Travelling with extension letter

[LiliBurd 85]

I am about to travel to Canada next week by plane. My 2 year green card is expired but I do have the letter from USCIS stating that they have received my documents and that I got extension. I have seen some information online about getting a sticker on your expired green card... does anyone have information about that? I also have my maiden name on expired green card and my Canadian passport, but married name on letter, I know about bringing my marriage certificate, is there anything else I should know or be prepared for? 

 

Thank you for your help... all of this is so stressful!!! I can't wait for this process to be over with! 

[Cyberfx1024 7,978]

34 minutes ago, LiliBurd said:

I am about to travel to Canada next week by plane. My 2 year green card is expired but I do have the letter from USCIS stating that they have received my documents and that I got extension. I have seen some information online about getting a sticker on your expired green card... does anyone have information about that? I also have my maiden name on expired green card and my Canadian passport, but married name on letter, I know about bringing my marriage certificate, is there anything else I should know or be prepared for? 

 

Thank you for your help... all of this is so stressful!!! I can't wait for this process to be over with! 

This is a very very common question here on VJ. Make sure you bring your passport, marriage certificate, extension letter, and your green card. That is all you need.

[shadowfox7569 14]

45 minutes ago, LiliBurd said:

I am about to travel to Canada next week by plane. My 2 year green card is expired but I do have the letter from USCIS stating that they have received my documents and that I got extension. I have seen some information online about getting a sticker on your expired green card... does anyone have information about that? I also have my maiden name on expired green card and my Canadian passport, but married name on letter, I know about bringing my marriage certificate, is there anything else I should know or be prepared for? 

 

Thank you for your help... all of this is so stressful!!! I can't wait for this process to be over with! 

We go back and forth from toronto to ohio a number of times on an extension letter. When you go into canada they only look at your passport. When coming back they only look at your green card and extension letter. That is for driving :). Marraige license is good to have to. Never had them look at the marriage license in the two years but safe to have.

[Kastrs 723]

Traveled OUS a couple times since the GC expired

only need your passport, the expired card and the extension letter

 

never brought my marriage licence/certificate 

[JellyBean1987 4]

15 minutes ago, Kastrs said:

Traveled OUS a couple times since the GC expired

only need your passport, the expired card and the extension letter

 

never brought my marriage licence/certificate 

I did the same thing earlier this year. And I'm traveling again next month so I was just going to travel with my passport + expired GC + extension letter.

 

But I'm starting to worry because I've seen posts saying that you need the I-551 stamp to travel abroad even if you have a valid extension letter. I wish there was greater clarity about what documents are considered the "best" ones for travel. How can the stamp be "more valid" or "more legal" than the letter? Or is it the fact that people are simply more accustomed to seeing things pasted into a passport? 

 

I actually booked an Infopass appointment to see if they'll give me the stamp, but I have 5 months left on my letter, so I'm not sure the immigration officer will give me one. 

Edited July 25, 2018 by JellyBean1987
Added more detail

[Kastrs 723]

Just now, JellyBean1987 said:

I did the same thing earlier this year.

 

But I'm starting to worry because I've seen posts saying that you need the I-551 stamp to travel abroad even if you have a valid extension letter. I wish there was greater clarity about what documents are considered the "best" ones for travel. How can the stamp be "more valid" or "more legal" than the letter? Or is it the fact that people are simply more accustomed to seeing things pasted into a passport? 

You do not need the stamp unless you are traveling beyond the time of your extension, it is very clear

if you are traveling beyond the time of the 1 year extension, then get a stamp

[JellyBean1987 4]

Just now, Kastrs said:

You do not need the stamp unless you are traveling beyond the time of your extension, it is very clear

if you are traveling beyond the time of the 1 year extension, then get a stamp

Thanks, that is what I thought as well. I'll try to relax. 

 

And sorry...I added more detail to my post above before you responded. 

[cj21 12]

For clarity sake, the stamp is not required and the officer at USCIS in my infopass visit said the stamp is not required as long as you have the letter. They wont even issue it out to you. Bring your expired GC+extension letter+passport and US driver's license for additional documentation. I always bring my marriage certificate with me whenever I travel. just in case.