Can Green Card Holder Travel outside US ?
Dec 23rd, 2003, 10:15 AM
#1
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Can Green Card Holder Travel outside US ?
Help !
I've booked Paris for 3 friend of mine yesterday.
One of the ladys has green card only and passport from her native country is gone for good.
So, is there way for her to go to Paris ?
We have until April,8th 2004.
Please, anyone ...
I've booked Paris for 3 friend of mine yesterday.
One of the ladys has green card only and passport from her native country is gone for good.
So, is there way for her to go to Paris ?
We have until April,8th 2004.
Please, anyone ...
Dec 23rd, 2003, 10:18 AM
#2
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Tat, my husband had a green card for years and he travelled freely. Of course he also had his British passport. How did this lady friend of yours lose her passport? She surely had one to begin with, and she needs to get another before she can entertain a trip to Paris.
Dec 23rd, 2003, 10:19 AM
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She might be able to. She'll have to apply for travel documents and pay the necessary fees and they will decide whether or to approve. Go to the US Immigration website for the forms and more info. I recommend doing this sooner rather than later as it can take awhile for everything to be approved.
Dec 23rd, 2003, 10:33 AM
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I don't know which country or the rest of your circumstances -- but the experience I have might shed some light . . . .
A friend of mine has lived in the States for over 25 years - came in from Mexico asa child on her mother's passport as was normal back then. She has a green card and never bothered to get a Mexican passport in her own name. We planned a trip to the UK and as we were buying the tix the desk agent asked for "our names as listed on your passport". A lot of to-ing anf fro-ing and it ended up -- she could not fly w/o a passport and it would take 6+ months to get one from her home state in Mexico. She could not go on the trip. She later traveled down to the state capitol (in mexico) and got a passport - even in person it took 4+ months. She ended up joining me on a later trip. . . .
A friend of mine has lived in the States for over 25 years - came in from Mexico asa child on her mother's passport as was normal back then. She has a green card and never bothered to get a Mexican passport in her own name. We planned a trip to the UK and as we were buying the tix the desk agent asked for "our names as listed on your passport". A lot of to-ing anf fro-ing and it ended up -- she could not fly w/o a passport and it would take 6+ months to get one from her home state in Mexico. She could not go on the trip. She later traveled down to the state capitol (in mexico) and got a passport - even in person it took 4+ months. She ended up joining me on a later trip. . . .
Dec 23rd, 2003, 10:35 AM
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I think there are two issues - entry into France and return to the U.S. She needs to check on what she needs to enter France, maybe she needs a visa. To enter the U.S. she needs her green card and a valid passport or a travel document. As a previous poster says she can get info on the travel document on the INS web site. Currently the issuing of travel documents is moving quite slowly - sometimes six months or more. She will need to mail away for the travel document to Nebraska - local INS offices do not issue them. Hope you can work details out but I'm not sure it is doable. Good luck!
Dec 23rd, 2003, 10:39 AM
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Not good for me, not good ...
My friend came from Uzbekistan as a tourist.
She've met a man and got married.
She got her card as a wife of US Citizen. Her Uzbekistan Passport even if was not outdated would be no good for nothing as if she doesn't want to near that place, she scared. So, I would of take that INS web site advice, right and go and check if she can do it.
I've also heard about re-entering permit. They claim on web to make it for couple of weeks for $340.00
I would like them to be legit, but who knows ?
Thanks to all
My friend came from Uzbekistan as a tourist.
She've met a man and got married.
She got her card as a wife of US Citizen. Her Uzbekistan Passport even if was not outdated would be no good for nothing as if she doesn't want to near that place, she scared. So, I would of take that INS web site advice, right and go and check if she can do it.
I've also heard about re-entering permit. They claim on web to make it for couple of weeks for $340.00
I would like them to be legit, but who knows ?
Thanks to all
Dec 23rd, 2003, 10:42 AM
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Tat, all foreign (non-French) nationals need a valid passport to enter France. YOu friend will need to contact the French government tourist office, and U.S. passport agency as well. If you do a search on the internet you will come up with the information you need. Good luck to you.
Dec 23rd, 2003, 11:01 AM
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There is some bad info here.
First, the green card entitles you to re-enter US, no questions asked.
