GC Holder versus travel back home

[afridust]

Hello all,

Please can anyone help me with information regarding the following situation:

I am a Greencard holder since 2007 after successfully receiving asylum from my home country. My wife's mother is critically ill, and we desire God willing to visit her. We no longer have passports from our country of origin, and would like to know if it is at all possible to travel home for the purpose of visiting my wife's mother.

I fully understand that such requests are made daily, and that sometimes they are not genuine, however we truly are in a dilemma. Since we started our application for asylum, both my parents passed away, and I was unable to be with them and now the situation is repeating with my wife's parents.

Any advice with our request for information will be sincerely appreciated.

Thank you!

[godisgoodtome]

First of all isn't it illegal for an immigrant or non-immigrant to be in the US without a valid passport from atleast a country other than the US? If you have a passport from another country other than your home country, then you will have to apply for a visa to go to your home country.
On the other hand, there must be an embassey of your country in DC or NEWyork or Atlanta, where you can apply for a new passport, renewal or replacement, and then travel with that.
Goodluck.

[afridust]

Our passports from our home country have expired and the embassy here in DC states that for renewals we need documents from our home country, and there is no possible way of getting them. My country is currently in a political upheaval. That is why we came here on asylum.

[godisgoodtome]

Originally Posted by afridust

Our passports from our home country have expired and the embassy here in DC states that for renewals we need documents from our home country, and there is no possible way of getting them. My country is currently in a political upheaval. That is why we came here on asylum.

Then you definitelly need to talk to USCIS and ask them for waivers or something you guys can do about passports. Because I can say that when you leave that aiport and try to come back in, without a passport, the IO there will not let you guys in without some documentation form USCIS.
So contact USCISand ask what you can do.
I mean if your consulate here in the States can not provide you guys the passort knowing the status of your country, my guess is USCIS might not be able to help either, but hey, you never know until you try.
So call them tomorrow and go from there.
Goodluck.

[sotiredofwaiting]

The re-entry permit is also used as a travel document that replaces passport.
With the caveat that you probably will have to obtain visa for every single country you want to go to. Oh, and not every country recognizes it, I think.

[GotPR?]

You need to get RTD or Reentry Permit.
http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-131instr.pdf

For more details, you had better ask in asylum section on this board.

Good luck.

[GCman2005]

What is more important citizenship (or loosing GC) or visiting a sick family member ????
define your priorities.

[Jackolantern]

Originally Posted by godisgoodtome

First of all isn't it illegal for an immigrant or non-immigrant to be in the US without a valid passport from atleast a country other than the US?

Green card holders are not required to have a passport or travel document to remain in the US.

However, it is a big no-no if somebody who was granted asylum in the US goes back to visit the same country they escaped from. The green card may be revoked for doing so.

[Triple Citizen]

You are confident your country will let you in when you travel on a RTD?
What about the fear of persecution that you fled from? Has there been a change in circumstances in your country that the threat has subsided?

Originally Posted by afridust

Our passports from our home country have expired and the embassy here in DC states that for renewals we need documents from our home country, and there is no possible way of getting them. My country is currently in a political upheaval. That is why we came here on asylum.

[afridust]

Originally Posted by GCman2005

What is more important citizenship (or loosing GC) or visiting a sick family member ????
define your priorities.

I don't fully understand your statement. I lost both my parents while my asylum status was pending, and if you come from a close knit family that has been destroyed through political adversity and strewn across the globe, surely family would rank at the top of any priority?

I was unable to see both my parents before they passed away, and the agony of the loss was immense and I wish no such emotional stress and anxiety upon anyone. So...given previous experience we have had to make it a priority to visit my wife's Mom as she has suffered a stroke. I hope that indicates the level of importance versus risk involved in prioritizing family above status.

Thank you.

[afridust]

Originally Posted by Triple Citizen

You are confident your country will let you in when you travel on a RTD?
What about the fear of persecution that you fled from? Has there been a change in circumstances in your country that the threat has subsided?

No I am not confident to be honest. The country I hail from is at deep odds with the west, and so any potential problem can arise from going back. The situation looked set to change late last year, but the circumstances have not really changed enough to ensure safe passage for people entering the country.

[Triple Citizen]

Your country may be at odds with the west, but what I want to know is why would you, you the person, be in danger there when visiting your mother-in-law? If the justification of your ayslum case is still valid, why are you even going back? I assume you are the principle asylee and not a derivative asylee.

Originally Posted by afridust

No I am not confident to be honest. The country I hail from is at deep odds with the west, and so any potential problem can arise from going back.

[afridust]

Originally Posted by Triple Citizen

Your country may be at odds with the west, but what I want to know is why would you, you the person, be in danger there when visiting your mother-in-law? If the justification of your ayslum case is still valid, why are you even going back? I assume you are the principle asylee and not a derivative asylee.

I might be in danger for a number of reasons, obviously I am not at liberty to discuss details across this platform, but from a political and ethnic base it might be dangerous. I am the principle asylee for my family. The justification of my asylum is still very much valid, however due to the loss we have experience as mention above, it is rather imperative we visit based on the grounds of a possible passing of family.

[Triple Citizen]

At the end of the day, you need to make that call. For example, if you were an MQM snipper with a warrant out for you, no reason justifies you even thinking about going back to visit your mother-in-law.

Originally Posted by afridust

but from a political and ethnic base it might be dangerous. I am the principle asylee for my family.

[afridust]

Originally Posted by Triple Citizen

At the end of the day, you need to make that call. For example, if you were an MQM snipper with a warrant out for you, no reason justifies you even thinking about going back to visit your mother-in-law.

