I'm a US permanent resident with a valid green card, and a Greek national (although I went through immigration in the UK where we were living previously). Long story short, we have booked a 5-week vacation to Greece in July-August (which will be 14 months after I last visited) and my Greek passport expires in late April. I contacted my country's local Consulate for a passport renewal, and it turns out I may not have enough time before my trip to renew the passport through them, since they weren't able to offer me an appointment to submit my paperwork until mid-May and processing takes up to 8 weeks thereafter under normal circumstances, so we may be cutting it very tight with the trip, just days before we're due to depart, and that's not counting unforseen delays. I had no idea it could take this long through the Consulate - see, if you renew in Greece, it's done in just 3 business days.
So I was wondering what people's experiences are for leaving the US without a valid passport (I'll still have my current passport with me but it will be expired) but with a valid green card. I'll also have a valid Greek national ID card with me and my California driver's license, though I don't think they'll care. There should be no problem being admitted in Greece since I'm a national and I can present my ID card instead of passport at the POE. Then the plan is to renew the passport there as soon as we arrive (like I said, it takes just 3 business days) and so I'll be able to return to the States with a valid passport + my green card.
I'm quite confused as I spent the whole day trying to figure out if that would be a problem. TSA and the Department of State make it sound as if I should be ok as long as I have the green card (that's on their websites). I called US Airways, our airline, and they said "whatever TSA requires, we have no additional requirements, you should be fine" but the guy couldn't give a definite answer, but then their website explicitly says you need a valid passport to be allowed to board any international flight - go figure! So I'm really confused.
If anyone has any experience of traveling from the US to your home country with an expired passport but a valid green card, and whether that caused any problems boarding the flight from the USA or not, please share and advise. I'm at a loss.
Thank you!
I got a question. Were you able to leave the US and enter greece? I have the same problem, my daughters Romanian Passport is expired and we are trying to go to romania. She has a green card. We were ablr to do that 2 years ago on accident. We didnt know her passport was expired and we made it to romania without a problem, but when we tried to leave romania they didnt let us until she renewed her passport. Whe made an emergency passport thats only good for one year. Now its expired and we want to go back this summer and visit and make her a new passport there because here it cost $600 and there its only like $50.We made it without a problem last time, but people are telling me it was by mistake because no one noticed it, but I dont believe that because they see its expired when they scan it. I dont think America cares when you leave, I think they care when you return. SO were you able to leave with your expired greek passport?
Travelling internationally with an expired passport?
in Working & Traveling During US Immigration
Posted
I got a question. Were you able to leave the US and enter greece? I have the same problem, my daughters Romanian Passport is expired and we are trying to go to romania. She has a green card. We were ablr to do that 2 years ago on accident. We didnt know her passport was expired and we made it to romania without a problem, but when we tried to leave romania they didnt let us until she renewed her passport. Whe made an emergency passport thats only good for one year. Now its expired and we want to go back this summer and visit and make her a new passport there because here it cost $600 and there its only like $50.We made it without a problem last time, but people are telling me it was by mistake because no one noticed it, but I dont believe that because they see its expired when they scan it. I dont think America cares when you leave, I think they care when you return. SO were you able to leave with your expired greek passport?