Hi Moms
My SIL is planning on traveling to Mexico in June to visit her family. She married my BIL 2 years ago and I believe has her Legal Alien card, is that what it is called? Well we are trying to figure out if she will be able to come back in to the US if she is not a citizen and therefore does not have her Passport. I was told, by another person, that because she will not have the correct documentation she will not be let back in. Is that true, or is that a rumor of somesort? Also is there such a thing as a 10 year visitor visa?
Thanks, just looking for a bit more information :)
Thanks everybody, after doing more research she is going to have to get her passport from Mexico. Which she doesn't have. So she is either going to have to re-schedule the trip or find another way. Of course she is upset as she was assuming that her green card made her an automatic citizen, which we know doesn't. The reason I asked about the 10 year visitor visa is because she claimed she was here on one. Obviously, looking back she was here illegally. So she doesn't know how that is going to play into her passport. We shall see. Thanks again!
UPDATE: Just found out they are flying. I know the rules would be different than just crossing the border. You ladies are so very helpful! Thank you for all the information and links!
hello M.,
so long as she has her residency card, she would be fine. but I think she'll need a valid mexican passport, you may want to inquire with the mexican consulate or go on line and view the INS website. I have traveled out of the country when I was still a legal resident and i needed my card, passport and valid ID. hope this helps.
The Immigration people, are very fickle. It is dicey... as to whether she will be let back in.
I have friends, who do not leave the USA, because of this. They are from Europe.
My husband, is from Europe. HIS papers were fine, he was a bona fide legal Resident alien, ie: green card, and when he went to update his records, they tried to deport him. For no reason. Just out of being jerks. They even insulted me, for being with a "foreigner" etc.
They even put him in a cell at Immigration. I got an Attorney... it took time to get him out. It was horrendous.
they had NO basis to do what they did. We almost sued.
My Husband is now a US Citizen. But that horrible experience he had prior, was just a complete night mare.
I would be very wary... of leaving the country and coming back. I have seen others, who are prominent law abiding citizens from all socio-economic levels, who were not let back in... again, for groundless reasons. There was nothing wrong with their status or paper work.
Again, do not take it for granted.
It is not a rumor. These things DO happen. And there is no way to predict it. It is and can be a VERY complicated capricious matter. The 'rules" do not always apply.
Take care,
Susan
Aside from her concerns about immigration laws and being able to return...this just is not a good time to travel to Mexico. The lawlessness and drug cartel issues have gotten huge in past months. It simply is not safe to travel across the border right now. If it were me, I'd postpone my trip until things are safer.
As of June 1 all US citizens have to have a passport to travel to Mexico so I would assume that she would need either a US passport or Mexican passport to enter and exit Mexico. The laws are getting stricter so she definitely needs to check and find out the requirements for leaving and reentering the country.
M. B
Tell your SIL to check with the ins before traveling as they can help her obtain the documentation she will need to return. I realize this can be risky, but if she has nothing to be afraid of they can help her to ensure her safe return to the US from Mexico. I researched your post and did not find much information on this aspect of traveling across the into and back from either country. Sorry I don't have any other solution or recourse, but this is the best I can suggest.
If she has all her papers then she will have a Green Card. I'd make sure all her paper work is in order before she goes
or it could take some getting her back into the US. I'm not sure abt the 10 yr card. I'd call imigration or some one else that knows alot abt these laws. You can call & ask ? with out revealing your name or hers.
If she is married to an American, I believe she may be considered an American. Check it out at a passport agency...AAA or the post office. It is best she gets a passport to go into Mexico. They are getting stricter at the border.
M.,
My Mom is a Resident Alien, and has been here since she was a very small child...her Dad born here and he married my Grandma over there. Long story short, if she has Resident Alien status she can come and go into the country as long as she in not gone for more than a year.
http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_1333.html
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb959...
You can always call the Immigration Services if you have questions...Good Luck!
We traveled to Mexico for Christmas 2007 and my husband who has a valid Green Card also required to have his Mexican Passport updated. With National Security the way it is these days, I would rather be safe and have both. If she is traveling in June that doesn't leave her much time to get it done though as it can take the Mexican Consulate up to 2-3 months to get a passport.
Best wishes
I am a resident alien.
I am married to an american and I have a green card and am allowed to stay and work here. I know can move about the world as I please and been to Germany several times and have always been able to come back in without any problems. I do have a German passport to go with my American Green card.
If she has a green card ( looks like t pink drivers licence ) just make sure it is not expired. she should be fine.
-c
If she has her Green Card, she should be able to come back into the US without a problem, BUT she likely also needs a passport from her country. I am an Australian citizen, but a legal immigrant to the US (thus have a green card). I travel on an Australian passport, issued by the Australian Government. The rules have tightened up in the last year or so as far as needing a passport to travel even to Mexico or Canada. She needs to check this out carefully--look up her country's embassy online--they should have up to date info on the requirements, and then she should get the process rolling as it can take a while to process the paperwork. I'm no expert, this is purely based on my own experience. Just make sure she has researched the requirements before she leaves the US.
Hi Marcia, It's called a green card, and if she has one of those, she should be OK, but I ould do all the research before she goes just to be sure. Now if she's a Military wife who has a ID card that would be great, if not tell her to do her home work, because once she is there it will be to late. If I were in her shoes, I would bring here for a visit instead of going there. Like I said though it sounds like she has her green card so she should be OK. J. L.
Hi M.,
I am not an American citizen (Canadian). I have what is called a permanent residence card (also known as green card). I travel to and from Canada at least once a year with no problems. As long as she is legally in the U.S. she should not have any problems. I am assuming she has a Mexican passport? If not, she or your BIL can call the US embassy and just ask. She may find because of the new Homeland Security regulations, you can't travel between countries without a passport - regardless of residence status. Hope this helps.
A.
M.,
If she has her "green card" and it is not expired she should be able to come and go as she wants. She can only get that if she is a legal resident of the united states, meaning she has not yet become U.S citizen. Now she can have a Visa from Mexico that allows her to travel back and forth with no problem. If she has all of her paperwork in order she should have no problem.
