Should a Green Card holder renew foreign passport?

[nicholas1413 0]

Hello VJ community,

I am a Canadian living in the US with a Green Card that I received 3 months ago. In filling out a form, realized that my Canadian passport expired in February. Oops. So here are my questions:

1- I renew my Canadian passport right, not apply for a US passport?

2- With a Green Card, my citizenship is still Canadian right?

I did some snooping online but wasn't able to find the answer, so I turn to VJ with these questions that I should already know

Thanks so much,

Nicholas.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

A US passport is for a US Citizen. You are not a US Citizen. You are a Permanent Resident in the US. You are a Canadian Citizen. You renew your Canadian passport if you want to travel abroad.

It is important that you understand that you are not a US CItizen, because if you every claim to be a citizen, on a US work eligibility form, or by voting or serving on a jury, you will be banned from the US for life. You are a permanent resident.

Edited April 20, 2012 by Harpa Timsah

[nicholas1413 0]

Thanks Harpa, that's what I thought, but just wanted to double check.

Again, I appreciate your help.

~N

[aleful 1,905]

Hello VJ community,

I am a Canadian living in the US with a Green Card that I received 3 months ago. In filling out a form, realized that my Canadian passport expired in February. Oops. So here are my questions:

1- I renew my Canadian passport right, not apply for a US passport?

2- With a Green Card, my citizenship is still Canadian right?

I did some snooping online but wasn't able to find the answer, so I turn to VJ with these questions that I should already know

Thanks so much,

Nicholas.

ditto,

you have to renew your Canadian passport, you cannot get a US passport until you naturalize and become a US Citizen.

[SF2007 48]

You can renew your Canadian passport by mail. Look it up HERE. You need a passport for international air travel, no matter whether you have a GC or not. Your GC only proves your status to U.S. authorities.

As it has been explained, you have no grounds to apply for a U.S. passport as you are not a U.S. citizen.

[grrrrreat 109]

A US passport is for a US Citizen. You are not a US Citizen. You are a Permanent Resident in the US. You are a Canadian Citizen. You renew your Canadian passport if you want to travel abroad.

It is important that you understand that you are not a US CItizen, because if you every claim to be a citizen, on a US work eligibility form, or by voting or serving on a jury, you will be banned from the US for life. You are a permanent resident.

Technically OP is eligible for a re-entry permit, which is a blue booklet and sort of looks like a passport, but is issued by DHS and not Department of State. You can use it to come back into the U.S., but usually not to enter other countries unless you get a visa stamped in it.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Technically OP is eligible for a re-entry permit, which is a blue booklet and sort of looks like a passport, but is issued by DHS and not Department of State. You can use it to come back into the U.S., but usually not to enter other countries unless you get a visa stamped in it.

A re-entry permit and a US passport are entirely different things... I don't know why you even bothered mentioning this as it has nothing to do with the OP

[grrrrreat 109]

A re-entry permit and a US passport are entirely different things... I don't know why you even bothered mentioning this as it has nothing to do with the OP

Sorry if I was unclear--a re-entry permit is definitely different from a passport. But a re-entry permit can be used as a travel document, similarly to a passport. It just depends on where you are going. I disagree that re-entry permits have nothing to do with OP. From the USCIS:

You may also want to get a reentry permit if you plan on traveling outside the United States and cannot or do not wish to get a passport from your home country. Many countries throughout the world may allow you to use a reentry permit much like you would use a passport—placing necessary visas and entry and exit stamps in the permit—so you may use it as your main travel document. Be sure to check with any country you plan to visit about specific requirements before you travel.

http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/Resources/B5en.pdf

Edited April 20, 2012 by grrrrreat

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

[sheeshkabelle 153]

Renew your Canadian passport, but MAKE SURE TO KEEP THE OLD ONE, it has your visa in it! You can mail the application in, but make sure to get Canadian size photos. Passport Canada is REALLY picky.

I'm surprised they issued a visa with a passport that would expire in three months.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Topic has been moved from the AOS forum to the Canada Regional Forum as a more appropriate location for this discussion.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Hello VJ community,

I am a Canadian living in the US with a Green Card that I received 3 months ago. In filling out a form, realized that my Canadian passport expired in February. Oops. So here are my questions:

1- I renew my Canadian passport right, not apply for a US passport?

2- With a Green Card, my citizenship is still Canadian right?

I did some snooping online but wasn't able to find the answer, so I turn to VJ with these questions that I should already know

Thanks so much,

Nicholas.

As others have mentioned, yes, you are still a Canadian Citizen which is what your passport will show, and a US resident (not citizen) which is what your green card shows. You have to be a US green card holder for 3 years if married to a US citizen or 5 years if not married to a US citizen before you are allowed to apply for US citizenship. Even when (if) you become a US citizen, you would still be a Canadian citizen as Canada recognizes dual citizenship. At that time you could have both a Canadian and a US passport.

Until then, you do want to renew your Canadian passport. It is always a good idea for any citizen of one country living in another country to have a valid passport. While you can travel to and from Canada via a land border with your proof of Canadian citizenship (birth certificate) and your green card, you will need a passport to fly,and you may need a passport for future immigration concerns (eg. if you loose the green card or it expires and you haven't got a replacement yet you get your passport stamped).

it is easy to renew a Canadian passport from the US. You can follow the process here: http://www.ppt.gc.ca/cdn/ren.aspx

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Renew your Canadian passport, but MAKE SURE TO KEEP THE OLD ONE, it has your visa in it! You can mail the application in, but make sure to get Canadian size photos. Passport Canada is REALLY picky.

I'm surprised they issued a visa with a passport that would expire in three months.

The GC was received 3 months ago and proves curent status, the OP could have received their VISA months and months back and been through AOS or even ROC. You don't need your old Cdn passport (with the original Visa stapled in it) for any particular purpose. Besides the VISA expired

They will not be asked again for their old passport (let's say they have a K1 stapled in there)by USCIS. Any future paperwork that requires your Cdn passport you simply send copies of the new. Many of us have had to renew our Cdn passport at some point during our US immigration process....I did mine between ROC and Citizenship and no one blinked an eye. OP is safe to not worry about it.

I kept my old one just for sentimental reasons.

[Darnell 8,478]

1. yes.

2. yes