What does my mom needs to re-enter the US?

Question

My mom was born in Mexico and now she is a legal US permanent resident. I heard that everyone traveling to Mexico needs a passport to come back to the US. She is spending Christmas in Mexico, does she need a passport to come back in January? If she does, from what country? I tried to apply to get a passport for her in US, but they didn't accept the "green card." So what does she need to re-enter the US? The Mexican passport, just the "green card, or something else?" Thank you!

Answer 1

Your Mom CANNOT get a U.S. passport until she  becomes a U.S. citizen.  She must use her Mexican passport.  If she does not currently  have a Mexican passport she needs to go to the nearest Mexican consulate or embassy to apply for one.  If she is FLYING to Mexico, she will not be allowed on the plane without a passport.  If she is travelling by LAND, she does not need a passport.  Passports for LAND travel to and from Mexico are not needed until after SUMMER 2008.  See wesite below and read top half of page for current info.  You cannot apply for a passport for another person...no matter what country.  As a resident alien in the U.S. , it is HER responsibility to always have a current passport from her home country.   Because passports were not required in the past for travel to Mexico, many Mexican citizens never got one...but now she must.  See 2nd website for list of Mexican consuates in the U.S.

Answer 2

I think you need to check the web site for the Department of National Security, Borders Protection, to ask them to be sure, since all this changes have everybody confused.

http://www.dhs.gov/index.shtm

Answer 3

a proper u.s. id and visa, thats how I will go back to the u.s. but then again i'm different if i were u i would consult an immigration lawyer.