Re-entry permit questions involving a Syrian greencard holder

[nkerio]

Hello,

My wife is a greencard holder and she must leave for a family emergency to Syria. She does not plan on staying for more than 1 year, only a matter of weeks. However, we are thinking of applying for a re-entry permit anyways, as a means of extra precaution. As Syrians (I'm a dual citizen) we are a bit paranoid especially with the current administration, and the incidents that happened in the past to certain greencard holders from certain countries coming back in. She already has her Syrian passport, valid for another 9 months, which she will be using. Do you support the idea of applying for a re-entry permit or is it totally unnecessary?

This might seem like a stupid question, but I don't want to find out I've missed any exceptions. She might be flying to and from Lebanon, so I'm assuming a re-entry permit might be necessary in this case anyways. Would there be any problems for a Syrian? Will she have to show her Syrian passport in Lebanon in addition to the re-entry permit (serving as an international travel document, as I understand it)? Thank you.


Naji

[newacct]

Hello,

My wife is a greencard holder and she must leave for a family emergency to Syria. She does not plan on staying for more than 1 year, only a matter of weeks. However, we are thinking of applying for a re-entry permit anyways, as a means of extra precaution. As Syrians (I'm a dual citizen) we are a bit paranoid especially with the current administration, and the incidents that happened in the past to certain greencard holders from certain countries coming back in. She already has her Syrian passport, valid for another 9 months, which she will be using. Do you support the idea of applying for a re-entry permit or is it totally unnecessary?

This might seem like a stupid question, but I don't want to find out I've missed any exceptions. She might be flying to and from Lebanon, so I'm assuming a re-entry permit might be necessary in this case anyways. Would there be any problems for a Syrian? Will she have to show her Syrian passport in Lebanon in addition to the re-entry permit (serving as an international travel document, as I understand it)? Thank you.


Naji

It's up to her if she wants to apply for a Re-entry Permit. If it's a short trip then it's not necessary, but like you said, it might be useful in case the plans change. Note that if she applies for it, she will still need to attend a biometrics appointment in the US (after that she doesn't have to be in the US and it can be sent to a US consulate abroad). If it's an emergency, can she wait around for the biometrics appointment?

Since she has a Syrian passport, she wouldn't need to use the Re-entry Permit as an international travel document (that's only for people who are stateless or somehow don't want to get or use their national passport). She would then just use it for re-entry to the US.

[abumiqdad]

It's up to her if she wants to apply for a Re-entry Permit. If it's a short trip then it's not necessary, but like you said, it might be useful in case the plans change. Note that if she applies for it, she will still need to attend a biometrics appointment in the US (after that she doesn't have to be in the US and it can be sent to a US consulate abroad). If it's an emergency, can she wait around for the biometrics appointment?

Since she has a Syrian passport, she wouldn't need to use the Re-entry Permit as an international travel document (that's only for people who are stateless or somehow don't want to get or use their national passport). She would then just use it for re-entry to the US.

The last paragraph, how well known is the knowledge - that Re-entry permit can be use (and is accepted) in-lieu of a country issued passport? (as in say i am from country X, and country X would not want to issue me a passport, and i happen to have a US valid re-entry permit, can i exit country X using the re-entry permit?

And will it be accepted at any airport in the world? (the permit itself stated that it is not a US passport - and the security feature is not the same as a standard international passport).

[scientist2016]

The last paragraph, how well known is the knowledge - that Re-entry permit can be use (and is accepted) in-lieu of a country issued passport? (as in say i am from country X, and country X would not want to issue me a passport, and i happen to have a US valid re-entry permit, can i exit country X using the re-entry permit?

And will it be accepted at any airport in the world? (the permit itself stated that it is not a US passport - and the security feature is not the same as a standard international passport).

It is not a US passport. Exit restrictions are a prerogative of country X. So it is up to them to allow you to travel. However, all that document does is allow you to travel to the US and enter without the usage of any other document like a passport. However it does not necessarily confer any benefits of a US passport or for that matter any other passport. Some countries might choose to honor it at their discretion.