Travelling abroad

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FinanceGayBoy

Registered Users (C)
Cheers everyone,

I would like to go on a cruise, but I have never traveled outside the U.S. since I was granted asylum. I have a pending application for adjustment of status and I would like to know if it is advisable to leave the country after September 11th. Should I apply for the Refugee Travel Document or Advance Parole? Furthermore, what happens to my I-94 if I choose to go on a cruise? Could anybody share some experiences and thoughts? Thank you! ;)
 
That was not the question asked. Lets keep things civilized here, you are all living in a civilized country, with different people and cultures.

Thank you.
 
This issue (asylee travelling with RTD) have been discussed before in this forum. Sort through the various threads and you will find the answer.
 
there are no problems what so ever to travel abroad for asylee as long as he has a Refugee Travel document and don't go to his country. Apply for RTD (form I 131) It will take around 5-6 months to get it. Then plan your trip. Good luck.
 
FinanceGayBoy said:
Cheers everyone,

I would like to go on a cruise, but I have never traveled outside the U.S. since I was granted asylum. I have a pending application for adjustment of status and I would like to know if it is advisable to leave the country after September 11th. Should I apply for the Refugee Travel Document or Advance Parole? Furthermore, what happens to my I-94 if I choose to go on a cruise? Could anybody share some experiences and thoughts? Thank you! ;)
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You can travel abroad as long as you have your valid Refugee Travel Document (RTD). In general, you would need a visa to travel to most countries.

Since you are thinking of travelling on a cruise, it might be a bit tricky depend on how many countries you would be traveling to. It would not be so fun if you travel to Caribbean and require to get six or seven visas from each individual countries. Some cruise packages might be relatively easier such as Alaska cruise from Canada or Bermuda cruise from New York.

The first time I travelled abroad, I did not surrender my old I-94 (with H1-B stamping). I received a new I-94 that reflects my Asylum status when I returned. So, you will get a new I-94 that says "Asylum Granted..." when you return from your vacation.

I took a cruise to Tahiti few years ago(before I was granted Asylum), I actually flew back from Tahiti to LAX. So, if you fly back to US after your cruise vacation, you would get a new I-94 at the US Airport. In general, immigration officer will not have the right entry stamp for Asylee. So, Be prepared to go to a special room for stamping.

You can apply for a RTD by filing the I-131 form. You would need to send the form to Nebraska Service Center (NSC). The processing time is about five months according to the current NSC processing time.

By now, I hope you are not too discourage. One thing I learned from my experience is that you would need to plan ahead if you need to travel outside the US. Last minute travel is not really an option in most cases.
 
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yyliu88 said:
if you are going to cruise to caribbean, no visas is required as long as you can come back to US. the check in counter of cruise line only cares whether you can come back or not.you don't need to get any visa for any country in caribbean
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yyliu88,

I have not been to Caribbean, but what you say does not really mean sense to me.

I would assume that you would need to go thru immigration when you arrived the Caribbean Islands. If that is the case, why visas are not required for RTD holders. Do we get exemption or do we by passed the immigration check point?

I went to Tahiti few years ago on a cruise, I was required to go thru immigration check point.

Can you further explain you comment? So that people on this board are better informed.
 
FinanceGayBoy said:
There isn't such a status, but to answer your question, yeah I received asylum based on sexual orientation.
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Hey FinanceGayBoy,

I got my recommended aproval under the same category. Still waiting for final decision. I was found eligible because I was being discriminated based on belong to a social group under which homosexuals are a part of according to (God bless her Janet Reno 1996). I would like to start anoter subform regarding immigration based on sexual orientation. It is much different from other asylum issues and people who are looking for answers can look for specific questions and talk to other people who applied for asylum under the same category. I have received asylum and can provide any type of insight i can to others. How do I go about requesting the creation of another subgroup for Sexual Orientation Based Asylum? Gilbert, can you help me please?

And FinanceGayBoy, what are your dates? I'm still waiting for Final Approval...
 
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no need for visa if you go cruising

i was granted asylum in feb 2000

sep 2000 i was recieved refugee travel document

in nov 2000, i went cruising to bahamas using royal carribean cruise for 3 nights from miami,

they dont require visa to bahaman if you use cruise ship,

in the cruise ship all they need is :
proof of citizenship
or proof of permanent reident
or proof of valid visa in america
or proof of valid american travel document or re entry document

i showed the officer my travel document,

they did not ask about visa,and they didnot take my i-94

when i came back to america,the officer in the cruise ship stamped my travel document and asked me to keep my 1-94

if they try to take your i-94,make sure to request new i-94,dont leave the ship until they give you new i-94

in the airport the system is completely different,when you travel abroad,they take your i-94 at the counter and when you come back they give you new i-94

good luck to you
 
ASSYLEE said:
Hey FinanceGayBoy,

I got my recommended aproval under the same category. Still waiting for final decision. I was found eligible because I was being discriminated based on belong to a social group under which homosexuals are a part of according to (God bless her Janet Reno 1996). I would like to start anoter subform regarding immigration based on sexual orientation. It is much different from other asylum issues and people who are looking for answers can look for specific questions and talk to other people who applied for asylum under the same category. I have received asylum and can provide any type of insight i can to others. How do I go about requesting the creation of another subgroup for Sexual Orientation Based Asylum? Gilbert, can you help me please?

And FinanceGayBoy, what are your dates? I'm still waiting for Final Approval...
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What I like about homosexuals is that they support each other. Though I am not gay myself.
 
Minsk said:
What I like about homosexuals is that they support each other. Though I am not gay myself.
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Minsk,

Thank you for your kind words. I just want to help others out if I can. Even though it is considered asylum, sexual orientation has some challenges that people applying for other categories don't necessarily go through. I will do what I can. If I had known about this forum before I had applied and went for my interview, it would have been such a great help but I'm glad its here.
 
ASSYLEE said:
Minsk,

Thank you for your kind words. I just want to help others out if I can. Even though it is considered asylum, sexual orientation has some challenges that people applying for other categories don't necessarily go through. I will do what I can. If I had known about this forum before I had applied and went for my interview, it would have been such a great help but I'm glad its here.
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Assylee, i too have been facing the same problems. Now I am glad that I am not alone in this.
 
ASSYLEE said:
Minsk,

Thank you for your kind words. I just want to help others out if I can. Even though it is considered asylum, sexual orientation has some challenges that people applying for other categories don't necessarily go through. I will do what I can. If I had known about this forum before I had applied and went for my interview, it would have been such a great help but I'm glad its here.
Click to expand...
 
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