Travel to Jamaica with Green Card Only

[pa12adox 1]

Hello -

I am Canadian born and have been a permanent resident over 15 years in the US. I have never had a passport and I have a vacation booked to Jamaica, for next week. I went to the Canadian Consulate in NYC yesterday and they told me that I can travel to and from Jamaica with just my Green Card, as Jamaica is one a few countries that LPR's can travel to without a passport. Also, they showed me documents stating that as a LPR, I am not required to carry a passport with me.

Has anyone had experience with this? I am just a little concerned that I may come into some trouble at the airport.

Thanks

[ginnyirishrose 16]

As long as you don't have a expired Canadian passport you'll just need your green card and my ex was Argentine. . AArgentina made him stay him in his country four months because he came in on expired passport and he couldn't leave until immigration in Argentina verified he didn't commit a crime in this country then let him go back to the United States

You should bring your Canadian passport and your green card

[pa12adox 1]

As long as you don't have a expired Canadian passport you'll just need your green card and my ex was Argentine. . AArgentina made him stay him in his country four months because he came in on expired passport and he couldn't leave until immigration in Argentina verified he didn't commit a crime in this country then let him go back to the United States

I do not have a Canadian passport, so that will not be an issue. The Consulate told me not to tell them I don't have a passport, but just that I am travelling as a LPR.

Thanks

[Hypnos 6,576]

http://www.embassyofjamaica.org/VISnorthamericanvisitors.htm

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1191/~/traveling-outside-of-the-u.s.---documents-needed-for-lawful-permanent-residents

Both of these indicate that you do not need a passport to enter Jamaica as an LPR or to re-enter the US as an LPR.

Edited July 18, 2015 by Hypnos

[Lemonslice 4,886]

Also check with the airline as some are more stringent than what the country requirements are...

[LionessDeon 2,060]

I am a USC and I need a passport to travel to JA. I've been there 5x recently and just took my sons there earlier this month. They asked for passports every time both arriving and departing.

Maybe a green card takes the place of a passport?

Edited July 18, 2015 by LionessDeon

[Hypnos 6,576]

From the link I posted above, US citizens require a passport to enter Jamaica; LPRs do not.

[pa12adox 1]

Also check with the airline as some are more stringent than what the country requirements are...

Yes, I called my airlines United and they told me it is fine...I just wanted to see if anyone else had experience with this as everyone always stated you must have passport for flight outside of US. For years I was always driving to Canada, but I could have just flown there

http://www.embassyofjamaica.org/VISnorthamericanvisitors.htm

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1191/~/traveling-outside-of-the-u.s.---documents-needed-for-lawful-permanent-residents

Both of these indicate that you do not need a passport to enter Jamaica as an LPR or to re-enter the US as an LPR.

Got it, thanks

[pa12adox 1]

What will happen when I land in Jamaica? They will not have a passport to stamp, is that going to be ok?

[Lemonslice 4,886]

What will happen when I land in Jamaica? They will not have a passport to stamp, is that going to be ok?

No idea. Some countries stamp your entry on a separate sheet (some Americans visiting Cuba through Canada for examples) Which airline are you flying?

[pa12adox 1]

No idea. Some countries stamp your entry on a separate sheet (some Americans visiting Cuba through Canada for examples) Which airline are you flying?

I am flying United. I spoke with a supervisor there yesterday and they confirmed that I can fly to and from Jamaica with just my green card(still surprised about this).

I didn't ask them what happens when I land there, but I know when you drive over the border to Canada they don't stamp anything if you use green card. I guess I'm just overly concerned due to the amount of people who say you must have a passport to leave the country.

[Lemonslice 4,886]

Well let us know how it goes, I'm curious.

[Hypnos 6,576]

American citizens need a passport to exit the US legally.

[Hardfacts123 50]

The Jamaican government has no obligation to offer you entry into their country if they feel that you do not have clear documentation to validate who you are. In most countries a valid passport is an acceptable document. The US government green card is a documentation that is supplied by the US government. Jamaica is an independent country that has it's own solvent laws. In saying this, before you proceed to land upon their shores, it would be in your best interest to contact the Jamaican POE to asked the question if you arrive upon their shores will they allow you entry without a valid passport, and if they would accept a green card issued by another country in lieu of a passport.

[Hypnos 6,576]

Or you could read the official links that I already posted.