Visa/passport Puzzle

[Pudgimelon]

I have a Hmong friend who has lived in America most of her life (she came over as a refugee when she was a kid about 20 or 30 years ago). She's a permanent resident and has a green card. She's also married to an American citizen and has several children.

She wants to come visit me and my wife for the holidays, but there's a bit of a problem.

Since she was a refugee, she does not have a passport from Laos (or Thailand). The only records she has are those that were given to her by the government when she was settled in the States.

Every bit of information I can find on the web about "permanent residents" travelling abroad seems to assume that the already have passports (or can get them) from their home country, and so most of the information available is about how to make sure you get back INTO the States (without losing the green card), instead of how you can LEAVE.

There doesn't seem to be any information on how a non-citizen, permanent resident can travel abroad without a passport from their home country. So what are former refugees supposed to do?

Laos doesn't even have a foreign consular office in America, so getting a passport from them would be impossible (even if they would give one to an American Hmong).

Don't even know how she'd go about getting a visa into Thailand, or even what agency she should be asking. State department handles passports, but Homeland Security handles citizenship.

Anyone else have a similar experience or more information?

Is the only realistic route citizenship and then passport? Or is there some special status granted to refugees that would allow them to travel in a different way?

Anyway, my friend would like to come here in the next few months, so any info would be appreciated.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

The US Passport Office could issue a Travel Document if it wants to. That will enable travel for her. It is similar to a passport.

[asanee]

yes, thats it, its commonly called a 'refugee' or displaced persons passport; NOTE: this MAY bring additional paperwork for re-entry to USA, though this seems unlikely with current green card. Is also very common under displaced Tibetans (i met 1 living in India, visiting bKK, and he had to first visit Indian emb. to gain a re-entry permit to get home!

[dr_Pat_Pong]

yes, thats it, its commonly called a 'refugee' or displaced persons passport; NOTE: this MAY bring additional paperwork for re-entry to USA, though this seems unlikely with current green card. Is also very common under displaced Tibetans (i met 1 living in India, visiting bKK, and he had to first visit Indian emb. to gain a re-entry permit to get home!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's it. Most countries issue them to those categories you mention. There are a few hurdles to jump but it is workable.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

The OP can also try the Laos Embassy, 2222 S Street, NW Washington 20008, Tel 202 332 4923 www.laoembassy.com

[fxm88]

Any refugee staying in the U.S. and not actively seeking citizenship for themselves or their [non-citizen] children is crazy and here's why: America has started to make good on its threat to deport refugees convicted of commiting crimes, even minor crimes like DUI (drunk driving) or shoplifting. So far it's only been the Cambodians (they're the first country to agree to it) but since they apply it retroactively even if a refugee is "safe" today it could all change tomorrow.

http://www.asianweek.com/2002_11_22/feature.html

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?...L&feed=rss.news

http://www.alternet.org/wiretap/21744/

[cathyy]

Any refugee staying in the U.S. and not actively seeking citizenship for themselves or their [non-citizen] children is crazy and here's why: America has started to make good on its threat to deport refugees convicted of commiting crimes, even minor crimes like DUI (drunk driving) or shoplifting.

I seem to recall a case late last year or early this year where a local Korean young man is being deported due to a long juvenile record and then a minor adult crime. He doesn't speak Korean, he was brought to the US as a very small child. Probably not as serious as a Cambodian, but he still is totally unprepared to live in Korea. So I can verify that yes, the US is suddenly serious about deporting people.

[Smokin Joe]

Any refugee staying in the U.S. and not actively seeking citizenship for themselves or their [non-citizen] children is crazy and here's why: America has started to make good on its threat to deport refugees convicted of commiting crimes, even minor crimes like DUI (drunk driving) or shoplifting.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I seem to recall a case late last year or early this year where a local Korean young man is being deported due to a long juvenile record and then a minor adult crime. He doesn't speak Korean, he was brought to the US as a very small child. Probably not as serious as a Cambodian, but he still is totally unprepared to live in Korea. So I can verify that yes, the US is suddenly serious about deporting people.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It was fortunate in this case that he had not aquired citizenship.

[QEU]

She needs to apply for US re-entry permit along with a travel VISA. I believe Thailand will only grant her access if she has a way secure way of going back to the US. For a green card holder, a re-entry permit is the only way to get back to US ground. Just tell her to apply for US citizenship, almost the same wait time.

[vinny]

See How Do I Get a Travel Document?