Travel, passport expiring

[jaske78 1]

Hi, all,

 

We applied for the AOS in November 2017, and it is still just circling around and around. Now we have a stamp in our passport instead of a green card. The problem? That passport is expiring next June. If we fly back, renew passports, and then come back, there is a chance that there won't be a stamp to prove that there is a green card at all (and this is one of those countries that requires a visa just to get into the US).

 

In the meantime, we have even had a citizenship interview where they were stunned that the Green Card had not been dealt with, and refused to make any decision at all.

 

As of a month ago, the case was transferred to Lee's Summit, MO, and goodness knows how long it will be hanging around there before our local office will pick it up.

 

What is the correct procedure here?

[Liam2021 565]

1 minute ago, jaske78 said:

That passport is expiring next June

How long of your trip?. A valid unexpired PP with a stamp on it is good enough to travel.

[jaske78 1]

It's not a long trip. The problem is that, while we are there, we will have to get anew PP that will have no stamp in it, and no way of proving that we have American residence once that old passport has been made invalid.

 

Should we go to the local Embassy about this?

[Sukie 1,440]

You carry both passports.  I had to do this for about 4 years and I travelled extensively.  The first time you use a new passport at an airport, it might be confusing for the ticket agent, and you need to update USCIS as to the new number as soon as you get a new passport.  But having a new passport, with a valid stamp in the old passport is ok as long as you have both.

 

Now...if your home country usually TAKES the old passport, you will have to ask them to "disable" the old passport (usually by cutting off the machine-readable line on the first page) and give it back to you.  My spouse (Australian) had to do this.  The Aussies cut about 1/2 inch off of the leading page - but it was OK with the US.  Her visa foil was in the old passport.

 

Sukie in NY

 

 

[Liam2021 565]

It not a big problem. You can carry both PP and show it to CBP .

[jaske78 1]

Thanks!