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Does a lawful permanent resident of the United States need a passport to enter the U.S.?

By October 10, 2022Immigration
Passport and international currency

One of the common assumptions about U.S. immigration law is that a person needs a passport to enter the U.S. However, this is not always the case, as we see in the example of those who are lawful permanent residents of the United States – in other words, those who have a green card.

Does a lawful permanent resident of the United States need a passport to enter the U.S.?

No. According to U.S. immigration law, a lawful permanent resident of the United States does not need a passport to enter the U.S. Instead, a permanent resident can present their unexpired permanent resident card (green card) or their unexpired immigrant visa for entry to the U.S.

There are several additional forms of accepted documentation that a lawful permanent resident can present in place of a passport when entering the U.S. – these are listed at 8 CFR 211.1(a).

My green card is about to expire. Is it still acceptable for me to use it to enter the U.S. without a passport?

Yes. As long as your green card is valid on the day that you are entering the U.S., it is acceptable for entry into the U.S. Travel documents for lawful permanent residents do not need to be valid for any specific period of time, as long as they are valid on the day of entry.

Can an airline require different documents for permanent residents entering the U.S.?

Yes. It is possible that the airline you use to fly to the U.S. can have stricter documentation requirements than the U.S. government. For this reason, it is always a good idea to contact your airline before your travel date to confirm what documentation they will accept.

I am a U.S. lawful permanent resident and plan to visit another country after leaving the U.S. Will I need a passport to do so?

It is important to remember that other countries that you plan to visit after departing from the U.S. have their own documentation requirements for entry. As a result, we recommend checking with the embassy of any countries you plan to visit to ensure that you understand whether they require a valid passport or any other documentation for entry.

One such scenario is a cruise that departs from the U.S. and visits other countries. For a more extensive post on this topic, please see here.

I have applied for a green card but have not yet received it. Do I need my passport to travel?

Yes. Those who have applied for but have not yet received a green card may be required to present their passport (as well as additional documentation, such as a visa) for entry to the U.S. Additionally, those planning to travel while their green card application is pending should see our earlier post on advance parole here, since a pending green card application may be abandoned by traveling outside the U.S.

I am a lawful permanent resident who has been outside the U.S. for an extended period of time. Can I enter the U.S. without a passport?

Lawful permanent residents should be mindful of the amount of time they spend outside the U.S. Those who spend more than six months outside the U.S. may face additional scrutiny when entering the U.S. For more information about this topic, the continuous residence requirement, and how to maintain a green card, please see here.

Similarly, those permanent residents who require a waiver may need to present additional documentation when seeking to enter the U.S. For more information on waivers, please see here.

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