a few old threads on this, and also a LOT of people questioning this in individual threads filing threads, so wanted to start a separate / updated thread on this. 

 

Is anyone who has traveled abroad recently with an expired greencard and extension letter able to share their experience? Was it good / bad / easy / hard?

 

My husband and I go to Costa Rica every year in November or December to visit our family there over the holidays. We will hopefully have had Biometrics by then (just received extension letter earlier this month) but by that time the greencard will be expired and I'm not hopeful we will have 10 year greencard by the pace of things. It sounds like it varies by airlines, but that the expired greencard and letter (ORIGINAL, NOT A COPY) should suffice. 

 

Can anyone chime in here? 

[curiousgeorgina 52]

I traveled last year and my green card was expired.. All they needed from me was my Passport, Extension Letter and My Expired green card. Had no problems at all.

 

Coming back is just a pain, because you don't get to use the kiosk by just swiping your Green Card, you have to fall in line where the officer takes a look at your documents. Had no problem there too. It was just the line that is a bit of an inconvenience.

[Brian&Larissa 73]

My family and I have traveled to the Dominican Republic and Ukraine on the extension letter.  We had no problems traversing Customs upon our return.

Now, my step-daughter, traveled alone, twice, back to Ukraine and upon her return they did take her to "THE ROOM" to review everything.  First time took a little bit, but the second time only about 10 minutes.  She had the letter and then, due to losing her green card, she has the I-551 stamp in her passport.  Overall, no obstacles incurred.

[J&Y 39]

I would suggest to also keep a copy of this with your GC and NOA, just in case. 

 

https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2017-Nov/carrier-information-guide-english.pdf - page 38. 

 

This is found in the pinned thread. 

 

We plan to travel too in October, possibly to Panama. So yea would like to hear from someone that already traveled with expired GC  

[alborosie8090 17]

4 minutes ago, J&Y said:

I would suggest to also keep a copy of this with your GC and NOA, just in case. 

 

https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2017-Nov/carrier-information-guide-english.pdf - page 38. 

 

This is found in the pinned thread. 

 

We plan to travel too in October, possibly to Panama. So yea would like to hear from someone that already traveled with expired GC  

Oh lovely! Thank you, I will save that now and have it printed off ahead of time for us to bring with.

 

@Brian&Larissa + @curiousgeorgina thanks a million for the quick responses. I am happy the experiences have been positive so far, that is really reassuring. I didn't even think about the kiosk part (those things rock, last year when we went it was so smooth and I loved having hubby right along with me!), that stinks, but at least you got through easily. hopefully they will let me go in that line with him because I hate having to go through separate lines. we're together ya know.  Would love to avoid "THE ROOM" though........

[mindthegap 2,537]

Bypass any kiosk and go straight to a desk. 

You will more than likely be escorted to ‘the room’ for a brief check to verify your status but you will be on your way quickly, as LPR and Citizens are dealt with ahead of non residents.

You are a permanent resident, so don’t worry too much.

 

As for going with your husband, you fill out one customs form per family, so should be in line together anyway. 

[curiousgeorgina 52]

my sister lost her green card but has the I-551 stamp (she was travelling with me), so she was sent with me to fall in line.. and we both didnt get to go to THE ROOM. I guess we were lucky.. 

 

Just go straight to the line and not the kiosk because what happened to me was I was sent to the kiosk and desk back and forth because one guy (works at the airport) keeps telling me i have a greencard and i should be in line at the kiosk.. and then the guy at the kiosk tells me to go to the desk because I have an expired green card. and it happend 3 times.. I had to look for a different guy working there to confirm where I should go.

 

Just sharing.