Second, depending on your friends country of origin, and the agreement between the UK and her country she may also need a UK visa. She is NOT a US citizen, thus she is not entitled to the same rules that apply to US citizens visiting the UK. Till that time she needs a valid passport from her country and possibly a UK visa.
To apply for a new passport she does not have to go back, all she has to do is to contact their embassy here, and if they don't have one, find out which countries embassy represents their interests in the USA. I would suggest she gets going as these things could take some time. If she still has her expired passport, it may be easier, if not she may have to provide a birth cert and a valid picture ID and whatever her country may require on top of that, which means contacting the offices in her country, waiting for responses, etc..etc.. Even if she does not get to use it this time, I would still do it for future, or she would not be able to travel anywhere in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa until becoming a US citizen.
First, the green card entitles you to re-enter US, no questions asked.
Second, depending on your friends country of origin, and the agreement between the UK and her country she may also need a UK visa. She is NOT a US citizen, thus she is not entitled to the same rules that apply to US citizens visiting the UK. Till that time she needs a valid passport from her country and possibly a UK visa.
To apply for a new passport she does not have to go back, all she has to do is to contact their embassy here, and if they don't have one, find out which countries embassy represents their interests in the USA. I would suggest she gets going as these things could take some time. If she still has her expired passport, it may be easier, if not she may have to provide a birth cert and a valid picture ID and whatever her country may require on top of that, which means contacting the offices in her country, waiting for responses, etc..etc.. Even if she does not get to use it this time, I would still do it for future, or she would not be able to travel anywhere in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa until becoming a US citizen.
Dec 23rd, 2003, 11:12 AM
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Sorry, AA, you haven't read my posts i assume.
I stated that she is going to France, plus she is NOT willing to communicate with her native embassy.
I;ve just found those re-entering permit makers and I called and they told me about Shengen visa.
If there is a will - there is a way ???
We will try, I wish I haven't found a deal and haven't booked it, now I feel so giulty, and all I wanted to meet in Paris !
I stated that she is going to France, plus she is NOT willing to communicate with her native embassy.
I;ve just found those re-entering permit makers and I called and they told me about Shengen visa.
If there is a will - there is a way ???
We will try, I wish I haven't found a deal and haven't booked it, now I feel so giulty, and all I wanted to meet in Paris !
Dec 23rd, 2003, 11:24 AM
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Hi Tat, I don't mean to worry you, and I'm not an expert, but I doubt that she'll be let into France with a passport.
I believe that INS (or whatever it's called now) issues a travel document for people who don't have a passport. Not sure if they would issue one to her. Let's assume that they issue it to her. Then French immigration would have to accept this. But since INS is so notoriously slow, it seems unlikely that she will get the document before she departs.
Whatever you end up doing, it's equally important that you make sure that she can return to the U.S. Immigration laws have become very tight, so if there're irregularities spotted at the border, that could spell trouble for her.
I believe that INS (or whatever it's called now) issues a travel document for people who don't have a passport. Not sure if they would issue one to her. Let's assume that they issue it to her. Then French immigration would have to accept this. But since INS is so notoriously slow, it seems unlikely that she will get the document before she departs.
Whatever you end up doing, it's equally important that you make sure that she can return to the U.S. Immigration laws have become very tight, so if there're irregularities spotted at the border, that could spell trouble for her.
Dec 23rd, 2003, 11:25 AM
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Sorry about the destination mix-up, BUT you still have to understand the simple fact that in order to get a visa, your friend NEEDS a passport. Shengen visa is a visa for nationals of countries that need to enter the majority of Western European countries. What is nice about it that once you enter let's say France, you are allowed to travel to the other member countries that sign the agreement. It has nothing to do with substituting a passport.
Dec 23rd, 2003, 11:32 AM
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A slight disagreement with AA -- the French consulate may be happy to accept a travel document (for example, one issued by INS) other than a passport, but you'd have to check with the French consulate to see what they'll accept as a substitute for the passport. In this case, it seems out getting a passport is out of the question for your friend because she doesn't want to deal with the embassy/consulate of her home country.
But I think that it's safe to assume that the French consulate will need some sort of travel document (be it passport or something else) in addition to the Green Card to issue a visa.
