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Topic: Travelling with green card
Which countries allow you to enter without a visa if you have a US green card?
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Which countries do you want to enter?
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You can go with a green card to Canada, Mexico and Switzerland irrespective of your citizenship. But Switzerland is joining Schengen in a few months (scheduled for November 1 2008), and you will not be able to go there with only a green card when it does, if you don't hold a passport from an eligible country or a visa.
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Try this link too
http://skyteam.com/EN/travelPlanner/timatic/index.jsp
Enter nationality and US resident to see specific details about a country
Usually traveling requirements for GC holders are relaxed for NAFTA countries (Mexico & Canada) and some Caribbean Islands, Bahamas of course except Cuba. For all other countries your original passport & country of birth determines travel requirements
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You can go with a green card to Canada, Mexico and Switzerland irrespective of your citizenship. But Switzerland is joining Schengen in a few months (scheduled for November 1 2008), and you will not be able to go there with only a green card when it does, if you don't hold a passport from an eligible country or a visa.
Yes, perhaps you can go to those countries. But what about when you come home? Can you get back into the U.S. with just a green card?
I would advise you to have a passport. Not worth any hassle of finding out the hard way. |
American citizens must enter the U.S with a passport (or proof of citizenship) so you can't just enter with a green card. You need your passport
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walla: It's not clear how you conclude that he needs a passport - you say that american citizens need a passport to enter the US but the OP is not an american citizen.
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The point I was trying to make was that if American citizens need a passport to return to their own homeland (or show proof of citizenship like birth certificate) then by all means someone who is not an American citizen just yet definitely needs to show a passport upon his/her return to the U.S.
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That's actually not true- you can enter with the US with just a green card, though a passport is preferred. (and airlines may be unfamiliar with these details)
It's even more clear in the Canadian border, where if you give them a green card they never ask for a passport, whereas they always need one for US citizens.
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When entering the USA by air, everybody must presnt a passport, regardless being an American citzen or not.
When entering by land an American citizens can simply show proof of citizenship (birth certificate plus a photo ID, for example).
A GC holder should never dare trying to enter the US without a valid passport, regardless he/she is comming by air or land.
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When entering the USA by air, everybody must presnt a passport, regardless being an American citzen or not.
When entering by land an American citizens can simply show proof of citizenship (birth certificate plus a photo ID, for example).
A GC holder should never dare trying to enter the US without a valid passport, regardless he/she is comming by air or land.
I am unsure where you get your information from, but all my friends go to Canada and back, via border crossings or by air, with only their GCs. They NEVER ask for a passport. That includes travel in April and May of 2008.
A passport is required of US citizens (or proof of US citizenship) because there is no such thing as "another secure document that proves citizenship". But remember, they are starting a "US passport card", which has the same shape as a GC, for US citizens to use to go to Canada, and back. Also, in some states, they are introducing "Enhanced Driver Licenses", with which US citizens can go to Canada and back without a passport.
Conclusion: the US government needs a "secure" document to prove you are eligible to come back to the US. Unless you have another secure document, a US passport is considered secure. A GC is considered secure too. If you want to be extra safe, take your passport with you. But they will never ask for it or stamp it, and could be useful in case you lose your GC and need a transportation letter from a US consulate. |
Question: I am planning my first travel after getting GC to Canada via road. Should I surrender my I-94 that is attached to my passport?
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Question: I am planning my first travel after getting GC to Canada via road. Should I surrender my I-94 that is attached to my passport?
I am unsure, but I think you should. I94 is proof that you are on non-immigrant status. When your GC approval comes in, that status is no longer valid.
I would do one of the following:
1. Mail the I94 forms to the address specified on them (they tell you if you forget to surrender those, mail them to so and so address). I would do that with a photocopy of my green card. This way they can update their systems to know you have the GC, and might save you some trouble when coming back to the US (a friend got his GC, went to Canada, and when coming back, was stopped for 1.5 hours for special registration, even though GC holders do not go through special registration - he ended up not doing it, but their files (USCBP) were not updated with new info, and therefore the 1.5 hour wait to update their files - so mailing the I94 ahead of time, with proof of GC, *might* avoid something like this
2. Surrender this to the Canadians, which in turn return it to the Americans at some point - this is good, because you are supposed to surrender those
3. Keep them for souvenir - I know people who did with no problems leaving/entering. BUT, I would be a bit considerate and not do this. I94s are assigned unique numbers, and might not be reused unless you surrender them back to the government. I dunno if we will ever run out of numbers :) (or if they decide to add digits)
My .02 |
Come on guys.... enough of this misinformation.
HERE ARE THE REGULATIONS FOR FOREIGNERS THAT ARE LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENTS OF U.S.A.:
The US government agency that enforces oversight at points of entry is the CBP.
They use a variety of systems and you can research those independently.
Here is THE statement from CBP (one of many on their website. They don't care about foreign passports)
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Air/Land and Sea - Lawful Permanent Residents (Green card holder's) do NOT need a passport to enter the United States, however you may need a passport to enter another country. Please contact the embassy of the foreign country you will be traveling to for their requirements."
.and...
"
Foreign nationals that are lawful permanent residents of the U.S. must present a Permanent Resident Card (“Green Card”, INS Form I-551), a Reentry Permit (if gone for more than 1 year), or a Returning Resident Visa (if gone for 2 years or more) to reenter the United States. U.S. LPRs are not required by the U.S. to have a passport for travel, although most foreign destinations will require you to have one to enter their country. (LPRs that are out of the U.S. for more than 180 days are subject to new immigrant inspection procedures as per 8 USC 1101.)"
BTW, I tested this out last night when traveling from UK to US.
It works. You just need your permanent resident card (and your customs declaration completed).
ALSO: A pilot trial at JFK, IAD, and HOU will determine if they plan to expand the automated process (GLOBAL) to other gateways to speed it up further.
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Horus, thanks for the response.
On the I-94 card it says that it should be given to Canada side if one is traveling by road to Canada. Why not to US officials? Because first we will cross them US side then after a 1/4 mile of bridge we will face the Canada immigration folks whom I can flash my GC.
Mailing to USCIS is not mentioned on the I-94 card but I understand that's only if one forgets while flying out of the US.
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You need your passport
For reference: I was asked for my passport 4 an entry stamp (POE: LAX)
GC is all you need but they may/or not ask your passport for a stamp purpose. |
Hello dear friends. Sorry for simple question, but I have a big doubt. Since a recent time I am a GC holder, and same time I have asylee status. According to all these posts, I understood that travel to Canada I need only GC. My question is do I need apply for Refugee Travel Document or I do not need it? Will border officer ask from me that TD or not on my way back to the US?
Thanks and regards.
Vilkin.
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