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My wife and I filed for I-751 Removal of Conditions last March 2003, which was the original expiration of her 2-year conditional green card.  We have received a 1-year extension of the conditional green card to April 2004.

Recently, my wife has had a family medical emergency and will need to travel home for a minimum of a few weeks.  Can she re-enter the USA with the extension letter and her conditional 2-year green card?  Or will she be required to obtain some other  approval/documentation from BCIS?  Any assistance is much appreciated.

BTW, the BCIS toll-free number and the website do not provide any help regarding her case status - the receipt number does not register with either system.

... in response to I-751 Question, posted by Jersey Mike on Feb 9, 2004

Mike,

With the expired Green Card, the Form G-854 extension notice, and her valid passport, she should have no problem re-entering the U.S.  My wife also received a 1-year extension last March while the I-751 is pending. She traveled to the Philippines and back in September and had absolutely no problems with immigration on her return. There is no reason to have an I-551 stamp in her passport since the Green Card with the extension is still a valid I-551. My wife’s G-854 clearly states “Employment and Travel Authorized”.

Where did you send your petition? We filed the I-751 through CSC last March 2003 and are still waiting for some word. Like yours, the receipt number is not in their automated system for status checks.

Ray

... in response to Re: I-751 Question, posted by Ray on Feb 9, 2004

Ray,
Thanks for the info.  We sent our I-751 to the Vermont "Service" Center (Service? - that's a good one!) in March 2003.  My wife recently heard that one of her friends just received notice for a 2nd 1-year extension based on an original filing date of 12/2002.
Mike

... in response to I-751 Question, posted by Jersey Mike on Feb 9, 2004

RW and Jack,
Thank you for your response to my Q - my wife and I appreciate it!
Mike

... in response to Re: I-751 Question, posted by Jersey Mike on Feb 9, 2004

Mike,

I have a friend who moved to New Jersey from Seattle (her husband got a job there). She is 23 and originally from Karaganda. Will your wife be interested to communicate with her? She does not have much friends there and I think would be very happy to have somebody to talk to.

Thanks!

... in response to Re: Re: I-751 Question, posted by RW on Feb 9, 2004

My wife met many of her friends in the ESL classes, or the local Russian store.

... in response to Re: Re: I-751 Question, posted by RW on Feb 9, 2004

RW,
I am sure that my wife would be happy to do anything that she can to make your friend feel welcome here.
See my email to you.
Mike

... in response to I-751 Question, posted by Jersey Mike on Feb 9, 2004

Jersey Mike, as RW eluded too, I think you need to go to your local INS/BCIS office and get a new I-551 stamp in her passport. It is what we had to do.

You should be able to take the documents you have to your local INS office and their should be no problem with getting a new I-551 stamp which will be good for 1 year.

... in response to I-751 Question, posted by Jersey Mike on Feb 9, 2004

A friend of mine had to go to the local INS office and get a stamp in the passport (pretty much the same as you get on the first interview). That allowed her to get back in the country without any problems (and that is what INS told her she needed to do before leaving US).