Traveling with Phillipines Passport (soon to expire) and US Green Card

[Moofy 1]

1 minute ago, Paul & Mary said:

Have you considered renewing her passport from the US?   We did ours from Mexico City and Mary had her new one in about 2 weeks.

I think we are going to do that - just take the trip, come back and renew. I believe we'll end up going to the Vancouver BC embassy to do it since we're in Bellingham. My understanding is we can't "mail" it anywhere. The closest embassy in the US to us is the Bay Area, but I don't want to have to pay hundreds of dollars just to fly there to renew a passport.

 

So I think Vancouver is our best option.

[Hank_ 9,173]

1 hour ago, Moofy said:

Thank you to everyone for your feedback.

Thank you Hank - so the question is will she encounter an issue coming back to the US (since her passport expires in less than 6 months) even though she has a valid Green Card? I would assume not.

 

I'm shocked how much confusion there is around all of this - in my day, things were fine until expired. Now it seems they've created all the rules no rational person could know about without discussions like this. Crazy - and unnecessary.

 

Assuming is such a bad thing       Just the same, I am with you in the thinking that because of the green card she will not have an issue, but some airlines can get very picky.

 

I would err on the side of caution.

Edited May 2, 2019 by Hank_

[payxibka 10,044]

 

To name a few 

 

 

 

Edited May 2, 2019 by payxibka

[Hank_ 9,173]

How about NO passport!!??    Do read the last paragraph, 2nd sentence just for S & Gs .    So th short answer is .. YES your wife can travel back to the USA will less than 6 months of validity on her passport.

 

And I will include links to official government website

 

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

 

 

What documents, identification, and paperwork does a Lawful Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) Green Card holder need to travel internationally?

Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) of the U.S. must present a Permanent Resident Card ("Green Card", 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.

 

United States (U.S.) LPRs do not need a passport to enter the U.S. as per 8 CFR 211.1(a), however, they may need a passport to enter another country. Please contact the embassy of the foreign country you will be traveling to for their requirements.

 

While CBP does not require the passport as noted above, the airlines may have their own requirements, please check with your airlines prior to travel. Also, travel documents for LPRs do not need to be valid for any certain amount of time. Your LPR card only needs to be valid on the day that you are entering the US.

Edited May 2, 2019 by Hank_

[payxibka 10,044]

9 minutes ago, Hank_ said:

How about NO passport!!??   

Nobody  has ever suggested to travel with NO PASSPORT.  The entire discussion has been about 6 month validity or not.

[Stevephoto 224]

7 hours ago, payxibka said:

Nobody  has ever suggested to travel with NO PASSPORT.  The entire discussion has been about 6 month validity or not.

I think the confusion--at least as I read the thread--is whether DFA would take her current passport when she applies for the new one. Some indicate that they will, some indicate they won't. However, if DFA does keep it, then she is left with no passport and I imagine that would be a bad thing

 

OP: I would suggest a visit to Vancouver after she returns. I don't mean to open another can of worms, but what does she need in order to enter Canada to visit the embassy there?

[anikkandtim 15]

I travelled to another country (Canada) with my passport expiring in 2 months, no problem coming back... the officer  at the airport (in US) told me I should come back before it expires... Going back to US, again no issue, they just checked if it’s still valid.

 

i just renewed my passport and they took mine. I explained to them that I needed it but they told me they can’t release my passport if I don’t give it back...Well I did and they sent it back along with the new one.

 

when my friend renewed it, they never took hers. I guess it will depend on the officer renewing your passport

Edited May 3, 2019 by anikkandtim

[Stevephoto 224]

21 minutes ago, anikkandtim said:

I travelled to another country (Canada) with my passport expiring in 2 months, no problem coming back... the officer  at the airport (in US) told me I should come back before it expires... Going back to US, again no issue, they just checked if it’s still valid.

 

i just renewed my passport and they took mine. I explained to them that I needed it but they told me they can’t release my passport if I don’t give it back...Well I did and they sent it back along with the new one.

 

when my friend renewed it, they never took hers. I guess it will depend on the officer renewing your passport

Thanks for the info!

[Hank_ 9,173]

Traveling to Canada is not an issue with the Philippines passport as long as the person has their Green Card.   With just the Philippine passport a visa would be needed.

[I and G 4]

On 5/2/2019 at 11:42 AM, Moofy said:

Her passport isn't expired; it expires in July. But she won't have time to wait for the new one during her trip (she's actually in PH only 11-12 days and can't get an appt until the middle of her trip). So the question is can she get her new passport and travel back to the US on her old one while we wait for them to ship the new one to our address here in the US?

 

Or does she just forego the entire passport thing and we take a trip to Vancouver when she returns? (the closest embassy)

When she renews her passport, the only way for the 'old' passport to stil be used while waiting for the new one is if choose to PICK up the new passport in person at DFA. If she chooses 'delivery' they will punch 2 holes on the passport, nullifying it.

 

So if she can still travel back to US on her July 2019 expiring passport better she dont renew her passport anymore if she cant wait for the new one to be issued and just renew it at the closest consulate when she return.

[Just Paul 4,591]

14 hours ago, I and G said:

When she renews her passport, the only way for the 'old' passport to stil be used while waiting for the new one is if choose to PICK up the new passport in person at DFA. If she chooses 'delivery' they will punch 2 holes on the passport, nullifying it.

This is the most logical answer but not what happened to Mary.  She applied at the Embassy in Mexico City and she kept the old passport and the new one was delivered.   The old, unexpired one, was not punched.

[Hank_ 9,173]

1 hour ago, Paul & Mary said:

This is the most logical answer but not what happened to Mary.  She applied at the Embassy in Mexico City and she kept the old passport and the new one was delivered.   The old, unexpired one, was not punched.

That is different.  Consulate in LA took the old passport, returning it with the new passport .. hole punched.

[treppenwitz 78]

On 5/2/2019 at 6:28 PM, Stevephoto said:

I don't mean to open another can of worms, but what does she need in order to enter Canada to visit the embassy there?

Not an issue: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp

Quote

If you fly to or transit through a Canadian airport

You need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). You don’t need a visitor visa.

An eTA:

• costs $7 CAN
• is electronically linked to your passport

Most applicants get their eTA approval (via an email) within minutes. However, some requests can take several days to process if you’re asked to submit supporting documents.

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/eta/apply.html

 

If you drive a car or arrive by train, bus or boat

You don’t need an eTA, but you need to bring the right travel documents. You don’t need a visitor visa either.

http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/travel-voyage/td-dv-eng.html

I assume OP would travel by land (or water).

[Hank_ 9,173]

5 hours ago, treppenwitz said:

Not an issue: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp

I assume OP would travel by land (or water).

OP has a green card .. nothing special is needed, to enter Canada.     Passport + green card ... have a nice day.

[treppenwitz 78]

6 hours ago, Hank_ said:

OP has a green card .. nothing special is needed, to enter Canada.     Passport + green card ... have a nice day.

Yes, since its a ~80 minute drive from OP's city to Vancouver, BC, odds are they'll drive. Thus, only a Passport + green card needed.

Let's say they lived in Portland, OR instead. An 80 minute flight and 5.5 hour drive are the top options. If they choose to fly-in then an eTA is also required: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp [Answer the following]

What document are you travelling with?

passport

Select the country code that matches the one on your passport.

PHL (Philippines)

Are you a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. and have an alien registration card (Green Card)?

Yes

You may need an eTA, depending on how you travel to Canada