Traveling with GC in US

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jb90304

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How can I travel to other countries when I have a GC in US?
I have been out-of-status in US but still have passport (only passport I can get obviously) for my home country. I'm a bit confused because If I were to apply for like a tourist visa to somewhere, I'd be having to contact my some sort of organization in my home country. I was brought to US when I was very little so I don't know much but all I know is that I was brought here illegally so I'm not sure if contacting my home country with my real identity now will have consequences.
 
You are out of status and entered illegally, so why are you talking about a GC? Have you applied for one? On what basis?
 
Jackolantern said:
You are out of status and entered illegally, so why are you talking about a GC? Have you applied for one? On what basis?
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I'm married to a US citizen and applied for GC on that basis. So if things proceed with no problems (which I have no reasons to speculate otherwise), it shouldn't be too far away that I should be gaining my residency here in US.
 
Unless the relevant paperwork was filed for you before the 245(i) cutoff in April 2001, you're not eligible to stay in the US for the green card process if you entered the US illegally. Not even if you're married to a US citizen.

Did you enter illegally, or did you enter the US legally and then overstay?

When you talk about "real identity" do you mean you entered the US with a passport that wasn't yours, and you have another passport with your real identity?
 
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Jackolantern said:
Unless the relevant paperwork was filed for you before the 245(i) cutoff in April 2001, you're not eligible to stay in the US for the green card process if you entered the US illegally. Not even if you're married to a US citizen.

Did you enter illegally, or did you enter the US legally and then overstay?
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Sorry. I did not enter the US illegally. I don't know why I said that, maybe because I use that word so much hah
But anyways, I overstayed my visa. Apology for the misunderstanding.
 
You'll need to stay inside the US until your green card is approved. Leaving before that will get you banned for years.

I'm a bit confused because If I were to apply for like a tourist visa to somewhere, I'd be having to contact my some sort of organization in my home country.
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Why? If you apply for a visa to visit another country, once you have a green card you can apply through that country's consulate in the US.
 
Jackolantern said:
You'll need to stay inside the US until your green card is approved. Leaving before that will get you banned for years.


Why? If you apply for a visa to visit another country, once you have a green card you can apply through that country's consulate in the US.
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I'm just trying to figure out if it's okay for me to travel with my old home country's passport... It may be a really stupid question but just not sure about it. I mean, I'm not "illegal" in my home country but isn't that the country that I technically 'ran away' from? (btw, i was brought here when I was few months old)
 
That restriction against using or renewing the old country's passport only applies to people who were granted (or are applying for) refugee or asylum status.
 
Your home country doesn't know, and most probably doesn't care, that you were an overstay here since you were never deported back. Once you get your GC, you can (and have to) use your country's passport to travel. That's standard procedure.
 
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