I concur, based on that extreme example it would be unwise. My involvement was not as drastic as that, and therefore the risk is probably not as intense. t is a difficult call, but I reallyjust need to know what would be the first step - should I go down to my local INS Office and present them with the same question perhaps?

[Triple Citizen]

You want USCIS to advise you whether or not you should visit your COP?
No offence, that is an extremely dumb idea. Visiting your COP is an issue that can cause pain when seeking US citizenship years down the road.

Originally Posted by afridust

should I go down to my local INS Office and present them with the same question perhaps?

[afridust]

Originally Posted by Triple Citizen

You want USCIS to advise you whether or not you should visit your COP?
No offence, that is an extremely dumb idea. Visiting your COP is an issue that can cause pain when seeking US citizenship years down the road.

No offense taken at all, I am objective in this dilemma, and have to seek out every possible avenue, and if at the end of the day it is clearly a no go, then I must accept this situation. I had thought perhaps of obtaining an RTD and visiting a neighboring country and somehow arranging for the family to visit us there, but that is such a long stretch of the imagination...none of this is easy at all.

I still welcome any advice.

[Triple Citizen]

Your COP is not friendly with its eastern neighbor and the US is not friendly with your COP's western neighbor. You have really painted yourself into a corner here. Choose wisely and I wish you good luck!!!

Originally Posted by afridust

I had thought perhaps of obtaining an RTD and visiting a neighboring country and somehow arranging for the family to visit us there, but that is such a long stretch of the imagination...none of this is easy at all.

[afridust]

Originally Posted by Triple Citizen

Your COP is not friendly with its eastern neighbor and the US is not friendly with your COP's western neighbor. You have really painted yourself into a corner here. Choose wisely and I wish you good luck!!!

I know it sounds awful, but facts cannot be denied, remember all of us at some point have through various circumstances fled from our COP in order to find freedom, and to my knowledge none of us intentionally took on the dangers of becoming persecuted by our own free will, and were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. We have a tremendous opportunity to be here, and not 'there'., and when life throws curve ball such as illness and death, it creates a platform of extreme desire to be with loved ones, if it is impossible so be it. If there is however a way to make it happen then that avenue ought to be exploited for the common good. Thanks again!

I see you love cricket! So do I....miss it being over here tough !

[Jackolantern]

Apparently you don't want to keep your green card. Going back to the same country you fled is inconsistent with keeping a green card based on asylum.

[afridust]

Originally Posted by Jackolantern

Apparently you don't want to keep your green card. Going back to the same country you fled is inconsistent with keeping a green card based on asylum.

Please read my previous post...and I quote "We have a tremendous opportunity to be here, and not 'there'., and when life throws curve ball such as illness and death, it creates a platform of extreme desire to be with loved ones, if it is impossible so be it."

If it is not possible then I accept that virtue. I was merely asking a question, and covering it from every possible angle. Thank you for your comments.

[GotPR?]

Again, ask in asylum section. USCIS probably is not that much inhumane to accuse you visiting COP to see a sick family member one last time.

You have a few road blocks to clear.
First, you should get travel documents, which may take a few months. No idea that time frame is acceptable to you. if not, you have to expedite.
Second, if you use RTD, you need to clarify that the country you will visit accepts the entry of their own citizen who fled. There are different circumstances which may affect this, so ask in asylum section.
Third, if you use Reentry permit, make sure that they recognize Reentry permit as a substitution of passport.

[Jackolantern]

Originally Posted by GotPR?

Again, ask in asylum section. USCIS probably is not that much inhumane to accuse you visiting COP to see a sick family member one last time.

They are that inhumane. And worse.

[GotPR?]

Originally Posted by Jackolantern

They are that inhumane. And worse.

I know you hate them, but don't bring your subjective opinion here.

[Jackolantern]

Originally Posted by GotPR?

I know you hate them, but don't bring your subjective opinion here.

If you can post your subjective opinion (about them not being inhumane), I can post mine as well.

[GotPR?]

Originally Posted by Jackolantern

If you can post your subjective opinion (about them not being inhumane), I can post mine as well.

That's too bad that someone slammed the door to the face of poor people by saying "Apparently you don't want to keep your green card".
If USCIS is inhumane place, you could be a great officer there.

[GCman2005]

Most of the time, I do not agree with Jackolantern, but this time, I do.
You want to go in country that you claim that you might die if you go, and you think it is ok to go because a parent is dying. Should I understand, that because of a sick parent, you are allow to visit. Sorry, this isnt the way political asylum is working my friend. Like I said ealier, define what is more important for you.

[Triple Citizen]

I have DirecTV. Plenty of Cricket coverage

Originally Posted by afridust

I see you love cricket! So do I....miss it being over here tough !

[tnwalker]

Throwing my 2 cents here. I know nothing of the immigration process. I got my greencard through work.

But I would presume for asylum, you are stating that your life is in danger if you go back? So they give you a greencard. But if you go back to visit your mother-in-law, then yes you will face tough questions. USCIS is human. The officer/judge probably does not know anything about your country first hand. Just what he read and his/her personal experience dealing with thousands of fraud cases. All they know is two years ago you got your greencard based on the fear your life is in danger and now you ar egoing back to visit a sick relative. That is all they have to go on-how it turns out-probably depends on that local officer.

But you have three years more-get your citizenship and then you are free as a bird. It is tough-death is final-but so are a lot of choices we make. Good luck.

[Triple Citizen]

You have hit the nail on the head. It is sad to admit but the truth is that thousands from my country of birth, Pakistan, have successfully sought asylum in the US using fraud. Cooked up evidence and fraudulent fear of persecution. That results in tougher rules and regulations for the minority of genuine asylum seekers.

Originally Posted by tnwalker

The officer/judge probably does not know anything about your country first hand. Just what he read and his/her personal experience dealing with thousands of fraud cases.