wtkp0u

Hi,

Can a green card holder travel outside the USA during the renewal process for an existing green card?
Is there official guidance online? Can't seem to find it on www.uscis.gov

Thanks

Pulaski

Do you have an unexpired green card in your hand? If so, yes you can travel.

If you don't have the green card, or an unexpired green card, then you will be stopped by immigration when you arrive back in the US and may be sent to secondary for verification - when I was a PR I left the US once without my green card and was admonished by the immigration officer when I returned, but I was not otherwise inconvenienced.

And one other thing to remember - the green card is evidence of your PR status, and expiry of the card does not mean expiry of your PR status.

newacct

Yes, you can travel. If you filed I-90 to renew your 10-year green card, the I-90 receipt serves as a 24-month extension letter. This means that the I-90 receipt in combination with the expired green card together serve as a valid green card for all purposes a green card can be used for, including for re-entering the US and for starting work, until 24 months after your green card expired. If your I-90 is still pending at the end of those 24 months, or if you lose your expired green card or extension letter, you can contact USCIS for a I-551 stamp to act as proof of permanent residency.

S Folinsky

Hmm. I think the information at www.USCIS.gov is pretty straightforward.

wtkp0u

No advice is given nor intended by any of Mr. Folinsky's posts on this forum - certainly true in this case.

Thanks all. It makes no mention of travel on the USCIS page, just proof of status, hence my question. Looks pretty straightforward tho.

S Folinsky

My apologies for the confusion. That said, your initial question indicates awareness that a valid green card is a valid entry document.