Question about Refugee Travel Document

J

johnathan

Registered Users (C)
Hi there my fellow asylees!!!
I've got couple of questions regarding travel with Refugee Travel Document:
1. Do you have to bring any supportive documents e.g. letter from embassy when you check in at the airport that shows that you do not need a visa (in my case I am intending to travel to Germany) just in case that airline representative(s) is (are) not aware of this rule?
2. How does a new document look like? Does it still say Refugee Travel Document on the front page ? I am asking because I heard that the USCIS has changed the look of the document and it does not say Refugee Travel Document anymore on the front page. If this is true , where does it say it is Refugee Travel Document so you can show to immigration officers in Germany?
I also heard it is changed in color? If so which color is it now? Used to be light blue I believe.
Any personal experiences or information would be greatly appreciated!
Thank You
Johnathan
 
i can answer u the second question
its green now...it does not show your asylee status on the cover, but it does say asylum status on the first page of the cover.. :rolleyes:
 
I strongly advise you to clear your travel WITH THE AIRLINE before day of travel. Last summer, on Delta, they tortured me for 2 hours, asked for national passport in addition (IDIOTS, clearly I don't have one, but apparently a lot of other refugees/asylees do)...they did not have a field in the computer to check of, as RTD says "This is not a United States passport". I had the letter from the German consulate and everything...almost missed the plane.
 
First of all thanx a bunch for your time that you took to reply.
Espressojoy as I could read from your post you had some issues with Delta personel about your trip with Refugee Travel Document. Well I am kind of worried that same thing could happened to me (that's why I raised the question in first place). So if you don't mind I would ask for an advice: should I call the airline and explain situation or write them an email ? Do you think they (agents who answer phone calls) would know about this type of situation? Or how else could I find out about this "issue"?
Also could you post how your "situation" was solved? I know you got on board at the end , but what made them finally let you on?
I'd appreciate if you could answer this
again thanx again for your help
Johnathan
 
I will be applying for my RTD this will be the first time. I have a few questions that I need help with.

1. I arrived the US legally and then became out of status for almost for 1 year as I was in removal procedings. But was granted asylum now do I apply for RTD or AP.

2. Can I submit grant of asylum letter issued by the judge as proof of asylee status instead of a I-94.

Please advise thanks

Ed
 
Ed, I think you'd better post your question undera new thread, with the appropriate title (I am afraid people won't go to this one because it is about smt else). sorry I can't help you.

Jonathan, it was so so so complicated, that all I can do is send you the letter I subsequently wrote to Delta in a private message, which I will do on Monday, from work (don't have a copy on me right now). Just quickly: someone in Atlanta (I was changing planes there) called the German consulate and luckily they picked up and knew the answer. I was meanwhile insulted, humiliated and all the rest for 2 hrs.

I don't think you should rely on customer reps on the phone at all. I think that you should, if you have time, write them a formal letter, with a return receipt notice. Also, if you can at all, go to the airline office, or the airport.

I really hope you'll have better luck than me though.
 
jonathan,dont worry ,you are fine

i travel 3 times a year for the last 6 years,i always use RTD,

Iam asylee like you with pending green card case,

you dont need to bring any paper with you to the airport,

RTD is a legetimate document,everybody know it,

im just came back from vaction to japan,i was granted visa to japan in less than week,

dont stress too much
 
Look, good for you, but I don't see how you can say "don't worry" because clearly, after what happened to me, there could be reasons to worry. It doesn't happen always, but bottom line is, if it does happen, you are pretty much screwed. Be safe, Jonathan, and clear your travel with the airline.
 
EspressoJoy said:
I strongly advise you to clear your travel WITH THE AIRLINE before day of travel. Last summer, on Delta, they tortured me for 2 hours, asked for national passport in addition (IDIOTS, clearly I don't have one, but apparently a lot of other refugees/asylees do)...they did not have a field in the computer to check of, as RTD says "This is not a United States passport". I had the letter from the German consulate and everything...almost missed the plane.
Click to expand...

I have a similar story. British Airways tortured me and my wife at Philadelphia airport for couple of hours saying that I need a transit VISA to travel to trough England. After getting a supervisors supervisor we found a book with rules and regulations which stated that refugees and asylees of US do not need transit visa to England.

That was a good advise to check everything before the trip and obtain supportive documents.
 
EspressoJoy said:
Look, good for you, but I don't see how you can say "don't worry" because clearly, after what happened to me, there could be reasons to worry. It doesn't happen always, but bottom line is, if it does happen, you are pretty much screwed. Be safe, Jonathan, and clear your travel with the airline.
Click to expand...

same bad experience happened to me twice with continental ( rudest emplyees ever). they wanted to see my national passport instead of rtd, which i didn't have. i was pissed called them ignorants...then spoke to their supervisor. she was as stuborn as the other. i ask them to inquiry with other cities more aware of the rtd. noway jose! i had to call my lawyer and put him in line with the stupid supervisor with whom he exchanged few words with her, then finaly she gave up and let me board. but guess what? they made me miss my flight then they put me on another flight a misconnection which i missed to .had to wait for the next day at newark ap for a new flight.

if anyone get in this situation, be persistant with them, but save your nerves for the travel, dont waist your energy with them, they will drain you out. ask them to contact a major city that more familiar with rtd .like chicago and new york... and if you have a lawyer put him on the line with them so he can scare the shi..t out their ignorance.
good luck to u all
 
I forgot to say that the employee of British Airways actually apologized to me by the gate for incompetence. the funny thing is that on the way back the same story happened but only this time I already knew what to do. I told the to open the book and look at the certain page.
 
ayyubov said:
I have a similar story. British Airways tortured me and my wife at Philadelphia airport for couple of hours saying that I need a transit VISA to travel to trough England. After getting a supervisors supervisor we found a book with rules and regulations which stated that refugees and asylees of US do not need transit visa to England.

That was a good advise to check everything before the trip and obtain supportive documents.
Click to expand...

But RTD holders do need Transit Visa to/from england. It says on the British Consulate's website...Which book are you referring to?
 
Hi! Can you tell us what page of the book and What book? For our future references.

Thank you!


ayyubov said:
I forgot to say that the employee of British Airways actually apologized to me by the gate for incompetence. the funny thing is that on the way back the same story happened but only this time I already knew what to do. I told the to open the book and look at the certain page.
Click to expand...
 
wantmygcnow said:
But RTD holders do need Transit Visa to/from england. It says on the British Consulate's website...Which book are you referring to?
Click to expand...

I traveled on March 2003. Rules could change since that time. Thanks for the note. I will check it out. The employees of British Airways have a handbook with all the rules and regulations. I don't know what is the name of the book but do remember it (trust me they got under my nerves so bad by telling me that I can't fly because of stupid transit visa). The book was stating that US refugees/asylees do not require transit visa to Great Britain. Like I said it was in 2003 and things could change. Now I would check with embassy anyway, wherever i'd fly.
 
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