Bad Experience At Sfo, I Need Your Help

[John Smith 1]

Expired NP is worthless to them. Show NP and dont show RP. Any reason for you to use RP? The only reason I use RP is because the German Embassy won't issue a visa on NP(since I have a affadiavit of support from family members which says its for RP)

dear WANT:

in the last 5 years i was traveling 3 to 4 times a year, all over the world,

do i need to list all my trips on the the citizenship application,

is the officer is going to match all the stamps on my RP and NP,

I CANT REMEMBER the dates of my flights because i travel alot to different countries, plus i mailed all my expired TRAVEL DOCUMENTS,


DO I NEED TO MENTION ABOUT MY TRIPS BEFORE I GOT GREEN CARD,

I GOT THE FEELING MY INTERVIEW WILL BE VERY CONFUSING TO THE OFFICER ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU TRAVEL 3 TO 4 TIMES A YEAR OUTSIDE THE USA

 

[rustik]

I had applied for RTD and got one through senator's help. It was really hard and then, what a headache to get the visas...

Since I have to travel for work I decided to try to apply for NP. I really didn't know if it would work out well. But it did and I got NP.

So I have two valid documents but use only NP since i got one. Do you think it will be a problem? I didn't lie. When I applied for RTD I didn't apply for NP yet. Only later.

It was really a nessesity. For example, I have to go to Japan in July and RTD is already expired. Or I wouldn't get a Shengen visa to RTD now since it will be expired in less than three months.

 

[wantmygcnow]

dear WANT:

in the last 5 years i was traveling 3 to 4 times a year, all over the world,

do i need to list all my trips on the the citizenship application,

is the officer is going to match all the stamps on my RP and NP,

I CANT REMEMBER the dates of my flights because i travel alot to different countries, plus i mailed all my expired TRAVEL DOCUMENTS,


DO I NEED TO MENTION ABOUT MY TRIPS BEFORE I GOT GREEN CARD,

I GOT THE FEELING MY INTERVIEW WILL BE VERY CONFUSING TO THE OFFICER ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU TRAVEL 3 TO 4 TIMES A YEAR OUTSIDE THE USA

I travel 5-6 times per year so my officer will be more confused lol. YOu need to mention all trips since "resident since" date on your GC. By the time you get to your interview, they already know how many times you entered U.S and stuff like that....as to the officer matching all your trips listed on ur application to your NP/RP..it really depends on the officer.

When i got my gc, I printed out the N400 and have started to list all trips since my "resident since" date. I have also kept every ticket stub and other evidence, just in case.

John, you should start to list your trips and dont leave anything out. If you don't have any ticket stubs, call the airline and usually they can provide you the info(up to past 3 years).

 

[wantmygcnow]

So I have two valid documents but use only NP since i got one. Do you think it will be a problem? I didn't lie. When I applied for RTD I didn't apply for NP yet. Only later.

Its ok. As long as you dont travel on a RTD and come back to show your NP.

 

[John Smith 1]

I travel 5-6 times per year so my officer will be more confused lol. YOu need to mention all trips since "resident since" date on your GC. By the time you get to your interview, they already know how many times you entered U.S and stuff like that....as to the officer matching all your trips listed on ur application to your NP/RP..it really depends on the officer.

When i got my gc, I printed out the N400 and have started to list all trips since my "resident since" date. I have also kept every ticket stub and other evidence, just in case.

John, you should start to list your trips and dont leave anything out. If you don't have any ticket stubs, call the airline and usually they can provide you the info(up to past 3 years).

DEAR WANT:

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ADVICE, I WILL START CALLING AIRLINES
FROM TOMMORROW

 

[Paramvir1]

mr. john smith
why are u worrying so much..?
just hire a lawer when applying for citizenship.that's all.he will take care of these small things.the biggest thing ever was to get your asylum application approved.after that everything is piece of cake,( just no bad record).be honest.respect and abide laws.that's all.
so chill.!
enjoy your travel.

 

[Minsk]

Expired NP is worthless to them. Show NP and dont show RP. Any reason for you to use RP? The only reason I use RP is because the German Embassy won't issue a visa on NP(since I have a affadiavit of support from family members which says its for RP)

I was thinking I could apply for RP which is valid for 2 years and then not to be worried about all this USCIS crap till my naturalization interview. Now I will have to use my RP when traveling overseas since my NP is already expired.

