Can I make this trip on an extension letter?

[donker99 0]

Hi.

 

I am a Cambodian citizen married to a US citizen.

 

I got a green card through marriage December 2021. 

 

It expired December 2023. 

 

I now have an I-797 extension form. 

 

I want to travel to Cambodia to see my sick mother. But I am very scared I will not be able to return. 

 

Here is my planned trip: 

 

Detroit -> Seoul (ICN) -> Bangkok (BKK) -> Phnom Penh on Delta.

 

and the return

 

Phnom Penh -> Bangkok (BKK) -> Seoul (ICN) -> Detroit also on Delta. 

 

I will buy one ticket, but there are stops in Seoul (Incheon Airport). 

 

Will I be allowed to board, or will they give me troubles?

 

I am not worried about flying into Bangkok. Cambodians are allowed visa free travel and I have been before. 

 

I have transited through ICN before when I came to America on my K-1 Visa. No problem that time. 

 

This time I will just transit through ICN for 2 hours. I will not leave the airport. 

Does anyone have advice or experience?

[JKLSemicolon 414]

No direct experience, but a quick internet search brought up a link saying that no transit visa is required in Korea if departing within 24 hours and staying within the designated area of the airport except for visitors from a few specific countries (Cambodia was not one of them). This is the link I found if you’re interested: 

 

https://www.ketasouthkorea.com/transit-visa-south-korea

Generally it’s also good to print out a copy of the relevant pages of the CBP carrier guide that reference the expired GC and extension letter as acceptable documents for the return trip to the US.

[donker99 0]

Thank you. My biggest fear is to run into an airline employee who simply refuses to let me board back to my husband and baby in USA. What could I do in that case? 

The ticket is already $2500 which is quite a lot of money. 

 

Thank you again. 

[OldUser 6,851]

1 hour ago, donker99 said:

Thank you. My biggest fear is to run into an airline employee who simply refuses to let me board back to my husband and baby in USA. What could I do in that case? 

The ticket is already $2500 which is quite a lot of money. 

 

Thank you again. 

Make sure to bring original expired GC and valid extension letter. Make copies of both in case if airline needs to keep a copy.

 

Print CBP carrier guide to have with you in case if you need to convince airline you should be allowed to board the plane:

https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2023-Nov/Carrier Information Guide ENGLISH.pdf

 

Show up to airport early. Speak politely but firmly to airline agent. Do not show you're uncertain or worried. Be relaxed and friendly or neutral. Be patient, do not interrupt them. If they don't know what you're talking about, show them the CBP guide. If they're not sure still, nicely ask for their manager / supervisor and explain why you should be boarded. Stay cool, polite, yet confident.

 

In case if you don't board the plane, look for a ticket with different airline. Consider flying to Mexico or Canada and crossing US border by land if you can visit any of these countries visa free or can get visa /eVisa / eTA easily.

 

Another option is applying for boarding foil in the US embassy inside the country you're stuck.

 

Most importantly, study rules of each country you're entering and transiting on your way from and to the US. Not all the countries will let you transit just because you have GC. A lot may depend on the passport of your country.

 

Good luck!

Edited July 3 by OldUser

[ksh9256 21]

We just flew back from the Philippines with my wife's extension letter. Korean air from Manila through Seoul to Detroit. Korea shouldn't be an issue. The KA agent only asked for her expired GC and letter in Manila. She also printed our boarding pass for the connecting flight in Seoul. No issues. We had to scan her PH passport in Korea to get through a gate and into security but that was it. You should't be going through immigration there if you stay in the airport. All of her tickets were in her maiden name which matched her PH passport. They didn't even ask for our marriage certificate.