Refugee Travel Document Utiliy

Z

zman44

Active Member
I can't find another thread where to post this so I'm starting a new one. So I recently moved homes. While trying to renew my license, the DMV kept asking me for an I-94 + visa + passport. When I tried to use my I-94+RTD they told me they couldn't accept that as proof of legal status in the US. When I went to their website, it doesn't seem like the RTD figures anywhere as a valid document.

I just lost my job due to COVID. Since my EAD was denied due to a wrong category, I can't get an unrestricted SS card bc all offices are closed, and since the GC is nowhere to be seen, I was looking at what other documents I could present since I am licenseless. Lo and behold, the RTD doesn't appear to be an acceptable I-9 document. They'll take your passport+I-94, but not the RTD. So it's not acceptable as proof of work authorization.

I then wondered about domestic travel. Not surprisingly, the RTD doesn't appear on the TSA's website of acceptable IDs to board a domestic flight. They specifically mention EADs and foreign-issued passports, but not RTDs.

So, my question, what exactly IS the RTD good for, lol. Is it really such a useless document you can't even use it for anything else other than international travel? Has anyone had any luck using the RTD to renew a license, or fly domestically, or as an ID for anything else?
 
I think this depends on your state. Here in Massachusetts, the Re-entry Permit / RTD is specifically called out as a form of evidence you can present to obtain your ID/DL. But not all states are as progressives as MA. So, depending on the state, the RTD can be used for more than just international travel.

Surprised by TSA. I thought when passing through security, TSA specifically scans the RTD as part of security clearance? I think for domestic travel, the RTD is sufficient as an ID, even though it is not called out on their website. In the past, I have used my RTD to clear security when traveling abroad. I have not used it for domestic travel - I always felt weird trying to use it: it made me feel different.
 
zman44 said:
I can't find another thread where to post this so I'm starting a new one. So I recently moved homes. While trying to renew my license, the DMV kept asking me for an I-94 + visa + passport. When I tried to use my I-94+RTD they told me they couldn't accept that as proof of legal status in the US. When I went to their website, it doesn't seem like the RTD figures anywhere as a valid document.

I just lost my job due to COVID. Since my EAD was denied due to a wrong category, I can't get an unrestricted SS card bc all offices are closed, and since the GC is nowhere to be seen, I was looking at what other documents I could present since I am licenseless. Lo and behold, the RTD doesn't appear to be an acceptable I-9 document. They'll take your passport+I-94, but not the RTD. So it's not acceptable as proof of work authorization.

I then wondered about domestic travel. Not surprisingly, the RTD doesn't appear on the TSA's website of acceptable IDs to board a domestic flight. They specifically mention EADs and foreign-issued passports, but not RTDs.

So, my question, what exactly IS the RTD good for, lol. Is it really such a useless document you can't even use it for anything else other than international travel? Has anyone had any luck using the RTD to renew a license, or fly domestically, or as an ID for anything else?
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if your asylum is approved, only I-94 (proof of approval) is sufficient for work.
 
zman44 said:
Lo and behold, the RTD doesn't appear to be an acceptable I-9 document.
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RTC is a List C document for the I-9 (but then so is your asylee I-94). See this page, under List C Documents -> Employment authorization document issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS):

Some employment authorization documents issued by DHS include but are not limited to Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record issued to asylees or work-authorized nonimmigrants (for example, H-1B nonimmigrants) because of their immigration status, Form I-571, Refugee Travel Document, an unexpired Form I-327, Reentry Permit , Form N-560, Certificate of U.S. Citizenship or Form N-561, Replacement Certificate of Citizenship, or Form N-550, Certificate of Naturalization or Form N-570, Replacement Certificate of Naturalization.
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But it needs to be used with a List B document and you seem to be having trouble getting a driver's license. What state are you in?
 
newacct said:
RTC is a List C document for the I-9 (but then so is your asylee I-94). See this page, under List C Documents -> Employment authorization document issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS):



But it needs to be used with a List B document and you seem to be having trouble getting a driver's license. What state are you in?
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Exactly, I'm not sure why the RTD would be a list C document, but not A, when it obviously establishes identity as well as work authorization. I am in Minnesota.
 
7of9 said:
I think this depends on your state. Here in Massachusetts, the Re-entry Permit / RTD is specifically called out as a form of evidence you can present to obtain your ID/DL. But not all states are as progressives as MA. So, depending on the state, the RTD can be used for more than just international travel.