 

[vdostoi1]

HELLO everybody:

i just came back from japan, i went for 2 weeks vacation,

when i arrive at SFO, i went through immigration line, i gave my GC and
my RE ENTRY DOCUMENT to the officer, he was very nasty, he asked me about my NP, I TOLD HIM I DONT HAVE IT , I USED MY TRAVEL DOCUMENT WHEN I LEFT USA AND WENT TO JAPAN, HE ASKED ME WHY I DONT HAVE NP
I SAID IAM ASYLEE,

HE PUT SOME NOTICE ON HIS SCREEN AND REFERRED ME TO SECOND INSPECTION,

I WENT TO SECOND INSPECTION, IT WAS VERY EASY, I GAVE THEM MY RE ENTRY DOCUMENT AMD MY GREEN CARD, THE OFFICER STAMPED MT RP DOCUMENT AND LET ME GO,

BEFORE I LEAVE I ASKED HIM IF THERE IS ANY PROBLEMS, HE SAID DONT WORRY, THEY SENT YOU FOR SECOND INSPECTION BECAUSE YOU USE TRAVEL DOCUMENT

MY QUESTIONS ARE

DO I NEED TO WORRY BECAUSE THE FIRST OFFICER PUT NOTICE ON HIS SCREEN,

WILL ANY THING AFFECT MY NATURALIZATION INTERVIEW NEXT YEAR,

DURING THE CITIZENSHIP INTERVIEW WILL I NEED TO SHOW THEM MY NP

BECAUSE THE FACT IS I HAVE NP

Don't worry. The EXACT thing happened to me in Newark in 2006. You don't need to worry. I believe the notation made on the screen is for the second inspecting officer to know why you have been referred to secondary. When I arrived, I presented my RTD + GC.

 

[LolaLi]

In the Naturalization Guide I haven't found on the documents checklist anything saying about bringing all the travel documents obtained and used in the past. Am I missing something?

Yes - you are missing the actual interview letter. The interview letter for your citizenship or naturalization application will have a list of documents you must bring with you. And for the record, they are interested mainly in the last 5 years that you have been a PR. However, Immigration Officers have the right to go as far back as they want since during your citizenship interview (or process) your entire immigration journey/file can be scrutinized.

 

[LolaLi]

If at the citizenship time you tell the officer you are an asylee..he will say why are you here then? You are a Permanent Resident. You got your PR through asylum but you are not an asylee according to the law books.

Wantmygcnow -

I don't want to argue with you since your intentions on this board are good and you tend to help others out.

However, I have to step in her and tell you that you are misinforming others regarding the use of NP when you have derived the GC via asylum. You have misinterpreted my point. At the citizenship interview you would NOT tell the IO that you are an asylee - you would however need to remind the IO that you derived your PR status via asylum. And according to the law books this makes a HUGE difference.

I know what I am talking about - I just went through my citizenship interview. And believe me when I tell you that not having + not using a NP is going to come up and this is when you HAVE to mention your prior asylee status. In addition, using your NP and going back to your COP will come up if the IO sees you are an asylee - so you will need an explanation then as well. I was asked specific questions regarding my asylum status - so although I am a GC holder - I will always be an asylee according to the law as to how I derived the permanent resident status.

 

[thankful]

Thank you for this post. You are correct. The officer would not be doing her job she did not look into how you got your greencard and if you did anything inconsistent with your status.

Wantmygcnow -

I don't want to argue with you since your intentions on this board are good and you tend to help others out.

However, I have to step in her and tell you that you are misinforming others regarding the use of NP when you have derived the GC via asylum. You have misinterpreted my point. At the citizenship interview you would NOT tell the IO that you are an asylee - you would however need to remind the IO that you derived your PR status via asylum. And according to the law books this makes a HUGE difference.

I know what I am talking about - I just went through my citizenship interview. And believe me when I tell you that not having + not using a NP is going to come up and this is when you HAVE to mention your prior asylee status. In addition, using your NP and going back to your COP will come up if the IO sees you are an asylee - so you will need an explanation then as well. I was asked specific questions regarding my asylum status - so although I am a GC holder - I will always be an asylee according to the law as to how I derived the permanent resident status.

 

[thankful]

"RP is supposed to be ONLY used if you are out of country for more than 6 months"????? what?

I am sorry but the above statement is not correct. One of the main purposes of the RP is to be used as a passport by green card holders who for whatever reason cannot have a passport or do not wish to use one.

RP is supposed to be ONLY used if you are out of country for more than 6 months. Immigration officers job at the POE is to make sure you are admisable per the immigrations laws. When you show the RP, the officer wants to know why? because he is trained to see it only for PRs who have been out for more than 6 months.

When you show a RP, he either thinks a)You have been out of country for more than what you wrote on your customs form or b) You are not who you are because for them if you can't obtain a NP, it means your identity is in question.

If you were to be using a RTD, then you can say that ok I was an EX-ASYLEE and I don't want to use my NP. But with RP, you have to use the NP because RP's meaning is something other than what can a RTD be used for.

