How to Ensure That You Have the Correct Immigration Documents/Forms to Return to the US

A guide to the documents required to return to the US after international travel. The guide is primarily aimed at foreign nationals in the US. More information, including for US citizens, is on the Homeland Security website: http://www.dhs.gov/xtrvlsec/.

Overview

We encourage everyone with travel plans, including US citizens, to check the Department of Homeland Security website for information on travel, including airport security and documentary requirements for US citizens: http://www.dhs.gov/xtrvlsec/. This link show average wait times at TSA security at any airport over the past month: http://waittime.tsa.dhs.gov/index.html. **** These are general guidelines for foreign nationals living in the United States who are about to travel abroad for the holidays. Some of these tips may be relevant to the person’s situation help them return to the country. However, each person’s immigration situation is different. Therefore, this information should not serve as a substitute for the advice of an immigration attorney who has reviewed the individual case.

PERMANENT RESIDENTS - Passport Requirements

All permanent residents should have a passport valid for at least 60 days beyond the expiration date of their permanent resident card (green card). The US State Department has reciprocal arrangements with certain countries that deem these passports valid for 6 months past the actual expiration date. Those countries are listed here: http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/104770.pdf.

PERMANENT RESIDENTS - Entry Documents

Permanent residents must bring evidence of their permanent residence to show on their return from international travel. This will usually be the actual green card. If the card has not yet arrived, or been lost, stolen, etc, the foreign national should get an I-551 stamp in her passport before she leaves the US. This stamp is proof that the person is a permanent resident, and is as effective as a green card for work and travel. The I-551 stamp is issued by the local CIS district office. Please contact your immigration attorney for specific instructions on how to get this stamp, if needed.

NONIMMIGRANTS - (Temporary Visa Holders, e.g. H-1B, F-1, L-1 and dependents) - Passports

Nonimmigrant foreign nationals should have a passport that will be valid for at least 6 months past the date that they intend to stay in the US. For example, a H-1B holder with a visa that expires on 9/15/10 should have a passport that expires after 3/15/11. Please see the information above for automatic extensions of passport validity for citizens of certain countries.

NONIMMIGRANTS - Entry Documents

All foreign nationals need proof of their admissibility to the US when returning for international travel. For most people, this means having a valid visa stamp in their passport. Exceptions to this rule apply to (a) Canadians, who don’t need a visa stamp but DO need to carry proof of lawful status; (b) people traveling to Canada or Mexico for less than 30 days (see below); and (c) people in the Adjustment of Status process who have a valid Advance Parole document. If a foreign national does not fall within one of these exceptions, he needs to have a valid visa. Foreign nationals who get a limited number of entries on each visa (e.g. Chinese nationals) need to be sure that they have an unused entry remaining on their existing visa.