International travel for permanent American resident with valid green card but expired foreign passport.

[zamardii12 25]

Going to keep this brief.

• My wife came here (USA) on a fiancé Visa 4 years ago.
• We've had our first interview, but b/c of COVID 2nd interview has been delayed twice and we just keep getting sent Green Card validity extension papers. Hers are good until end of January as of this moment.
• We want to travel back to Europe in January, but her passport from her origin country expires this November and since our 2nd interview keeps getting delayed it's unlikely she'll get her American Passport before January.

So my main question is can we exit and enter the US using her expired European passport, but a valid green card? If so what do we need to bring with us to travel? 

[Palawan 131]

You only need a valid GreenCard to enter the USA. 

 

United States LPR's don't need a passport to enter the US, per CBP.

 

Whether you can get on a plane with a expired a passport and travel internationally is highly doubtful

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 22, 2022 by Palawan

[Boiler 45,516]

Has she applied to renew her passport?

[arken 4,197]

Green card is not a travel document, passport is. As long as you make it to the US POE, you can enter the US without a passport. However almost all carriers will ask for a valid passport or any other travel document before they let you check in or board.

[zamardii12 25]

10 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Has she applied to renew her passport?

That's what I don't know how to do. Specifically how to renew her European passport from the United States. There are embassies where this is possible, but it's hard to believe that I would physically have to fly to one of these four locations to renew a passport. I am really tired of having our second interview delayed all the time b/c of COVID, but we I guess need to renew her foreign passport somehow. 

Edited August 22, 2022 by zamardii12

[Boiler 45,516]

You can not renew it, she has to, I have no idea how Hungary operates and Europe does not have a Passport.

[arken 4,197]

21 minutes ago, zamardii12 said:

but it's hard to believe that I would physically have to fly to one of these four locations to renew a passport.

USCs living in that country need to fly/travel to the US embassy/consulate too to renew/apply their passports. 

 

Each country will have its own policies on passport applications whether within the country or abroad. One just need to follow those policies for sure.

 

Travel to the nearby passport and renew the passport or get stuck abroad for a good time due to the expired passport. It's a choice.

 

 

 

 

[Lil bear 4,212]

39 minutes ago, zamardii12 said:

That's what I don't know how to do. Specifically how to renew her European passport from the United States. There are embassies where this is possible, but it's hard to believe that I would physically have to fly to one of these four locations to renew a passport. I am really tired of having our second interview delayed all the time b/c of COVID, but we I guess need to renew her foreign passport somehow. 

That what most of us have to do. My closest consulate us 7 hrs drive away and my  passport renewal requires in person attendance.  Life rarely comes cheaply or easily. 

[carmel34 3,631]

58 minutes ago, zamardii12 said:

We've had our first interview, but b/c of COVID 2nd interview has been delayed twice and we just keep getting sent Green Card validity extension papers. Hers are good until end of January as of this moment.

When you say "2nd interview," are you referring to removal of conditions?  It sounds like it from your reference to "green card validity extension papers."  If her 24-month green card extension letter extends its validity until the end of January, the extension letter plus the original conditional green card, and a new Hungarian passport, will suffice to re-enter the USA.  Make sure your planned return date is at the latest a few days before the end of January to have a smoother experience returning to the USA.  Maybe you'll get lucky and she will get her 10-year green card before departure.  They are waiving many interviews for removal of conditions now, so the "2nd interview" you are referring to hopefully won't be necessary.

[Verrou 1,962]

i have to drive 5 hours or fly 1 hour to NYC to renew my passport because that's the nearest one. depend on the embassy/consulate but most place wants you to do biometric that's why it has to be in person 

[Lil bear 4,212]

Moved to Working and traveling during immigration as this reflects OP ‘s question 

[Adventine 3,196]

1 hour ago, zamardii12 said:

That's what I don't know how to do. Specifically how to renew her European passport from the United States. There are embassies where this is possible, but it's hard to believe that I would physically have to fly to one of these four locations to renew a passport. I am really tired of having our second interview delayed all the time b/c of COVID, but we I guess need to renew her foreign passport somehow. 

 

That is exactly what expats do whenever they need to renew passports. They show up at their embassy/consulate. Your wife, as a Hungarian citizen, needs to go in person for biometrics. The good news is that she has several locations to choose from: 

https://washington.mfa.gov.hu/eng/page/passport-application

 

Who can and where can she/he apply for a Hungarian passport?

All Hungarian citizens can apply for a passport.

Your photo and your fingerprints are captured on-site when you apply for a passport; therefore, you will have to apply in person, at one of our representations, or during an extramural consular day.

[Thunderbolt 172]

It's only about 4 hours drive from Tampa to Miami. I know it's a pain to go for it, but since you are planning on going in January I would do it.

Imagine being stuck in Europe with expired GC.

[Timona 4,207]

2 options:

1. Have your spouse go to the Consulate here in US and renew. However, before she goes, make sure she has her Ts crossed because you don't want get there only to be sent back because of 1 document.

2. Fly home or wherever you want and apply at home or at the Consulate wherever you fly to. 

 

My best advice? Option 1

[African Zealot 1,455]

2 hours ago, zamardii12 said:

There are embassies where this is possible, but it's hard to believe that I would physically have to fly to one of these four locations to renew a passport.

What is hard to believe? That is how it is done by most countries. Nothing unbelievable about it.

Edited August 22, 2022 by African Zealot