WhatLoveBuys

We just got back from visiting my husband's family in South Africa for 3 weeks - we were required to show the airlines the Extension Letter in order to be permitted to obtain his boarding pass as his GC shows that it expired last year (our extension letter is for 24 months). We showed this once in Johannesburg to get our boarding pass, again going through security at Amsterdam, and again before boarding in Amsterdam (also to verify that we did not need to provide additional COVID documentation). We then had the extension letter and GC together upon entering the US - took about an extra 15 minutes for them to verify that he still had valid status in the US, but luckily the lines were short either way. We also had a copy of our marriage certificate, daughter's birth certificate (she's a dual citizen), etc just in case they requested any of it. So make sure if you do have your GC and Letter of Extension that it is in your Carry-On and easily accessible for check-in on the way back to the US.

Jumping on the conversation regarding travel with the expired GC and letter of extension. I worked for a large law firm doing immigration work. We never had any issues with clients travelling with their valid passport, expired GC, and original copy of the letter of extension. Yes, it takes a little longer coming back to the US going through CBP and Immigration because they need to verify that your ROC is still being processed and you are still in valid status, but that's it. My husband and I have travelled to South Africa twice in this manner, no issues, just the extra stop we know we'll have at the immigration desk so they can verify status. I also always bring a copy of our marriage certificate, and we don't travel separately, to help make things faster and easier. I haven't browsed the whole thread - is anyone else getting ready to file for citizenship while their ROC is still pending?