Traveling with i797 extension

[Djanjo 0]

So my wife’s green card is expired. We do have a i797 extension for 24 months and she has a valid Indian passport. Has  anyone gotten on a cruise to Mexico / Bahamas in this situation? I’ve tried calling cruise lines but they don’t know anything they keep bouncing me back and forth. Bahamas don’t need visa for permenant  US residents if less than 30 days but since her green is expired is that an issue? Same for Mexico? Would there be issue boarding the cruise? I know entry back into USA will not be an issue so that is not my concern. 

[Timona 3,941]

There's no issue. Go enjoy your cruise 

[Rocio0010 5,562]

Why would there be an issue if her passport is valid?

[pushbrk 12,106]

Be sure to present the original notice, not a copy and you should have no problems.

[Verrou 1,899]

Bring her expired GC card + original extension letter along with the passport obviously 

Edited June 27, 2022 by Misscloud

[Mike E 11,723]

4 hours ago, Djanjo said:

So my wife’s green card is expired. We do have a i797 extension for 24 months and she has a valid Indian passport. Has  anyone gotten on a cruise to Mexico / Bahamas in this situation? I’ve tried calling cruise lines but they don’t know anything they keep bouncing me back and forth. Bahamas don’t need visa for permenant  US residents if less than 30 days but since her green is expired is that an issue? Same for Mexico? Would there be issue boarding the cruise? I know entry back into USA will not be an issue so that is not my concern. 

When does her extension letter expire?  When is she traveling?
 

Since she is Indian it turns out the Bahamas calls out Indians specifically:

 

https://mofa.gov.bs/consular-services/needs-visas-enter-bahamas/

 

“

• India –Indian Nationals who have visas for, or permanent resident status in, US, UK , Canada and Schengen countries do not require a visa to enter The Bahamas.  Indian nationals who hold diplomatic or official passports do not require a visa to enter The Bahamas.  All other Indian nationals require visas.”
•  

She has LPR status so she is fine.  
 

From personal experience she is fine for Mexico.  
 

When you check in online for the cruise use the expiration date extension letter as the gc expiration date. Select the earliest available boarding time.  

 

Now then, IME few cruise ship personnel are aware of what an extension letter is.  Thus you want to arrive before  your boarding time and try to get the check in desk as early as possible.  
 

Our experience with an extension letter with Royal Caribbean in San Pedro wasn’t good as neither the front line check in folks born the second line folks had even seen an extension letter in their lives.  However there was someone who knew what it was and it worked out. But we were held up an hour. 

[Mike E 11,723]

4 hours ago, Rocio0010 said:

Why would there be an issue if her passport is valid?

When extension letters replaced stickers, initially some  LPRs encountered denied boarding or if they were boarded they were turn back at the port of entry.  Since then, carriers and  foreign border police have become more knowledgeable, I suspect  because they have friends and relatives with extension letters.   

[Djanjo 0]

2 hours ago, Mike E said:

 

 

Now then, IME few cruise ship personnel are aware of what an extension letter is.  Thus you want to arrive before  your boarding time and try to get the check in desk as early as possible.  
 

Our experience with an extension letter with Royal Caribbean in San Pedro wasn’t good as neither the front line check in folks born the second line folks had even seen an extension letter in their lives.  However there was someone who knew what it was and it worked out. But we were held up an hour. 

I know in theory there should be no issue.  But this is my biggest concern ,  we get to boarding and they don’t know what the extension letter is and we get denied. I called royal Caribbean, and they said have to have original unexpired green card, will not accept extension. 

[Mike E 11,723]

6 hours ago, Djanjo said:

 . I called royal Caribbean, and they said have to have original unexpired green card, will not accept extension. 

Clearly that isn’t true. 
 

The largest concern expressed by the staff was whether the USA would re-admit my wife.  
 

This document says they will. If most staff at the check in desk have no clue I’d expect an even higher percentage of a call center that probably operates in a country 10,000 miles away to have no clue.  

https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2019-Mar/2019 Carrier Information Guide - ENGLISH.pdf

 

Travel is an adventure.  Traveling on alternate I-551 form factor is part of the thrill.  

 

 

Edited June 27, 2022 by Mike E

[pushbrk 12,106]

15 hours ago, Djanjo said:

I know in theory there should be no issue.  But this is my biggest concern ,  we get to boarding and they don’t know what the extension letter is and we get denied. I called royal Caribbean, and they said have to have original unexpired green card, will not accept extension. 

Ultimately, they will be the ones to decide whether you can board or not.  Do you want to risk it?  Up to you.

 

[Djanjo 0]

9 hours ago, Mike E said:

Clearly that isn’t true. 
 

The largest concern expressed by the staff was whether the USA would re-admit my wife.  
 

This document says they will. If most staff at the check in desk have no clue I’d expect an even higher percentage of a call center that probably operates in a country 10,000 miles away to have no clue.  

https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2019-Mar/2019 Carrier Information Guide - ENGLISH.pdf

 

Travel is an adventure.  Traveling on alternate I-551 form factor is part of the thrill.  

 

 

Called CBP. They stated shouldn’t be any issue. Said cruise lines should have their phone number if they have any concerns they will call them.  Sounds reassuring I guess lol.

[pushbrk 12,106]

15 minutes ago, Djanjo said:

Called CBP. They stated shouldn’t be any issue. Said cruise lines should have their phone number if they have any concerns they will call them.  Sounds reassuring I guess lol.

If the cruise line has their number, I would be confident that bringing a supervisor in as you get cleared to board, will do the trick.  Call center agents are reading from scripts.

[Mike E 11,723]

2 hours ago, Djanjo said:

Called CBP. They stated shouldn’t be any issue. Said cruise lines should have their phone number if they have any concerns they will call them.  Sounds reassuring I guess lol.

This is a useful one pager 

 

https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2021-Dec/Reminder- LPR Boarding 20210305.pdf

 

Note the phone numbers on there. To my vicarious knowledge these numbers get answered 

 

Edited June 28, 2022 by Mike E

[Chancy 6,233]

*** Moved from IR1/CR1 Process & Procedures to Working & Traveling During US Immigration -- OP's wife already has GC, asking about travel out of the US ***

 

[Djanjo 0]

15 hours ago, Mike E said:

This is a useful one pager 

 

https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2021-Dec/Reminder- LPR Boarding 20210305.pdf

 

Note the phone numbers on there. To my vicarious knowledge these numbers get answered 

 

I had spoken to the Miami number on there. I called again to see if I get the same answer. The guy said technically they are for airlines not cruises?? But said should be fine with the extension letter.