Renew green card or naturalise?

[katej0203 1]

Hello all… it has been 10 years since I have needed advice and that time has come for my green card to expire. It expires in March, and I am wondering which is the quickest route—renewal or citizenship? I plan to travel outside of the country in July and I am wondering if this effects my decision. Can I travel while one is pending and not the other? Or both, or neither?

 

thank you. 

[Mike E 11,723]

15 minutes ago, katej0203 said:

Hello all… it has been 10 years since I have needed advice and that time has come for my green card to expire. It expires in March, and I am wondering which is the quickest route—renewal or citizenship? I plan to travel outside of the country in July and I am wondering if this effects my decision. Can I travel while one is pending and not the other? Or both, or neither?

 

thank you. 

Per your timeline your green card expires in April 2022.  While travel  in July 2022 is possible with an expired 10 year green card, not all airlines will board you.  
 

Had you filed N-400 6 months or more prior to your green card expiring, you could have received a free I-551 stamp.  Now, if you want to extend your green card’s validity, you will have to file I-90 and pay the fee.  
 

Since your country has a visa waiver with Canada and Mexico you can use either country as your stopover point if the airline rejects your expired green card.  So for example, fly to Juarez, Mexico, take an Uber to the walk in CBP check point , and walk into the USA.  Uber to the El Paso airport and fly home.  

Edited January 23, 2022 by Mike E

[Boiler 43,462]

Safest to do both.

[katej0203 1]

3 hours ago, Boiler said:

Safest to do both.

Can I really do them at the same time? Do you think I would be best doing the I90 first? I have read that the NOA gives me a one year extension, but I am not sure if you can make an info pass appointment online anymore. If I call the office perhaps this will help? 

[katej0203 1]

3 hours ago, Mike E said:

Per your timeline your green card expires in April 2022.  While travel  in July 2022 is possible with an expired 10 year green card, not all airlines will board you.  
 

Had you filed N-400 6 months or more prior to your green card expiring, you could have received a free I-551 stamp.  Now, if you want to extend your green card’s validity, you will have to file I-90 and pay the fee.  
 

Since your country has a visa waiver with Canada and Mexico you can use either country as your stopover point if the airline rejects your expired green card.  So for example, fly to Juarez, Mexico, take an Uber to the walk in CBP check point , and walk into the USA.  Uber to the El Paso airport and fly home.  

Per my physical card, it is March, perhaps I was shorted a month? I live on the border and have flown out of TIJ before but I have small children and would need to just take the direct SAN flight. I can't be as flexible as I would be on my own. I am also not too sure how the border would be... I have crossed many times and once accidentally took my expired 2 year card and not my 10 year one. They had my friends drive home and get it and bring it back to me in secondary even though they knew I had it—I certainly wouldn't advise or rely on that, from my experience. 

As for the I90, I don't mind paying the fee if that is the correct path to take. I am curious though if the I155 is only within 6 months? From what I understand it has to be within a month. Perhaps I will call infopass on Monday and see what they say?

Edited January 23, 2022 by katej0203

[Mike E 11,723]

3 minutes ago, katej0203 said:

. They had my friends drive home and get it and bring it back to me in secondary even though they knew I had it—I certainly wouldn't advise or rely on that, from my experience.

 

1. An expired 2 year gc is not the same as an expired  10 year gc. There are several published CBP policies.  
 

2. fwiw my wife presented her expired 2 year gc to CBP at a sea port 6 days ago, and he didn’t ask for her extension letter. 
 

3 minutes ago, katej0203 said:

As for the I90, I don't mind paying the fee if that is the correct path to take. I am curious though if the I155 is only within 6 months? From what I understand it has to be within a month.

If you file N-400 before 6 months are left in your 10 year green card you are entitled to free I-551 stamps. And you can get them when your green card or extension letter has under 30 days left.  

3 minutes ago, katej0203 said:

 

Perhaps I will call on Monday and see what they say?

Call USCIS and talk to tier 1 officer? Tier 1s not only know nothing, they don’t know what they are saying is false. They certainly know less than me.   

[katej0203 1]

@Mike E I was referring to making an infopass appointment for an I155... calling on Monday to see if this is an option within the 30 days. Looks like I90 is my best route here, perhaps?

[arken 4,197]

8 minutes ago, katej0203 said:

@Mike E I was referring to making an infopass appointment for an I155... calling on Monday to see if this is an option within the 30 days. Looks like I90 is my best route here, perhaps?

Yes i90. They won't stamp you an i155 stamp without i90 receipt unless you filed for N400 6 months before the GC expiry. I90 filing doesn't extend your current GC.

[katej0203 1]

10 minutes ago, arken said:

Yes i90. They won't stamp you an i155 stamp without i90 receipt unless you filed for N400 6 months before the GC expiry. I90 filing doesn't extend your current GC.

Thank you @arken so if I understand correctly… I file for i90 and get the receipt. I can then try and get an infopass appointment within 30 days of the March expiration date to get an i155 to cover my grounds since my new card would most likely not be here by the summer.

[Demise 1,096]

49 minutes ago, katej0203 said:

Can I really do them at the same time? Do you think I would be best doing the I90 first? I have read that the NOA gives me a one year extension, but I am not sure if you can make an info pass appointment online anymore. If I call the office perhaps this will help? 

Yes you can do both. With pending I-90 they will have no problem issuing you an ADIT stamp (also known as I-551 stamp) into your foreign passport, the stamp serves as evidence of being a permanent resident for 1 year from issue and can be used for anything an actual physical green card can be used for (work, international travel, getting a driver's license, etc).

 

Also, USCIS wants you to turn in a valid green card or an I-90 receipt notice during a naturalization interview. So sadly you can't get around renewing that thing by just naturalizing instead.

[Mike E 11,723]

23 minutes ago, arken said:

Yes i90. They won't stamp you an i155 stamp without i90 receipt unless you filed for N400 6 months before the GC expiry.
 

Yes.  

Quote

 

I90 filing doesn't extend your current GC.

An I-90 receipt most definitely extends a green card past its expiration date.  
 

Anyway, I’m clearly not articulating myself in a manner than can be understood. Over and out.  

Edited January 23, 2022 by Mike E

[Boiler 43,462]

2 hours ago, katej0203 said:

Can I really do them at the same time? Do you think I would be best doing the I90 first? I have read that the NOA gives me a one year extension, but I am not sure if you can make an info pass appointment online anymore. If I call the office perhaps this will help? 

The trip in July is the issue.

[Coco&Kitten 42]

I would personally renew the GC, that's what I did and now I am glad I did it because my N400 is very delayed (more than I expected).  At least I have a new GC that doesn't expire anytime soon and I can travel without any worries.

[katej0203 1]

Thank you everyone — I will complete the i90 ASAP and take it from there, with the plan to get an ADIT stamp. 

[Mauricokito 2]

Im on the same boat but i did apply for naturalization with more than one year left on my 10 year green card. Can anyone please tell me how to go about getting the extension stamp? i doubt my N400 application is going to get done anytime soon and my GC is expiring in April so i need to do something.