Expiring Travel Document

[rjmonty 0]

My husband and I have been married 9 months today. We have had a lengthy process - we did a fiance visa, got married after he arrived, and he already has his 2 year conditional Green Card. I'm seeking advice because I want to avoid future problems.

My husband is a national of Egypt, but was granted refugee status by the UNHCR in a European country. He has a travel document from that country, but it's about to expire. In the travel document, it says that if he gets permanent residency elsewhere, he is supposed to surrender it, so we don't think they will renew it. If he's not planning on traveling outside of the USA, then does it matter that it's going to expire? I'm under the impression that if he let his passport expire before becoming a US citizen, that would be a problem. Does the same thing apply to his travel document?

I've heard about a white passport, which is a US refugee travel document. Since he's not planning on traveling, I don't see that it would be helpful.

My biggest concern is that if his travel document expires it will cause problems with getting the next green card and eventually with citizenship.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[Ryan H 3,812]

My biggest concern is that if his travel document expires it will cause problems with getting the next green card and eventually with citizenship.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Validity of a travel document from another country (i.e. passport) has nothing to do with renewing a US green card and/or applying for US citizenship.

[Penguin_ie 5,994]

Ryan is correct, you'll be fine.

[NickD 203]

I am wondering on your N-400 oath letter, says to bring all of your refugee documentation with you. Have no idea what that is, wife is not a refugee, so wasn't really too concerned about it. But was mystified by it.

Other sections of this board deal with issues like this, my only knowledge of that conditional green card is that we were not married for two years. But sounds like this green card was issued on the basis of a travel document. Again, other sections of this board.

[Okalian 41]

My husband and I have been married 9 months today. We have had a lengthy process - we did a fiance visa, got married after he arrived, and he already has his 2 year conditional Green Card. I'm seeking advice because I want to avoid future problems.

My husband is a national of Egypt, but was granted refugee status by the UNHCR in a European country. He has a travel document from that country, but it's about to expire. In the travel document, it says that if he gets permanent residency elsewhere, he is supposed to surrender it, so we don't think they will renew it. If he's not planning on traveling outside of the USA, then does it matter that it's going to expire? I'm under the impression that if he let his passport expire before becoming a US citizen, that would be a problem. Does the same thing apply to his travel document?

I've heard about a white passport, which is a US refugee travel document. Since he's not planning on traveling, I don't see that it would be helpful.

My biggest concern is that if his travel document expires it will cause problems with getting the next green card and eventually with citizenship.

Any advice would be appreciated.

The presence of a valid passport is not required to file for Citizenship. And if your husband got his 2-year conditional greencard, then his European travel document is obviously obsolete. His status as a permanent resident does not rely on the travel document, so it doesn't matter if it's expired. In fact, USCIS does not track expiration of passports. Does he by any chance still have an Egyptian passport? The only reason a passport (or a travel document) is needed at the time of filing N-400 is to show entry/exit stamps as proof of travel duration, but again it's not a requirement, especially if he didn't travel at all or doesnt intend to travel prior to filing for N400.

By the way, I applied for the so-called white passport (it's actually turquoise). It serves as an advance parole, a travel document or a reentry permit (they all look the same except for one line above the photo). I'm not a refugee, but I needed it because of a long story. To make it short, i was unable to renew my Egyptian passport. I applied for a reentry permit (white passport). It looks like any other passport but it says "TRAVEL DOCUMENT" on the front cover. I sent it to the Egyptian Consulate and was granted a visa to Egypt, used it to enter and exit Egypt freely until i renewed my Egyptian passport.

I'm so glad we had a revolution in Egypt. It was just about time.

[Darnell 8,478]

The foreign travel document is not tied to his Egyptian passport. (Well, it is, really, but the Egyptian Passport is the leading document, the foreign travel document depends on it, not the other way round)

IF his passport expires before anything else (ROC, USC application) is dead easy to apply for a renewal at the Egyptian Embassy/Consulate IN USA. He won't be dinged on anything occuring outside of Egypt - they will be happy to take his money, give him new passport.

IMO, let the foreign travel document expire, unless he has dire need to return to the country that issued it within the next 4 months.

s.

[Okalian 41]

IF his passport expires before anything else (ROC, USC application) is dead easy to apply for a renewal at the Egyptian Embassy/Consulate IN USA. He won't be dinged on anything occuring outside of Egypt - they will be happy to take his money, give him new passport.

I don't think you have a clue about that part

[v333k 59]

That is no issue what so ever! Once a US permanent resident - you do not need to have a valid passport or travel document from other places. Trust me because we are in the same boat. All your husband will have to deal with is the fact that if he doesn't have any passport then it will be hard to travel unless he applies for a US travel document, and that doesn't get you in some countries... other than that - it should be a smooth ride...