We end the week with some new developments for United States Citizens with expired passports.
On June 29, 2022, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Carrier Liaison Program announced the end of a policy that previously allowed U.S. Citizens to re-enter the United States from abroad with expired passports.
You may recall that back in May of 2021, the State Department made the decision to allow stranded U.S. Citizens stuck overseas, to temporarily use their expired passports to make a direct return to the United States, provided their passports expired on or after January 1, 2020. The policy was to be in effect until June 30, 2022.
This temporary form of relief was granted in response to the extensive waiting period to renew a U.S. passport from abroad. Unlike Americans inside the United States, those waiting abroad have faced long waiting periods, due to the limited availability of appointments at U.S. Embassies and Consulates worldwide, caused by the global pandemic.
CBP has announced that as of Thursday, June 30, 2022,U.S. citizens will no longer be allowed to use their expired U.S. passport for direct return to the U. S. after June 30, 2022.
In a press release dated June 29, 2022, CBP advises officials that if a U.S. citizen overseas presents an expired U.S. passport to board a flight into the U.S., they must turn the traveler away and direct them to contact their nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate to apply for a renewal.
Furthermore, CBP has stated that the Regional Carrier Liaison Group will now be responsible for implementing the scope of these new procedures.
The Bottom Line
U.S. Citizens may no longer re-enter the United States with an expired passport and should contact their nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance. Those that need to travel to the United States urgently should review their Embassy’s website for more information on how to request an emergency appointment. Applicants should also prepare documentation evidencing their urgent travel needs.
For more information about this topic please check out our helpful links section below. We wish you a very Happy Independence Day weekend.
Questions? If you would like to schedule a consultation, please text 619-483-4549 or call 619-819-9204.
Helpful Links
- U.S. Embassy Contact Information
- CBP Announces Upcoming End of Use of Expired U.S. Passports for the Direct Return to the U.S.
- May 2021 Blog Post: U.S. Citizens Stranded Abroad Can Now Re-Enter with Expired U.S. Passports
- CBP Press Release: Travel of U.S. Citizens with Expired Passports Extended
- DOS Update Return Travel on Recently Expired U.S. Passports
- DOS COVID-19 Traveler Information
- USCIS Processing Times
- Chats with Charlie YouTube Channel
- Blog Post: Rescission of P.P. 10014
- Blog Post: What is happening with the EB-5 Regional Center Program?
- Immigrant Visa Backlog Report
- DOS Visa Services Operating Status Update
- ImmigrationLawyerBlog
- ImmigrationU Membership
- Success stories
- Youtube channel
- ImmigrationU
JOIN OUR NEW FACEBOOK GROUP
Need more immigration updates? We have created a new facebook group to address the impact of the new executive order and other changing developments related to COVID-19. Follow us there.
For other COVID 19 related immigration updates please visit our Immigration and COVID-19 Resource Center here.