What are the rules for traveling outside the United States on a green card?

Answer 1

When lawful permanent residents seek to reenter the United States, they are actually applying for admission as special immigrants. This seems strange, given the fact that these aliens have already been lawfully admitted for permanent residence. However, this legal concept is necessary since every entering alien is considered an immigrant unless he or she can show entitlement to nonimmigrant status. Returning residents are not subject to any numerical restrictions, are relieved of certain documentary requirements and may, in some cases, obtain a waiver of certain grounds of excludability. Nevertheless, resident aliens have no vested interest which assures them a right to return if they depart from the United States. Requirements for Returning Residents According to

Answer 2

>>No. A Green Card is not an accepted travel document. You need a valid passport and/or visa.

Generally speaking that is correct.

However, at the time of writing, February 2010, if you are travelling to Canada then a green card is acceptable and a passport is not required, at least for UK citizens. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it though as many of the people working airports and Immigration do not understand the rules. Your mileage may vary, so read on. This is basically the same law that allows military staff to travel under orders on a military ID card.

It is a common misconception that a passport is now required, but that rule applies to US citizens. The rules are rather confusing, and it's best if you check your requirements here, specifically check based upon your current citizenship :

http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations/plan_flight/international_travel_information/visa_passport_information/index.jsp

In the even that you are travelling to Canada, make sure you print out and understand what is being said, including the TIRULES/R9.

In English, the rules for travel to Canada basically say this, in this order.

1. You must have a passport unless you have an exemption.

2. If departing from the USA, per TIRULES/R9, you MUST have a passport OR an accepted departure document, even if you have an exemption.

3. You do not need a passport if you have a green card.

But TIRULES/R9 states that TIRULES/R9 does not apply to green card holders. So rule 3 DOES remain in effect, ie. if you have a green card you do not need a passport. QED.

The real meaning of all this nonsense is that USA citizens DO need a passport, but non-citizen resident aliens do not. I believe this was brought into effect to close an old loophole whereby anyone with a driver's licence could travel.

The level of confusion is high enough that you may hit problems when checking in, boarding the plane, and going through Canadian immigration control. That was my experience recently (January 2010), but in the end I was allowed to travel and enter the country on my green card alone. I did take along my expired UK passport though, which seemed to help smooth things out (although as far as I can see it didn't make an official difference). Returning to the USA was not a problem at all, and nobody so much as raised an eyebrow.

Answer 3

Make sure you have a RE-ENTRY visa before stepping outside the USA. Otherwise you will NOT BE ALLOWED to re-enter!