Travel Internationally with Expired GC and Extension Letter

[mskidw 12]

My conditional green card expired in September 2018 and I received my 18-month extension letter after I filed I-751 application. I am planning on traveling aboard for two weeks in September 2019.

 

I plan on bringing my expired conditional green card, 18-month extension letter, unexpired passport, and marriage certificate. 

 

1. Will these documents be sufficient enough to come back to US without issues?  

2. A lot of information on the Internet saying to get a stamp on the passport even though having an extension letter. But my local USCIS, Detroit, is one of the testing local office that eliminated online Infopass appointment and one can only schedule Infopass appointment by calling customer service. I called customer service several times before and they all told me that I could only schedule an appointment for the stamp one month prior to the expiration of the extension letter. So I do NOT think the stamp on my passport is a must to come back to US in my case. Am I understanding this correctly?

 

Thank you!

[bigjailerman 318]

10 minutes ago, mskidw said:

My conditional green card expired in September 2018 and I received my 18-month extension letter after I filed I-751 application. I am planning on traveling aboard for two weeks in September 2019.

 

I plan on bringing my expired conditional green card, 18-month extension letter, unexpired passport, and marriage certificate. 

 

1. Will these documents be sufficient enough to come back to US without issues?  

2. A lot of information on the Internet saying to get a stamp on the passport even though having an extension letter. But my local USCIS, Detroit, is one of the testing local office that eliminated online Infopass appointment and one can only schedule Infopass appointment by calling customer service. I called customer service several times before and they all told me that I could only schedule an appointment for the stamp one month prior to the expiration of the extension letter. So I do NOT think the stamp on my passport is a must to come back to US in my case. Am I understanding this correctly?

 

Thank you!

 

As far as I know, you don't need all of those documents.. you can of course bring them if it makes you feel more secure but expired conditional green card, 18-month extension letter, and current passport is enough...

All these conditions, new and old can make anyone nervous...

[USS_Voyager 1,971]

14 minutes ago, mskidw said:

So I do NOT think the stamp on my passport is a must to come back to US in my case. Am I understanding this correctly?

Yes you are understanding it correctly. The only two thing you must have is the expired green card and the extension letter. 

 

And of course you have to have a passport to travel internationally.

Edited March 3, 2019 by USS_Voyager

[MohU3 57]

1 hour ago, mskidw said:

My conditional green card expired in September 2018 and I received my 18-month extension letter after I filed I-751 application. I am planning on traveling aboard for two weeks in September 2019.

 

I plan on bringing my expired conditional green card, 18-month extension letter, unexpired passport, and marriage certificate. 

 

1. Will these documents be sufficient enough to come back to US without issues?  

2. A lot of information on the Internet saying to get a stamp on the passport even though having an extension letter. But my local USCIS, Detroit, is one of the testing local office that eliminated online Infopass appointment and one can only schedule Infopass appointment by calling customer service. I called customer service several times before and they all told me that I could only schedule an appointment for the stamp one month prior to the expiration of the extension letter. So I do NOT think the stamp on my passport is a must to come back to US in my case. Am I understanding this correctly?

 

Thank you!

No need for a stamp. All you need is your expired GC, Passport and the extension letter. No need for your marriage Cert. either

[Dashinka 23,246]

25 minutes ago, MohU3 said:

No need for a stamp. All you need is your expired GC, Passport and the extension letter. No need for your marriage Cert. either

Marriage certificates are recommended if the GC name and the foreign passport name does not match.  I agree about not needing a stamp.

 

To the OP, what you are taking is fine, but one suggestion, take a few copies of the extension letter. One time my wife was traveling and the airline in China at check-in asked to keep a copy of the letter and one does not want to give them the original.

 

Good Luck and Safe Travels!

Edited March 3, 2019 by Bill & Katya

[MohU3 57]

Just now, Bill & Katya said:

Marriage certificates are recommended if the GC name and the foreign passport name does not match.

You're right. This is true in case of the name change

[Cyberfx1024 7,978]

1 hour ago, mskidw said:

My conditional green card expired in September 2018 and I received my 18-month extension letter after I filed I-751 application. I am planning on traveling aboard for two weeks in September 2019.

 

I plan on bringing my expired conditional green card, 18-month extension letter, unexpired passport, and marriage certificate. 

 

1. Will these documents be sufficient enough to come back to US without issues?  

2. A lot of information on the Internet saying to get a stamp on the passport even though having an extension letter. But my local USCIS, Detroit, is one of the testing local office that eliminated online Infopass appointment and one can only schedule Infopass appointment by calling customer service. I called customer service several times before and they all told me that I could only schedule an appointment for the stamp one month prior to the expiration of the extension letter. So I do NOT think the stamp on my passport is a must to come back to US in my case. Am I understanding this correctly?

 

Thank you!

Those documents will suffice for travelling abroad while doing ROC. So please don't worry and you won't need a stamp either. 

 

Make sure you book the tickets in the name on your passport and not the one on your green card. 

[mskidw 12]

6 minutes ago, Cyberfx1024 said:

Those documents will suffice for travelling abroad while doing ROC. So please don't worry and you won't need a stamp either. 

 

Make sure you book the tickets in the name on your passport and not the one on your green card. 

Thank you for your confirmation!

 

Yes, I will book the tickets in the name on my passport. I did the same when I booked my tickets while my conditional GC was not expired yet. Thank you for the reminder!

[mskidw 12]

1 hour ago, MohU3 said:

No need for a stamp. All you need is your expired GC, Passport and the extension letter. No need for your marriage Cert. either

Hi, I am curious, have you traveled internationally and come back with no issue carrying your expired GC, Passport and the extension letter?

[MohU3 57]

24 minutes ago, mskidw said:

Hi, I am curious, have you traveled internationally and come back with no issue carrying your expired GC, Passport and the extension letter?

Yes I've traveled 4 times while pending 751. 2 of them with just the expired GC and the extension letter. 2 of them with the stamp on the passport, without the GC nor the extension letter 

[mskidw 12]

12 minutes ago, MohU3 said:

Yes I've traveled 4 times while pending 751. 2 of them with just the expired GC and the extension letter. 2 of them with the stamp on the passport, without the GC nor the extension letter 

wow, thank you for the details! Your response made me feel better! Thank you!

[MohU3 57]

Just now, mskidw said:

wow, thank you for the details! Your response made me feel better! Thank you!

You have nothing to worry about. One thing to keep in mind, You are a Permanent residence. The GC or the extension or even the stamp is just a proof of status and not the status itself 

[mskidw 12]

1 minute ago, MohU3 said:

You have nothing to worry about. One thing to keep in mind, You are a Permanent residence. The GC or the extension or even the stamp is just a proof of status and not the status itself 

Right right. Not until the decision has been made by USCIS, I still have my PR status. 

[MohU3 57]

Just now, mskidw said:

Right right. Not until the decision has been made by USCIS, I still have my PR status. 

Believe it or not, even after they make a decision you still a PR even if they deny it. The only person that can take your status away is the JUDGE only

[mskidw 12]

Just now, MohU3 said:

Believe it or not, even after they make a decision you still a PR even if they deny it. The only person that can take your status away is the JUDGE only

Right right, i probably should have said, not until going to the immigration court and get denied by the court judge..