If you have a NP, there is no reason to lie or hide it. Its not really hard for them to find out so why create unnecessary problems?

You are a Permanent Resident and you can travel with your NP without any problems.

As when it comes to U.S Citizenship interview, they will only frown on it, if you show that your green card(through asylee status) was obtained fraudently. For instance, you visit your COP even if the conditions in country are the same or for instance, you are working for the same government you said was persecuting you...Obvious cases like that.

 

[wantmygcnow]

"RP is supposed to be ONLY used if you are out of country for more than 6 months"????? what?

I am sorry but the above statement is not correct. One of the main purposes of the RP is to be used as a passport by green card holders who for whatever reason cannot have a passport or do not wish to use one.

Thankful, true in certain sense what you are saying, however, for an officer a RP is shown when you are out of the country for more than 6 months. All 4 officers that processed me this year told me that.

Re-entry Permit - A reentry permit allows a permanent resident or conditional resident to apply for admission to the United States upon returning from abroad during the permit's validity, without having to obtain a returning resident visa from a U.S. Embassy or consulate.

"Re-entry Permit: Permission to enter into United States after extended stay abroad."

 

[wantmygcnow]

Wantmygcnow -

I don't want to argue with you since your intentions on this board are good and you tend to help others out.

However, I have to step in her and tell you that you are misinforming others regarding the use of NP when you have derived the GC via asylum. You have misinterpreted my point. At the citizenship interview you would NOT tell the IO that you are an asylee - you would however need to remind the IO that you derived your PR status via asylum. And according to the law books this makes a HUGE difference.

I know what I am talking about - I just went through my citizenship interview. And believe me when I tell you that not having + not using a NP is going to come up and this is when you HAVE to mention your prior asylee status. In addition, using your NP and going back to your COP will come up if the IO sees you are an asylee - so you will need an explanation then as well. I was asked specific questions regarding my asylum status - so although I am a GC holder - I will always be an asylee according to the law as to how I derived the permanent resident status.

Lolali,

Thanks for the info. Can you please tell us what happened at your interview because lot of us want to know and few ex-asylees have shared their experiences.

My questions are:

1. Did the officer ask about the way you went abroad(which passport you used, or rp?)

2. Were you asked about your asylum? and if you were still persecuted?

3. Anything about NP?

Please let us know so we are informed.

 

[cafeconleche]

Hmm, I'm getting worried about re-entering the country with a Re-Entry Permit now. Is it more of an issue to use a Re-Entry Permit than a Refugee Travel Document? Also, will it be a problem if I left the country with a Refugee Travel Document, but re-enter with a Re-Entry Permit?

 

[thankful]

Hmm, I'm getting worried about re-entering the country with a Re-Entry Permit now. Is it more of an issue to use a Re-Entry Permit than a Refugee Travel Document? Also, will it be a problem if I left the country with a Refugee Travel Document, but re-enter with a Re-Entry Permit?

Do not worry. It will be fine.

 

[vdostoi1]

Lolali,

Thanks for the info. Can you please tell us what happened at your interview because lot of us want to know and few ex-asylees have shared their experiences.

My questions are:

1. Did the officer ask about the way you went abroad(which passport you used, or rp?)

2. Were you asked about your asylum? and if you were still persecuted?

3. Anything about NP?

Please let us know so we are informed.

See here...This may help.

My friend who received her GC through asylum was not asked a single question about using the NP. She always traveled using the NP and the interviewing officer looked at her passport but did not ask a single question. She passed the interview with flying colors. No questions asked about her asylum either.

 

[LolaLi]

See here...This may help.

My friend who received her GC through asylum was not asked a single question about using the NP. She always traveled using the NP and the interviewing officer looked at her passport but did not ask a single question. She passed the interview with flying colors. No questions asked about her asylum either.

Your friend was not a standard case. I am not saying it is NOT okay to travel with the NP, but it will come up for most asylee and refugee based citizenship applications. Also this depends on the interviewing officer and how familiar they are with the law. I have realized that asylee and refugee processes is unfamiliar territory for most officers because - despite what we think - we are in the minority in terms on how GCs and residency is obtained.

 

[comcast]

Just to clarify: I was never sent to secondary when I used a RP or a RTD.

 

[GrassRoot]

What if the NP was lost before the citizenship interview?

LOlali:

What if the NP can not be found during CZ interview ? The NP was never used in the last 5 yrs.

Hi PM -

This is why Asylees should not be switching between NP and RTD/RP. I consider myself stateless therefore I would never use my NP. At the time of the interview you would mention you are an asylee and that you do not use your NP. But I think IOs would want to see one if you have one. So in the example you mention above, I can't think of what an applicant could possible say to justify picking and choosing when they use their NP versus an RTD/RP.