Can you travel to America without a passport?

[NicolaNSam]

Hello everyone,

 

Nicola's Uncle is a Macao citizen while his wife and son are legal residents but do not have passports because they canceled their mainland citizenship and had to give up their passport for a Macao resident card. They can't get a Macao passport until they are citizens so can they travel to the U.S. with their resident card and no passport? They went to Thailand with only a resident card does anyone know if they can come to the U.S. to visit with no passport and just the resident card? Thanks in advance!

 

 

Sam

[C4Racer]

Yes, they are required to have a visa.

 

Only Macau residents who hold a Portugese passport do not need a visa.

 

Here is information from US consulate in Hong Kong.

http://hongkong.usconsulate.gov/niv_need.html

 

It appears they need either passport or Macau SAR Travel Permit. Here is information on this:

http://www.dsi.gov.mo/documents/sar_tp_index_e.html

From reading it seems that it can replace the passport to allow travel to US as with this you can get a US visa.

Edited August 16, 2008 by C4Racer (see edit history)

[dnoblett]

NO foreign citizen can enter the USA without a passport or boarder crossing card, with the exception of Canadian Citizens, but Canadians are required to show proof of citizenship, this will be changing very soon to require a border crossing card or passport.

 

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/...nada_mexico.xml

[Sebastian]

Are they citizens of any country? If so - which one? Follow the guidelines for **That** country...

 

But - assume for the moment that they fell out of status when Portugal gave up Macao - and they never ever did anything to set up 'citizenship' status.

 

Got a birth certificate? If for Macao, MAYBE can get grandfathered to Portugal Citizenzip - but requires a lawyer who has an 'in' at the Portugal Embassy in Macao. YMMV.

[NicolaNSam]

The wife and son moved from China to Macao. When they moved China asked for their passport back since they were legal residents of Macao and their citizenship was pending. They were allowed to travel to Thailand with their residency card so its a legal document that allows them to travel. They won't be getting their passports from Macao until they become citizens and again, they had to give up their passports from China since they are legal residents of Macao. The husband is a Citizen and is the only one with a passport.

I called our immigration attorney and she said they need any documents that permit them to travel to another country even if its a residency card from Macao and not a passport. The problem is when you look at the UCIS website it says you need to have a valid passport with six months validity to travel into the U.S. This is a bit confusing. Anyone have any first hand experience with this at all? Any information would help. Thanks again for everyone's input.

[dnoblett]

Again, wont be able to enter the USA without a passport, may have entered Thailand using the Macao residency card because Thailand recognizes the card.

 

The problem will be trying to apply for a Visa to enter the USA, without a passport, the counselor officer at the US embassy will be unable to issue the visa, and without passport and visa, the airline wont let the traveler board the flight to the USA.

 

National CHINA (PEOPLE'S REP.) (CN)

Destination U.S.A. (US)

 

 

U.S.A. (US)

 

 

 

Passport required (valid for at least 6 months beyond date of

intended departure from the U.S.A.).

For validity see: For details, click here - Item 2.

Also accepted: Hong Kong Document of Identity (HKDI).

 

 

If holding Hong Kong (SAR China) or Macao (SAR China) passport:

passport must be valid at time of entry; passenger may be

 

authorized to stay until the expiry date of the passport.

 

 

Visa required.

 

Passport and visa are not required if holding:

Form I-512 ( Authorization for Parole of an Alien into the

 

United States").

http://www.timaticweb.com/cgi-bin/tim_webs...ubuser=DELTAB2C

 

http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations...rt_information/

 

MORE: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/...sa_adrecord.xml

Edited August 18, 2008 by dnoblett (see edit history)