Surprised by TSA. I thought when passing through security, TSA specifically scans the RTD as part of security clearance? I think for domestic travel, the RTD is sufficient as an ID, even though it is not called out on their website. In the past, I have used my RTD to clear security when traveling abroad. I have not used it for domestic travel - I always felt weird trying to use it: it made me feel different.
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That last part! It does make you feel different. The couple times I've traveled abroad with the RTD I found myself ashamed of having it. Even after gaining asylum, you still feel like less-than regular citizens/green card holders and life is difficult with all the extra rules you have to follow.
 
zman44 said:
That last part! It does make you feel different. The couple times I've traveled abroad with the RTD I found myself ashamed of having it. Even after gaining asylum, you still feel like less-than regular citizens/green card holders and life is difficult with all the extra rules you have to follow.
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Correct. My four years with the RTD, tough. Across all the regions, from China to NZ, the airlines always made me wait, always had to be examined further. +CBP would always send me to secondary when I return to the US - they would send me there for no reason. This was when I was traveling with RTD+GC. Like everything else with the asylum process, what kept me going was the full knowledge that those difficult days would come to pass. A new day would come when I would have a real passport.
 
7of9 said:
Correct. My four years with the RTD, tough. Across all the regions, from China to NZ, the airlines always made me wait, always had to be examined further. +CBP would always send me to secondary when I return to the US - they would send me there for no reason. This was when I was traveling with RTD+GC. Like everything else with the asylum process, what kept me going was the full knowledge that those difficult days would come to pass. A new day would come when I would have a real passport.
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This was my experience can't wait to get my last RTD.
 
Hello, I have posted the documents required for RTD. It seems it was delivered on December 20. However, I have not received any information that it has still been received or processed. It has been 1 month, now I am tired of waiting for more. Is this normal?
 
7of9 said:
Correct. My four years with the RTD, tough. Across all the regions, from China to NZ, the airlines always made me wait, always had to be examined further. +CBP would always send me to secondary when I return to the US - they would send me there for no reason. This was when I was traveling with RTD+GC. Like everything else with the asylum process, what kept me going was the full knowledge that those difficult days would come to pass. A new day would come when I would have a real passport.
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I just read from USCIS that It takes about 8-10 Months to process RTD. That is a long time to process a document just valid for 11 months. I applied for mine back in August 2020. I was not expecting to have it maybe in 2021
 
I applied on Feb 14th 2021 .. still waiting, now it says 10-13 months... I seriously wish I was an attorney.. I would do a class action.. these documents should be delivered to us in no more than a month or two.. they signed the refugee convention and they just violating all its terms... at leat make the document valid for 5 years...
 
Gm85 said:
I applied on Feb 14th 2021 .. still waiting, now it says 10-13 months... I seriously wish I was an attorney.. I would do a class action.. these documents should be delivered to us in no more than a month or two.. they signed the refugee convention and they just violating all its terms... at leat make the document valid for 5 years...
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Which service center did you send?

I have applied for mine in March 7th, and received it around 25 September. Nebraska LIN
 
Gm85 said:
I applied on Feb 14th 2021 .. still waiting, now it says 10-13 months... I seriously wish I was an attorney.. I would do a class action.. these documents should be delivered to us in no more than a month or two.. they signed the refugee convention and they just violating all its terms... at leat make the document valid for 5 years...
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sign me up ,, the refugee travel document satiation is ridiculous . they don't even need congress or extrusive order to extend the validity of the document .
 
lekarstvo said:
Which service center did you send?

I have applied for mine in March 7th, and received it around 25 September. Nebraska LIN
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Did you expedite it? Was it your first RTD? Looks like renewing it takes longer than getting it at the first time! I applied in August 2021 and still waiting hopefully i get it by MAY 2022 cause i really meed to travel urgently by mid of May 2022
 
Mishomasr said:
Did you expedite it? Was it your first RTD? Looks like renewing it takes longer than getting it at the first time! I applied in August 2021 and still waiting hopefully i get it by MAY 2022 cause i really meed to travel urgently by mid of May 2022
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I made an expedite request but they didn’t expedite.
 
hey guys! Does anyone have any experience with renewal (obtaining a new one) RTD? I am wondering, since validity of RTD is just one year and processing time to get new one takes 8-9 months, does it make sense to summit i-131 6 months before my current RTD expires? What do you think? I just got my first one and already thinking how to renew it since it's only 1 year :( can you share your experience please?
 
spirit367 said:
hey guys! Does anyone have any experience with renewal (obtaining a new one) RTD? I am wondering, since validity of RTD is just one year and processing time to get new one takes 8-9 months, does it make sense to summit i-131 6 months before my current RTD expires? What do you think? I just got my first one and already thinking how to renew it since it's only 1 year :( can you share your experience please?
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I don't have a personally experience applying for a RTD . but generally with applications, most of the wait time is just waiting for your application to get to a USCIS employee . basically just waiting for a long line ahead of millions of other applicants. which is ridicules in case of an RTD
 
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