Can I travel on a green card?

by Connie
(Paramount, CA USA)

Question: I am a Filipino living in the United States on a VISA. Can I travel to the places below without a passport even if I am not a United States citizen? I would like to travel to St. Thomas, Antigua, Dominican Republic, Barbados, Tortola, and Puerto Rico.

Thank you for your assistance with my questions.

Answer: You can travel outside the U.S. if you possess a green card. You will need a valid passport from the Philippines. When returning to the United States after temporary travel abroad, you will need to present your valid, unexpired “green card” (Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card).

Entry requirements for each destination varies. Some requirements are listed below along with contact information for others.

St. Thomas and Puerto Rico: You do not need any additional travel documents other than your passport and green card since both of these are U.S. territories.

Antigua: Contact the Embassy of Antigua and Barbuda located at 3216 New Mexico Ave. NW in Washington, DC. The phone number is 202 362 5122 and the Email address is embantbar@aol.com.

Dominican Republic: Visitors who do not obtain a Dominican visa prior to entry must purchase a tourist card upon arrival to enter the country. Tourist cards cost ten U.S. dollars, which must be paid in U.S. currency. Tourist cards may be purchased at the Dominican Embassy in Washington or Dominican consulates prior to arrival, as well as at Dominican airports at the time of entry.

Barbados: For information about entry requirements for Filipinos, contact the Embassy of Barbados, 2144 Wyoming Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, telephone (202) 939-9200, fax (202) 332-7467, e-mail: washington@foreign.gov.bb; or the consulates of Barbados in Los Angeles, Miami or New York.

Tortola: According to the British Virgin Island Tourist Board, visitors to Tortola "may be granted entry for up to one month at the ports of entry, provided that they possess return (or ongoing) tickets, evidence of adequate means of support and pre-arranged accommodations during their stay."