Passport expiring soon

[Mrs. Disney 0]

So I have my greencard in hands and I want to go travel to Brazil for a month in March/April. My Brazilian passport expires July/2011. Should I get a new passport? As far as I'm concerned, they won't let you back in the US if your passport expires in less than 6 months from the date of arrival but does that also apply to greencard holders?

If I'm supposed to get a new passport, should I take both old and new passports with me on my trip considering I entered the US with the old passport, the one that has the entry visa and stamp? I really want to get a new passport with my married name (since my greencard also has my married name on it) but I wanna make sure I do it right. Should I also take my marriage certificate with me, just in case?

Thank you.

[raffy 7]

So I have my greencard in hands and I want to go travel to Brazil for a month in March/April. My Brazilian passport expires July/2011. Should I get a new passport? As far as I'm concerned, they won't let you back in the US if your passport expires in less than 6 months from the date of arrival but does that also apply to greencard holders?

If I'm supposed to get a new passport, should I take both old and new passports with me on my trip considering I entered the US with the old passport, the one that has the entry visa and stamp? I really want to get a new passport with my married name (since my greencard also has my married name on it) but I wanna make sure I do it right. Should I also take my marriage certificate with me, just in case?

Thank you.

First of all: it may take you a long time to get a new passport (I don't know how long this will be for Brasil) but most of the time it will depend on the documents your Consulate needs and it could take months to process everything (I have experience with Ecuador, Uruguay and Argentina, Ecuador may give you the passport right there and then or they may mail it to you within 5 days, Uruguay needs up to 3 months and Argentina, up to 18 months!!)

So my recommendation it's to go ahead and give your Consulate a call to figure this out...

You should not have a problem getting back, the most important piece that you need to enter the US is your GC, now, does Brasil allows you to change your last name? will they make a passport with your new name?

I'm from Uruguay and my country will not do that unless I do a "legal name change" back home, which can take several years, time and lots of $$ for it to happen so I called my Consulate and they told me that I may have problems when boarding the plane cause my passport has one name and the document they need to see that allows me to enter the US (GC)it's under somebody else's name... I also called several airlines and they told me that it's up to "the airport security people"... and "the airport security people" told me that they only check that the name on the Passport/id matches the ticket, that it's up to the airline's agents to check that we can travel to whatever country they are taking us... (????????) so I am in the middle watching how they pass the ball to each other... My Consul told me to just wait to become a US citizen so all I will need will be my passport under whatever name I choose (but, to Uruguay, I will always have my born given names/last names)

Call your consulate and ask about it... then, let me know...

One last thing: do take your marriage certificate just in case, old driver's license/id,new driver's license/id (to show that you changed your name) etc... make copies of everything before leaving and keep them safe at home when you arrive to BR just in case you "loose them"...

Eu nao comprendo come e possibel que vc nao vai pra carnaval...

Edited December 15, 2010 by raffy

[Krikit 1,165]

A permanent resident does not need to present their passport when re-entering the US. (Though you'll need it to board your flight.) See the last paragraph of this link: CBP FAQ - Lawful Permanent Resident

You'll need to check with your country's passport rules to see what the document requirements are for a new passport.

[Mrs. Disney 0]

Thanks guys for the info and link.

Raffy, I checked with the Brazilian consulate and they will issue a new passport within 5 business days so that shouldn't be a problem. Also Brazil does accept the addition of your husband's name, as long as you keep your maiden name, and that can also be done with the consulate here in America.

And yes, I wanted to make it to Carnaval but unfortunately that will not be possible.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Your passport is valid until the very day it expires. You don't even need it to reenter the US on your way back; for that purpose you have a Green Card. The Green Card of a resident works like the passport of a US citizen.