But I think that it's safe to assume that the French consulate will need some sort of travel document (be it passport or something else) in addition to the Green Card to issue a visa.
Dec 23rd, 2003, 11:39 AM
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AA !
Work with me !
I said "I've also heard about re-entering permit. They claim on web to make it for couple of weeks for $340.00
I would like them to be legit, but who knows ?"
And then I said
"I;ve just found those re-entering permit makers and I called and they told me about Shengen visa." - this is AFTER Re-Enter Permit is MADE !
Hooray !
"It looks like a Passport" they said...
and it takes INS 400 days to make it.
It takes them 6-8 weeks. I wish she'll trust me on this one.
I'll let you know. Thanks to all
Work with me !
I said "I've also heard about re-entering permit. They claim on web to make it for couple of weeks for $340.00
I would like them to be legit, but who knows ?"
And then I said
"I;ve just found those re-entering permit makers and I called and they told me about Shengen visa." - this is AFTER Re-Enter Permit is MADE !
Hooray !
"It looks like a Passport" they said...
and it takes INS 400 days to make it.
It takes them 6-8 weeks. I wish she'll trust me on this one.
I'll let you know. Thanks to all
Dec 23rd, 2003, 11:49 AM
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I may be wrong on this but I believe the re-entry permits are for people that that originally seeked assylum or a refugee. Just because she has hard feelings towards her old country does not make for a good application. If the country has normal relations with US and they have either embassy or consular services available, the chance of her application being approved by the State Dept are not very good. This is promarly used for citizens of Cuba, North Korea and such not for somebody that has other avenues to get a normal passport. Look at the offical site here:
http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/travdoc.htm#reentry
Again, I may be wrong, but if she does decide to go that way, I would be vary of an agency. They may tell you what you want to hear, but if your application gets refused, your money is still gone. And the approval will come from the State Dept., not the agency.
http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/travdoc.htm#reentry
Again, I may be wrong, but if she does decide to go that way, I would be vary of an agency. They may tell you what you want to hear, but if your application gets refused, your money is still gone. And the approval will come from the State Dept., not the agency.
Dec 23rd, 2003, 12:00 PM
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Tat, my aunt went back to Russia when she had a green card. I don't know how, but she got a traveler's passport, it doesn't give you the citizenship right, only the right to re-entry.
DLN, when we left former Soviet Union, our family was stripped of the citizenship and of course, of passports. We did not lose anything We had an entry visa only, and a work card. A year later we got our green cards.
The rules are different for each country, find out if your friend needs a visa to enter France, and contact INS for re-entry in USA.
DLN, when we left former Soviet Union, our family was stripped of the citizenship and of course, of passports. We did not lose anything
We had an entry visa only, and a work card. A year later we got our green cards. The rules are different for each country, find out if your friend needs a visa to enter France, and contact INS for re-entry in USA.
Dec 23rd, 2003, 12:02 PM
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Tat:
You seem to be determined to ignore the advice you're being given.
It doesn't matter what you read on the web, or what any part of the US government tell you.
What matters is what the FRENCH government says.
The French government is the only organisation that can give an Uzbek a visa to enter France. Schengen, Schmengen. Call it what you like: you need a visa from the French embassy.
And most of us don't believe the French will give that visa unless your friend has an Uzbek passport.
Now we might be wrong. But right now, while offices are still open, get on the phone to your nearest French embassy or consulate and find out.
Find out whether they'll accept whatever document you're trying to buy.
And until you're absolutely sure the French will accept that document, and are prepared to put a visa on it, DON'T spend money on an alleged agent, and DON'T book the flights.
You seem to be determined to ignore the advice you're being given.
It doesn't matter what you read on the web, or what any part of the US government tell you.
What matters is what the FRENCH government says.
The French government is the only organisation that can give an Uzbek a visa to enter France. Schengen, Schmengen. Call it what you like: you need a visa from the French embassy.
And most of us don't believe the French will give that visa unless your friend has an Uzbek passport.
Now we might be wrong. But right now, while offices are still open, get on the phone to your nearest French embassy or consulate and find out.
Find out whether they'll accept whatever document you're trying to buy.
And until you're absolutely sure the French will accept that document, and are prepared to put a visa on it, DON'T spend money on an alleged agent, and DON'T book the flights.
