Maneuvering my way to Armenia (from Georgia)

[boyovbusatov]

Hello! I thought I'd stop by here to ask this question to my Armenian folks. This has been worrying me so much.

Here's the problem.

I have a US green card which was issued on basis of asylum. I've been here over 7 years. Now I want to go back for a visit to see my parents. But I am told on my way back I might have a problem with the immigration, since my green card was given to me as an asylum seeker. However, I can go to any other country with no questions asked.

Now I think I should go to Georgia with my US travel document, then enter Armenia with my brand new Armenian passport that I just renewed, then fly back to US through Georgia, so that there is no record in my US travel document of me ever entering Armenia. But will that work?n Won't the Georgian officials wonder how I found myself in Georgia in the first place, since there's no entry stamp in my shiny new Armenian passport?

Has anyone ever have to do this, or heard anyone doing it? Must be a way out!

Thanks so much for your time to read this.

Aram

[Mos]

Re: Maneuvering my way to Armenia (from Georgia)

Aram, it's risky. First of all when crossing to border you can get checked, and they can search your name and see that you searched for asylum. Also, in Armenia there is always a chance authorities will catch you and if they do, they can do whatever they want to you because you are Armenian citizen. Since you tried to seek asylum, they are very likely to beat you and throw you in jail years. Don't forget you will have to serve in the army if you haven't already. I'm not an expert but have heard stories. Best to talk to immigration experts in an Armenian community.

[boyovbusatov]

Re: Maneuvering my way to Armenia (from Georgia)

Aram, it's risky. First of all when crossing to border you can get checked, and they can search your name and see that you searched for asylum. Also, in Armenia there is always a chance authorities will catch you and if they do, they can do whatever they want to you because you are Armenian citizen. Since you tried to seek asylum, they are very likely to beat you and throw you in jail years. Don't forget you will have to serve in the army if you haven't already. I'm not an expert but have heard stories. Best to talk to immigration experts in an Armenian community.

Thanks, Movses. But army is not a problem. I just turned 27 and all I have to do is pay my fine and they will issue me an army card. That is without questions.

The only problem I have is the uncertainty about being able to cross the Georgian border while showing a brand new Armenian passport, not my US travel passport (I am a green card holder).

Basically, I don't want to have a stamp in my passport showing that I entered Armenia. It will just show that I went to Tbilisi stayed there for 4-5 months and came back to USA.

[retro]

Re: Maneuvering my way to Armenia (from Georgia)

I suppose you could always 'lose' your Armenian passport, but not your birth certificate and have new emergency passport issued by the Armenian consulate in Georgia.