Reentry permit for travel instead of passport

[backintherain]

I'm a LPR and will be eligible for USC in December 2011. Meanwhile my foreign passport will be expiring in March 2011. Due to my specific situation, and archaic rules of my country, I really don't want to renew my passport with my embassy. However, I'd still like to be able to travel abroad this year, just incase family circumstances cause me to do so.

So, I was thinking of applying for a reentry permit. According to the info sheet on USCIS website, one can use a reentry permit if he cannot, or does not wish to, obtain a passport from the foreign country.

Is this something which is widely done and accepted practice? What happens with travel to third countries (would I automatically need to obtain a visa in my reentry permit, or can I travel with the visa waivers that citizens of my country normally do)? Do most countries accept this document?

At the time of citizenship application, having previously applied for a reentry permit doesn't prejudice one's application, right? (assuming the residency requirements are still met)

 

[Jackolantern]

The US will accept a reentry permit without a passport, but you'll have to find out from the specific other country if a reentry permit will be accepted instead of a passport, for somebody in your situation (some will accept it only if you're stateless or an asylee/refugee).

If you have no passport, the refugee travel document is much more commonly accepted than a reentry permit. But I think you need to be an asylee or refugee to get the RTD.

At the time of citizenship application, having previously applied for a reentry permit doesn't prejudice one's application, right? (assuming the residency requirements are still met)

Excessive travel is what may put your citizenship prospects in jeopardy, not the use or possession of a reentry permit. If you obtain a reentry permit and don't take any extended travel, it's like you didn't apply for the permit at all, as far as citizenship eligibility is concerned.

 

[chicagoboy77]

you can apply for reentery permit as many time as you want. You will need to return the old one every time you apply for a new one. Most countries do accept travel doc as a passport but you Must call the embassy of each country you are planning to visit to confirm before getting your airline ticket. All travelles within the 5 year prior to your n400 should be recorded in your citizenship application. Since you will return old reentery permits, USCIS will have a clear records of all your travels so be aware of that. i used reentery permitt and I think it is much better than using my country of orgin passport which is associated with a country that is known for troubles all over the world hence embassies are usually not approving visas on it thus i uses the reentery permit instead and get visas approved all the time

 

[cafeconleche]

You will need a good deal of visas with the RP. Some countries, however, will treat you like a citizen of your home country, so if you would not have needed a visa on your passport, you won't need one on your RP. Do some embassy website research first, and apply for your passport ALSO if that's possible.