Can you travel to the Caribbean with just your Green Card (no valid foreign passport)?

[OK&MK 17]

So I have a friend who is not sure if they'll be able to renew their passport in time to attend a function in Jamaica. They have been a resident of the US for over 15 years and we'd like to know if it's possible to travel only on their Green Card. I've been searching the web and I feel as though I'm getting conflicting information.

Any help would be helpful. If you can provide a web link with the information with your response, it would be most appreciated. Thanks!

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

No, All international travel requires a passport.

[khenzee 5]

My aunt was in the same position just a few months ago. No, you can't travel on a green card and apparently, it takes a while to get a new Jamaican passport.

[Pinkrlion 2,724]

Since 9/11, noone can travel without a passport. The greencard only allows them back in our country, but it does not allow entry into other countries.

[Jawaree 717]

Info I got first hand ...Being no one can travel without a passport to

any country since 9/11, she would have to travel with GC & passport

to Jamaica, while there run up to 25 Constant Spring Rd with old passport,

marriage & birth certs plus photos & its renew in 2 days @ $7000, the

application has to be signed by JP,Inspector of police, Clergy or judge.

also back of photos...so yes she can go down on it expired but renew it there.

PS even when old PP is presented PICA insist on original birth & marriage certs

to renew

Edited May 28, 2014 by Jawaree

[VOL 425]

You can leave the country on Cruises like out of Texas or Florida if it's a closed loop and you return back to same port.

No Passport needed only like a Driver license needed

[Jawaree 717]

She's not doing a cruise, its an event she's attending

cruise ships stays in port only a few hrs or maybe a day

(depending)...a cruise would not work because if one

misses a cruise either they fly home, wait until it returns

the following wk and there's no guarantee there'll be an

available cabin for you ...if there is.. arriving back to Fl

or Galveston will have CBP on U like white on rice. A

Jamaican can travel to Jamaica on an expired PP but

they will be advice to renew upon arrival

Renewing is quicker in JA than in NY, FL, TX or CA

Edited May 28, 2014 by Jawaree

[Reds988 9]

Let me add it also depends on the airline some airline refuse to let you on with expired passport..Others will then renew in Jamaica.

[aussie_jason 195]

We don't even know for sure what country the OP's friend is a citizen of.

[peachesndutches 0]

Just tell them to find a Consulate in the US. Chances are they will not be allowed to travel without a passport. The passport is the first thing that is asked for when traveling. Its not a good idea to try. Hate to see someone stuck at the airport mad b/c they failed to take adequate time to renew their passport.

[OK&MK 17]

So actually the friend is a citizen of Liberia, should have probably included that in the initial post.

Travel will be to Jamaica, and Jamaica only requires a US resident alien to have a Green Card and their return ticket for entry, so that's okay.

I'm more so concerned about the attempt to come back into the states. I'm saw this on the USCIS.gov website (http://www.uscis.gov/green-card/after-green-card-granted/international-travel-permanent-resident)

What documents do I need to present to reenter the United States?

If seeking to enter the United States after temporary travel abroad, you will need to present a valid, unexpired “green card” (Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card). When arriving at a port of entry, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer will review your permanent resident card and any other identity documents you present, such as a passport, foreign national I.D. card or U.S. Driver’s License, and determine if you can enter the United States. For information pertaining to entry into the United States, see U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s webpage.

I was hoping someone on here maybe had some experience with this situation. The process to renew his Liberian passport may not be completed by our travel date so that's why I'm inquiring. Thank you all for your input thus far.

[OK&MK 17]

I also happened to see this on the United Airlines website. But like one VJer advised, certain airlines may require a passport regardless.... hmmmm.....

[Jawaree 717]

Yes certain airlines also agent processing may not want to allow a passenger

to board .JAMICANS alone would be landed in JA with an expired PP with

instructions to renew, departing JA.with an expired PP will not be entertained

by PICA ,that's Y they tell U go get it renewed and one can in 2 days...if the

person is from Liberia or elsewhere ..NO... they have to renew their PP to

enter JA.

If a Jamaican have an emergency , an" emergency certificate" can be issued

to attach to PP, in Miami, NY (3rd Ave) Houston or CA I think Chicago also

they'll require 2 photos and application notorized....it takes some waiting time

when one is renewing PP at the JA consulates in the US

[OK&MK 17]

Yes certain airlines also agent processing may not want to allow a passenger

to board .JAMICANS alone would be landed in JA with an expired PP with

instructions to renew, departing JA.with an expired PP will not be entertained

by PICA ,that's Y they tell U go get it renewed and one can in 2 days...if the

person is from Liberia or elsewhere ..NO... they have to renew their PP to

enter JA.

If a Jamaican have an emergency , an" emergency certificate" can be issued

to attach to PP, in Miami, NY (3rd Ave) Houston or CA I think Chicago also

they'll require 2 photos and application notorized....it takes some waiting time

when one is renewing PP at the JA consulates in the US

Expired Passport belongs to Liberian trying to travel to JA (no JA pp issues)

Perhaps I should have rephrased my question: "Has anyone traveled to Jamaica on just their Green card and Return Ticket?"

I think I'll just have to call US CBP, was trying to avoid that given the long wait times on the phone.

So here's the info from the Jamaican Embassy:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

U.S. Residents

Nationals or citizens of other countries (with the exception of TAIWAN) who are permanent residents of the United States may enter Jamaica as tourists without visas, but must travel with:

• Alien Registration Cards ( Green Cards) or
• Vaild US reentry permits (if applicable)
• Round-trip tickets to the USA or onward tickets to another destination

Resident aliens in the United States, visiting Jamaica as tourists for periods not exceeding six (6) months, and who possess return or round trip touring tickets showing that their journey began in the USA, Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands, and that they are entitled to return there, are not required to hold passports to enter Jamaica.

http://www.embassyofjamaica.org/VISnorthamericanvisitors.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For US Citizens Passports are required (most of the time) and having the passport removes any complications to your travel. For US Residents it's a little different, but once again the passport would remove any questions from TSA or Immigration once you get to their counters.

I know most people err on the side of caution and just have their passport renewed but apparently you can travel with just your Green Card and without your country's passport if you are a US Resident. But again, we'll have to weigh the consequences to see if it's worth possibly getting GRIEF on each leg of our travel dealing with uninformed IO at POEs. Hmmm..... Well Thanks everyone for the assistance.

[OK&MK 17]

My aunt was in the same position just a few months ago. No, you can't travel on a green card and apparently, it takes a while to get a new Jamaican passport.

Yeah I was surprised that the standards for Jamaican Citizens traveling back seems to be more stringent than a foreigner from another land traveling there. On the Embassy's page it states:

Jamaicans who are residents of the United States must have a valid Jamaican passport or travel document, Permanent Resident Card (PRC) or appropriate temporary resident visa and return ticket to the United States of America.

http://www.embassyofjamaica.org/VISnorthamericanvisitors.htm

Standards are more lax for non-Jamaican Citizens residing in the US, hmmm...!!?!! Wonder why...

Edited May 30, 2014 by OK&MK