Travel question

[mrath5 40]

Hey vj fam I have a question. My husbands 2 year GC expires June 6th and we have tickets booked for our visit to Germany June 20th. If I make sure all of our documents are sent in right at the beginning of the 90 days what is the likelihood that we will have his extension letter by the time we leave? We didn’t even realize when we booked that it was so close. Thank you all! 

[Brian&Larissa 73]

You do realize that all of us are dealing with the government here?  With that said...50/50 at best!  You just never know when/if it will happen.  Now, shining light for you....I would consider making an Infopass to get your husband's passport stamped, in lieu of the extension letter.  You might have to give up the expired GC, my wife and step-daughters did.  We did travel outside the country multiple times with only the stamp in the passport and no problems...took a little longer to get through customs, but that was it.  So...wait and see, or go in for appointment maybe 60 days prior to your trips departure date.  My recommendation.  Definitely up to you, but you will be fine if you get the letter or if you get the stamp.

[payxibka 10,044]

6 minutes ago, mrath5 said:

Hey vj fam I have a question. My husbands 2 year GC expires June 6th and we have tickets booked for our visit to Germany June 20th. If I make sure all of our documents are sent in right at the beginning of the 90 days what is the likelihood that we will have his extension letter by the time we leave? We didn’t even realize when we booked that it was so close. Thank you all! 

The extension is typically within a couple weeks 

[mrath5 40]

4 minutes ago, payxibka said:

The extension is typically within a couple weeks 

Thank you

[Cyberfx1024 7,978]

20 minutes ago, mrath5 said:

Thank you

Yes, it's not like doing AOS at all. They send out the extension letter right away with the NOA1. 

[Kastrs 723]

I would consider it highly likely that you will have the extension if you apply right at the beginning of your 90 day window

 

only potential issue is, does your husband need a visa to visit Germany?

[mrath5 40]

4 minutes ago, Kastrs said:

I would consider it highly likely that you will have the extension if you apply right at the beginning of your 90 day window

 

only potential issue is, does your husband need a visa to visit Germany?

Fingers crossed, thank you!

Nope, no visa, he’s still a German citizen  

6 minutes ago, Cyberfx1024 said:

Yes, it's not like doing AOS at all. They send out the extension letter right away with the NOA1. 

Thank you! 

[Familyman 10]

What if we travel before the 90 day expiry of the 2 year GC and the ROC application was filed already ? Can we use the old 2 year GC to travel or wait until we get the new receipt ? 

[usmsbow 796]

13 minutes ago, Familyman said:

What if we travel before the 90 day expiry of the 2 year GC and the ROC application was filed already ? Can we use the old 2 year GC to travel or wait until we get the new receipt ? 

If the GC hasn't expired yet, you should use that. The letter is only for after the GC has expired. Also, when using the letter, you're still showing your 2 year GC to CBP when re-entering the country (along with the letter). 

[mrath5 40]

16 minutes ago, Familyman said:

What if we travel before the 90 day expiry of the 2 year GC and the ROC application was filed already ? Can we use the old 2 year GC to travel or wait until we get the new receipt ? 

I would assume if you are back in the country before the GC expires you will be fine. 

[Familyman 10]

2 hours ago, usmsbow said:

If the GC hasn't expired yet, you should use that. The letter is only for after the GC has expired. Also, when using the letter, you're still showing your 2 year GC to CBP when re-entering the country (along with the letter). 

Is the letter mandatory to show while returning to the US provided the 2 yr GC is still valid ? My concern is if I don't receive the letter by the time I travel out of  the country.

Edited January 3, 2019 by Familyman

[mindthegap 2,537]

5 hours ago, Familyman said:

Is the letter mandatory to show while returning to the US provided the 2 yr GC is still valid ? My concern is if I don't receive the letter by the time I travel out of  the country.

If the card is still valid you do not need a letter or stamp of any kind to travel to or re-enter the US -  it remains valid until 23:59 on the expiry date on the card.

After that time you need the letter accompanied by the expired card, or an I-551 stamp in place of both of them.

 

If you haven't received it by the time you leave, then sign up for USPS informed delivery, have someone able to check your mail for you and forward the original letter to you overseas - a copy will not do as the original is watermarked.

[usmsbow 796]

5 hours ago, Familyman said:

Is the letter mandatory to show while returning to the US provided the 2 yr GC is still valid ? My concern is if I don't receive the letter by the time I travel out of  the country.

 

As mindthegap said, nope. Not needed until after your GC expires. 

[Nitas_man 3,100]

18 hours ago, Familyman said:

What if we travel before the 90 day expiry of the 2 year GC and the ROC application was filed already ? Can we use the old 2 year GC to travel or wait until we get the new receipt ? 

Yes.  The GC is good until it expires.  We did that back in 2010, we were out of the country and flew in to do biometrics for ROC which was about 6-7 weeks after we filed to remove conditions and 4 weeks before the card expired.

 

The extension letter was in the US waiting for us, so we definitely did not have it.  We had sent the ROC application in while we were out of the country.

Edited January 4, 2019 by Nitas_man