Also, my dad has had the same green card for about 30 years. Does he need to have it renewed? I was told he needs to become a U.S. citizen in order to get a passport, Does he even need a passport? It’s very confusing to me.
Also, my dad has had the same green card for about 30 years. Does he need to have it renewed? I was told he needs to become a U.S. citizen in order to get a passport, Does he even need a passport? It’s very confusing to me.
Canada does not have a green card – they have the PR card.
Permanent residents living in Canada still need a valid passport from their home country AND a visitor visa (if they are not from a visa waiver country) to visit the USA.
Your father must have a valid and current passport from his home country in order to become a US citizen.
If a green card holder is visiting Canada, they must have a current and valid passport (from their home country) and a current valid green card but NO visitor visa is required.
The card is still technically valid
He can become a US citizen if he wants to … this means he will be a
dual citizen and can go back and forth at will
http://www.uscis.gov/files/article/M-476.pdf
Just the Green Card!
Lawful Permanent Residents (Green Card holders) do not need a passport to enter the United States, however, may need a passport to enter another country. Please contact the embassy of the foreign country you will be traveling to for their requirements.
Green cards issued between 1979 and 1988 do not have expiration dates and do not need to be renewed at this time. However, if you have a green card that was issued before 1989 and the photo was taken when you were a child, you may want to renew it even though its not required. If a CBP Officer is unable to identify you from the old photo as the legal owner of the green card, you could be delayed until your identity is verified.
Permanent residents of the United States may travel to Canada from the United States or Saint-Pierre and Miquelon without passports, travel documents or visas provided they produce satisfactory evidence of their identify and status.
Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada and registered Indians in Canada enter Canada by right. To be accepted for travel, Canadian citizens, permanent residents and registered Indians must be able to produce satisfactory evidence of their identity and status (the U.S. Green Card states Canadian citizenship).
https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1191/kw/lawful%2Bpermanent%2Bresidents/p/0/c/0 ..
https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/75/kw/lawful%2Bpermanent%2Bresidents/related/1/p/0/c/0 ..
http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/pub/bsf5023-eng.html#s2x4 ..
Btw: These provisions are still in effect after June 2009, when the passport became mandatory for Americans and Canadians, but not for U.S. Green Card holders.
http://getyouhome.gov/html/lang_eng/eng_sa.html ..