Returning to US on GC and foreign passport questions

T

techbuyer77

Registered Users (C)
I have had 2 smalls trips overseas since I got my GC. Right now I am in my country. These trips are as follows:
1. 10 days on february 2008
2. 23 days on July 2008

I have not been working due to bad economy lately (was laid off and no luck finding a job) so I decided to visit my mom for close to 90 days.

Will I have any trouble coming back to us with GC?

Also, my country allows me to renew my passport before the previous one expires (mine expires on may 2009 but I will renew it here before the end of march). The government will allow me to keep my previous passport, cancelled for all legal matters of course.

Will It be a problem carrying both passports when going back to US? One of them wont be legally valid of course. The new one shopuld not have any stamps on it.
THanks in advance for all your kind help.
 
With GC you don't need stamps, so who cares what you do with your old passport?

As long as you can show you live in US, you will be let in without question.

You will be fingerprinted, like all GC holders, if you have not in the past.
 
yes I live in the US. I am only here for vacation
It was my understanding one needed all old and cancelled passports when applying for citizenship
 
I am not aware of that need. If it is a need then why the concern about having both on you. You 'need' the old one so why question if you should keep it.


Your question was about carrying both passports and entering US, which will not be a problem.
 
IOs may ask for all passports if the applicant has had frequent trips or cannot remember the exact dates of trips, or if there is any doubt as to the length of trips.
 
techbuyer77 said:
Will It be a problem carrying both passports when going back to US?
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Why carry both? Keep the old one locked up somewhere, and use the new one and the GC when you return to the US. Later in life, you can take the old one out of safekeeping for the citizenship interview.
 
techbuyer77 said:
Also, my country allows me to renew my passport before the previous one expires (mine expires on may 2009 but I will renew it here before the end of march). The government will allow me to keep my previous passport, cancelled for all legal matters of course.
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I'm pretty sure every country allows you to renew a passport before it expires otherwise you wouldn't be able to schedule travel around the expiry date. However, are you sure you will be allowed to renew your passport in your home country? For example, I know for a fact that a UK resident living in the US (me!) has to renew their passport through the British embassy in Washington - they cannot renew it through a local passport office in the UK even if they are visiting. I suspect other countries may have similar restrictions.
 
dms1 said:
For example, I know for a fact that a UK resident living in the US (me!) has to renew their passport through the British embassy in Washington - they cannot renew it through a local passport office in the UK even if they are visiting. I suspect other countries may have similar restrictions.
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I can renew my passport in my country of citizenship, but it could take a long time so it's not always possible within the duration of a short visit.
 
dms1 said:
...I know for a fact that a UK resident living in the US (me!) has to renew their passport through the British embassy in Washington - they cannot renew it through a local passport office in the UK even if they are visiting. I suspect other countries may have similar restrictions.
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dms1, I believe your info is out-of-date:

http://www.ips.gov.uk/passport/apply.asp

"If you live in the UK you can use this website for all your passport needs. If you do not live in the UK you can apply through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) or contact your nearest embassy, consulate or high commission. Alternatively, you may apply in person for a passport whilst visiting the UK. In order to do this, you need to make an appointment at a passport office and you must provide an address in the UK to which the passport may be posted."
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Just as aside note. Now, all Brits living in canada will have their passports processed in Washington DC ,and not Ottawa
 
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nelsona said:
dms1, I believe your info is out-of-date:

http://www.ips.gov.uk/passport/apply.asp



Just as aside note. Now, all Brits living in canada will have their passports processed in Washington DC ,and not Ottawa
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That is indeed a change to their policy from when I renewed my passport a couple of years ago. It is interesting that they make you go to the passport office in person though. I can understand them not wanting to send the passport internationally, but I can't see how this relates to sending in the application as opposed to going in person.
 
This is not really unusual. US citizens must show up at the post office, where their identity is verified, when applying. It is simply an initial layer of scrutiny.

For while in the '90s, Cdns living in had to go a passport office if at all possible (ie proximity), but this has since been relaxed.


And, as you may know, now all first time UK passport applicants in UK actually must be interviewed.
 
nelsona said:
This is not really unusual. US citizens must show up at the post office, where their identity is verified, when applying. It is simply an initial layer of scrutiny.

For while in the '90s, Cdns living in had to go a passport office if at all possible (ie proximity), but this has since been relaxed.


And, as you may know, now all first time UK passport applicants in UK actually must be interviewed.
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I can understand the requirements for a first time passport, but I can't see why for a renewal someone living overseas but in the UK temporarily has to go in person (but still have the new passport sent to a UK address), whereas a UK-resident can send in the renewal, as can an overseas resident if they send it to their local embassy. Just seems a strange requirement.

As for US passports, presumably the in-person post office visit doesn't apply to a renewal too - just a first-time application.
 
yes I can renew my passport here and is actually somuch faster and cheaper than thru the embassy in the US (and public employees are nicer here LOL)
Thanks for all the answers
 
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