r/GreenCardInsights

Good evening everyone,

I had a question as I am very concerned about leaving the country with everything going on. I am pending I-751 with an expired two conditional two year green card. I filed for the I-751 right on time and I received the automatic 48 months extension. I am currently on my 16th month waiting.

Legally, I should be able to work and travel…I am just very worried upon re-entry that they don’t consider the expired green card along with receipt notice of the automatic extension.

Anybody who travelled while on extension and was able to reenter without issues? Please would really appreciate any guidance.

Good evening everyone,

I had a question as I am very concerned about leaving the country with everything going on. I am pending I-751 with an expired two conditional two year green card. I filed for the I-751 right on time and I received the automatic 48 months extension. I am currently on my 16th month waiting.

Legally, I should be able to work and travel…I am just very worried upon re-entry that they don’t consider the expired green card along with receipt notice of the automatic extension.

Anybody who travelled while on extension and was able to reenter without issues? Please would really appreciate any guidance.

Yesterday I got my Green Card in the mail, so I’m making this post to share how my whole journey through USCIS has been in case it helps someone going through the same stuff.

Additional info before I dive into the timeline: I’m from Spain and my husband is an American born citizen living in MN. We met online through a discord chat. We’re a same sex couple. We’re in a polyamorous relationship but we never mentioned our other partner in any of the paperwork (polyamorous relationships aren’t illegal but we didn’t want to risk it).

We used Boundless for the entire process because I’m pretty messy and forgetful so I wanted a pair of professional eyes double checking every step. They were pretty helpful and answered all my doubts and questions.

Here’s the timeline:

August 2023: Me and my husband met for the first time.

July 2024: My husband, his boyfriend and other friends from the Discord chat where we met travel to Spain to visit me.

November 10th 2024: we apply for the K1 Visa through Boundless. the K1 Visa seemed to be for me the fastest way to move from Spain to USA. Form I-129F (petition for alien fiancé) is sent.

November 29th 2024: USCIS receives our petition for alien fiancé.

April 17th 2025: USCIS approves our petition for alien fiancé.

June 25th 2025: My case is sent to the Department of State.

July 29th 2025: I receive a letter at my address in Spain saying that the National Visa Center has received our approved I-129F and now will forward the petition to the US embassy in Madrid so I can schedule an interview with them.

August 26th 2025: I have a preliminary interview in the US embassy in Madrid to check if all the paperwork needed was in order followed by a mandatory medical appointment.

September 16th 2025: The day of the interview. The officer was a very sweet lady that only asked me the name of my fiance and how we met. Checked the paperwork I submitted and after just 2 minutes of interview she tells me my K1 Visa is approved.

September 26th 2025: I move to the USA (MN). Going through customs was easy enough and got asked a few questions about the visa.

October 8th 2025: We get married (the k1 visa gave me 3 months to do it, but we wanted to do it asap)

October/November 2026: I try to get as much “proof of valid relationship” as possible: driver’s license with the same address as my husband, shared supplies, medical insurance, pictures together, bank statements with both our names etc etc)

December 1st 2025: I apply to the “Green Card”, aka Adjustment of Status (Form I-485) Simultaneously, I apply for the employment authorization (Form I-765) thinking the green card would take a loooot longer.

December 26th 2025: USCIS receives both forms.

January 3rd 2026: USCIS informs me that my biometrics appointment for the Green Card has been scheduled.

January 22nd 2026: I attend the biometrics appointment and USCIS informs me they are back on working on my case.

March 17th 2026: USCIS informs me that they’ve scheduled my Green Card Interview on April 21st. this is a big surprise since I expected the process to take a lot longer. also I thought I’d get the employment authorization first but I haven’t received any updates about that.

April 21st 2026: My husband and I attend the interview. after a 1hr wait, they call our number. the officer conducting the interview was pretty laid back. They asked us about the entire timeline of our relationship (when we met, when we met in person, how many times we visited each other, address etc etc). we are also asked if we live with someone else, and we are living with our other boyfriend but we didn’t want to use that word and we didn’t want to lie and say we live alone, so we simply say he’s a roommate and a good friend. I’m also asked the same questions I answered in for I-485 (like, have you ever been arreste, have you ever been in the military, have you ever been a terrorist etc etc).
after the interview is done, I’m given a document that says Request For Evidence and I’m told that I need to submit one last form, the form I-693 (medical examination). i get an appointment at an authorized medical center that same day.

April 24th 2026: I attend my medical appointment to fill form I-693. I send it to USCIS that same day and upload it in my USCIS online portal.

April 27th 2026: I realize that I didn’t include the Request For Evidence document I was given the day of the interview inside the envelope I sent with my form i-693 even tho it CLEARLY states that it must be sent with the form. I write a cover letter explaining the situation and I send a new envelope containing a new form i-693 (thankfully my doctor gave me 2 copies), the Request for Evidence document and the cover letter.

May 10th 2026: USCIS notifies me that my case has been approved.

May 13th 2026: USCIS notifies me that my Green Card has been produced.

May 16th 2026: My Green Card arrives on the mail.

And that’s it! In total, the process took more or less a year and a half!

Hold on tight everyone! There’s light at the end of this very long, annoying and frustrating tunnel!
feel free to ask any questions :)