general information regarding spousal travel

[Sandrila 1]

First, with a conditional 2 year residency, can my husband travel, with his own passport within the US?

Second, because he was granted residency in THIS country doesnt mean he can get visas to other countries as easily being that he was granted the visa to US.

For instance, he has brothers in Italy, if within this 2 year period we wanted to travel to Italy, could we? He would just apply for a visa to travel to Italy? What are the chances he would be granted? I guess they are still looking at him being orginally from Morocco and when he was there he couldnt get a visa at all, anywhere...OR...they will see that he currently has a visa to USA and is living there and they would give him some slack and allow him to visit Italy?

Just wanted to know if his traveling status changes at all with a 2 year residency here..

[Donna A 4]

thats a good question. we havent tried traveling outside the united states yet so i wondered the same thing.

[wannabe_texan 0]

Within the US, your husband can travel with his passport, Green Card or Drivers' License (or a state ID card) as a form of ID.

Sorry I can't speak to the other part of your question...

[YuAndDan 153]

1) There is no restriction on travel within the USA, the green-card needs to be in possession to prove residency status.

2) A Green-card holder can travel to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean without needing a visa, however for other countries in the world, if the green-card holder needed a visa to visit before becoming a resident to the USA they still need a visa to visit those countries.

Chances are good for a visa to other countries if can show being a resident of the USA, the other country will know that the US resident is likely to return to the US.

[Redneck-NOVA 1]

1) There is no restriction on travel within the USA, the green-card needs to be in possession to prove residency status.

2) A Green-card holder can travel to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean without needing a visa, however for other countries in the world, if the green-card holder needed a visa to visit before becoming a resident to the USA they still need a visa to visit those countries.

Chances are good for a visa to other countries if can show being a resident of the USA, the other country will know that the US resident is likely to return to the US.

That is correct.

1) Within US - no restrictions on travel - he can travel just like a US citizen with a DL or any other state or federal issued ID. Yes, he technically has to be in posession of his GC at all times, but i doubt that everyone does it being afraid of losing it. By the way, does anyone know the penalties for NOT being in possesion of your GC at any given time? What if you have a color copy instead?

2) Canada, Mexico, Carribean can be entered using Passport of country of birth plus GC. I believe there are several other countries in the world that will allow the same, but you need to check with individual consulates for that.

3) All other countries require a visa just like if he didn't have a green card, but chances of getting a visa should be a lot higher. Just like in case with US travel visa, the hardest part is a burden to prove that the applicant will leave the country after the visit is over. Being a US permanent resident, makes it a lot easier to prove that you won't take a chance of being an illegal immigrant in Europe.

[Sandrila 1]

Thank you, you guys are the best!

[lucyrich 20]

By the way, does anyone know the penalties for NOT being in possesion of your GC at any given time? What if you have a color copy instead?

It's stated pretty explicitly in INA 264(e).

Every alien, eighteen years of age and over, shall at all times carry with him and have in his personal possession any certificate of alien registration or alien registration receipt card issued to him pursuant to subsection (d). Any alien who fails to comply with the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall upon conviction for each offense be fined not to exceed $100 or be imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both.

I don't believe this provision is enforced strictly or often, but yes, at least theoretically, if you have a copy of your green card instead of the card itself, you could be convicted of a misdemeanor and sentenced to 30 days in jail and fined $100.00. I don't believe that's likely at all, though.

[YuAndDan 153]

By the way, does anyone know the penalties for NOT being in possesion of your GC at any given time? What if you have a color copy instead?

It's stated pretty explicitly in INA 264(e).

Every alien, eighteen years of age and over, shall at all times carry with him and have in his personal possession any certificate of alien registration or alien registration receipt card issued to him pursuant to subsection (d). Any alien who fails to comply with the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall upon conviction for each offense be fined not to exceed $100 or be imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both.

I don't believe this provision is enforced strictly or often, but yes, at least theoretically, if you have a copy of your green card instead of the card itself, you could be convicted of a misdemeanor and sentenced to 30 days in jail and fined $100.00. I don't believe that's likely at all, though.

Yep that is how we treat it, my wife carried it for a while, but nearly lost it a year ago, so sh now carries her learner's permit as ID, the card is stored, and carried anytime we go on trips.

We live with the risk.

If you live in an area where you encounter border officers often like in south TX or along the Mex border then it would be a wise thing to carry the card.