U.S. Resident with no passport
Aug 24, 2008, 5:32 pm
#1
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U.S. Resident with no passport
Hello, I hope I'm posting this in the correct forum. I have been clicking around the U.S. Immigration site and can't seem to obtain a concrete answer. A friend of mine, a U.S. resident with an expired Mexican passport, is planning on traveling to Mexico from LAX. Is a U.S. resident card + a dl sufficient to return to the states in lieu of a passport? Thank you in advance.
Aug 24, 2008, 6:33 pm
#4
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,377
It depends--if by 'resident card', you mean the I-551 for a Lawful Permanent Resident, that is sufficient for reentry to the US after an absence of less than one year (and, it appears from Timatic, to enter Mexico, but entering a country of citizenship with some other country's document is sometimes not appreciated).
" U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs), refugees, and asylees will continue to be able to use their Alien Registration Card (Form I-551), issued by DHS, or other evidence of permanent resident status or refugee or asylee status to apply for entry into the United States."
http://cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacati...nts_needed.xml
As always, Timatic is a great place for info:
http://www.nwa.com/services/timatic.html
" U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs), refugees, and asylees will continue to be able to use their Alien Registration Card (Form I-551), issued by DHS, or other evidence of permanent resident status or refugee or asylee status to apply for entry into the United States."
http://cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacati...nts_needed.xml
As always, Timatic is a great place for info:
http://www.nwa.com/services/timatic.html
Aug 24, 2008, 7:48 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 3,945
Here is a link:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html it was right on the first page of the us travel website.
However, as the previous poster stated, if your friend has a green card, he can still enter US.
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html it was right on the first page of the us travel website.
However, as the previous poster stated, if your friend has a green card, he can still enter US.
Aug 24, 2008, 10:12 pm
#7
Join Date: Jun 2006
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as a US permanent resident (green card holder) and someone without a passport from the native country (I left as a kid and never had a passport there) I can tell you with certainty that to re-enter the US by air you will also need a US re-entry permit in addition to the green card. I have had to show both after traveling home from Aruba and Saint Martin.
however, when crossing the border on foot/or by car... like I did in 2007 in Tijuana, only the green card or the re-entry permit can be shown. the border agent gave me a lecture on this after I walked into TJ for a few minutes and ended up standing in line for two hours to get back into the US.
--Russ
however, when crossing the border on foot/or by car... like I did in 2007 in Tijuana, only the green card or the re-entry permit can be shown. the border agent gave me a lecture on this after I walked into TJ for a few minutes and ended up standing in line for two hours to get back into the US.
--Russ
Aug 25, 2008, 7:04 am
#8
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as a US permanent resident (green card holder) and someone without a passport from the native country (I left as a kid and never had a passport there) I can tell you with certainty that to re-enter the US by air you will also need a US re-entry permit in addition to the green card. I have had to show both after traveling home from Aruba and Saint Martin.
I'd sort of trust TAHKUCT's response, considering that he is a CBP agent.
Aug 25, 2008, 10:22 am
#9
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AIR TRAVEL
ALL PERSONS traveling by air outside of the United States are required to present a passport or other valid travel document to enter or re-enter the United States.
tb
Aug 25, 2008, 10:47 am
#10
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From the CBP:
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.)
Aug 25, 2008, 11:49 am
#12
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Several variables here - OP's domicile (border town or inland, which border town, etc)?, which border will be crossed?, method of transport (bus, car, foot, air)? In general though, get a passport - it's less hassle all round.
Aug 25, 2008, 11:57 am
#13
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The reason they need the re-entry permit is to put an entry/exit stamp on.
They can't do this on a green card.
--Russ
Aug 25, 2008, 7:00 pm
#14
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 3,945
"International Travel
A Permanent Resident of the United States can travel freely outside of the US. A passport from the country of citizenship is normally all that is needed. To reenter the US a Permanent Resident normally needs to present the green card (Permanent Resident Card, Form I-551) for readmission. A reentry permit is needed for reentry for trips greater than one year but less than two years in duration."
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/usc...0045f3d6a1RCRD
Also, here is an info on a Travel Document:
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/usc...0045f3d6a1RCRD
Aug 25, 2008, 8:04 pm
#15
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They can't do this on a birth certificate (or even a driver's license) and for the longest time that is all US citizens needed to re-enter the country.