How to Travel With an Expired Green Card
Making an international trip while your green card has expired can be a daunting experience. To ensure that you are able to re-enter the country, you will have to provide customs officials with the proper documentation that shows you are at least in the process of renewing your expired green card.
Instructions
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Fill out USCIS form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card. You cannot receive a green card renewal without filling out this form. Keep the official receipt/processing papers that the U.S. Customs and Immigration Services sends you.
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Check your passport to make sure that it will still be valid during the period in which you intend to travel. You will not be able to re-enter the U.S. with both an expired green card and an expired passport.
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Look up your local USCIS office and schedule an INFOPASS appointment. Bring your expired green card, valid passport and I-90 application documentation. Here you will be able to receive an I-551 stamp in your passport, which acts as a temporary green card allowing you to re-enter the U.S.
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Gather all aforementioned immigration documents and keep these with your passport at all times. This will make it easier for you to show the customs officials upon your re-entry.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not wait until the last minute to submit the I-90 or get the I-551 stamp, as USCIS processing and appointment times vary widely.
Be prepared to spend extra time at customs when re-entering the U.S. The officials may have questions to ask and will want to look over your papers thoroughly.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit passport approval image by timur1970 from Fotolia.com