travel while waiting for approval

[gringuitalokita 0]

I mostly just read these days but want to share a story...

Paolo and I applied to remove conditions at the beginning of March, had biometrics in April and got the one year extension stamp a few weeks ago. We travelled to Mexico for a week to visit family. Today we returned to Miami.

At immigration she cleared our son and I and then asked Paolo where his visa was. We explained that we had the stamp. After that she typed a bunch of stuff into the computer and turned on the red light. Another man came over and she told him "Mom and baby are fine but he has a B10 and ADIT stamp. This man escorted us to a room and told us to wait to be called.

There were probably 30 other people in this room and 3 immigration officers - 2 of whom went to lunch soon after we arrrived. The biggest problem with this is that my son is sick (got some kind of stomach infection in mexico) - so I really needed to change a nasty diaper. I asked the officer if they had a restroom and he replied "sorry, not here". The room was not very clean and I had to change my son's diaper on the nasty stained floor. We ended up being there for 2 hours. After one hour Paolo was called up and they asked him where he went, what he did, how long he was out of the country and what is his ss number - which he couldn't remember - but thankfully had the card with him.

Finally, after two hours they called him again, stamped his passport and we were free to go. They never did tell us why we were stopped.

The biggest problem now is that I lost my passport. At one point they asked for it and I can't remember if I got it back or not because I was preoccupied with the baby....

[bettenan 1]

I mostly just read these days but want to share a story...

Paolo and I applied to remove conditions at the beginning of March, had biometrics in April and got the one year extension stamp a few weeks ago. We travelled to Mexico for a week to visit family. Today we returned to Miami.

At immigration she cleared our son and I and then asked Paolo where his visa was. We explained that we had the stamp. After that she typed a bunch of stuff into the computer and turned on the red light. Another man came over and she told him "Mom and baby are fine but he has a B10 and ADIT stamp. This man escorted us to a room and told us to wait to be called.

There were probably 30 other people in this room and 3 immigration officers - 2 of whom went to lunch soon after we arrrived. The biggest problem with this is that my son is sick (got some kind of stomach infection in mexico) - so I really needed to change a nasty diaper. I asked the officer if they had a restroom and he replied "sorry, not here". The room was not very clean and I had to change my son's diaper on the nasty stained floor. We ended up being there for 2 hours. After one hour Paolo was called up and they asked him where he went, what he did, how long he was out of the country and what is his ss number - which he couldn't remember - but thankfully had the card with him.

Finally, after two hours they called him again, stamped his passport and we were free to go. They never did tell us why we were stopped.

The biggest problem now is that I lost my passport. At one point they asked for it and I can't remember if I got it back or not because I was preoccupied with the baby....

We have a trip planned for Dec to go to the Caribbean. Last year when coming back into the US (from the Caribbean) the immigration officer queried Richard quite at bit and seemed to be determined to give him a hard time (his Green Card was still valid). He seemed to stop when he looked up and realized the line was getting to long, so his fun was over. We have decided because of this and stories like yours we are going to only look for direct flights. A long delay would cause us to miss a connection and with airlines the way they are today, we would really be screwed. This entire process….the length of time, the attitude etc is really wearing. I talk to many federal employees with different agencies and few could get away with “service” like this.

[cherr1980 1]

These stories are very interesting. Here is mine.

Three weekends ago I traveled to Germany, in my return the airline security always asked for my extension letter, so I gave it to them. Be aware that I have been traveling over 5 times back and forth to other countries with my expired GC since March08, a stamp in my valid passport and the extension letter. Never had a problem before.

While entering...the guy put a bunch of stuff and told me to gave that to customs. I pass through the side where people pick up the bags and I noticed that instead of (1) in the custom form he puts a (P). I got detain for an hour and couple of minutes. Nothing was said about WHAT was the problem which obviously there was a problem.

After the hour or so, I saw many people in my same situation, same questions...how long you have been married, where you live, why you carry your extension letter...HUH??? I started text message my boss because I was going to get late to the office.

Same answers were given. At the end, they let me go and stamped my passport for entry. When I asked AGAIN, one of the guyd told me that because I showed the extension letter to the guy upstairs because I should have is ONLY the stamp. I got in a very nice discussion about extension letters, stamps and further delay processing just for the fun since I already spent an hour for their pleasure...well, let's make them WORK my taxes. (he even complaint that I put him in stress to go to several computers...WHATeva). Actually he wanted to take off me my extension letter saying that it was worthless.

There was no logic in my hour or so pleasant stop. Even the US is a big country and many officers would be in immigration I never considered that the next weekend that I traveled and coming from another country (another day of the week and time), who I got for officer in the entry? my friend, same guy...for my luck. That day I showed him the stamp (as many other times I had in my passport) , he stamped my passport and that was it. Less than 2 min.

Who understand them...I don't know...but I think it really depends on the mood, the day and if they received a security advice that day over the ordinary. I, in my personal view, try to avoid lines with young 20-30's men as officers.

In any case that won't stop me to continue traveling.

[baunzerbrudi 0]

I had a similar problem last summer (gc still valid) and will now have to travel with my extension letter valid only 2 weeks longer than my re-entry date. The last two times I was fine just showing the letter. Interestingly enough, I got screwed by an older lady and an older gentleman. Young guys tend to be more pleasant with me (I´m male). I have noticed that pre-screen POEs (Canada and Ireland) and NYC airports seem the "friendliest" and most professional. Never EVER will go through Minneapolis, they kept me for several hours and searched my luggage for no obvious reason.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I've been led to believe by an acquaintance that secondary inspection when entering on an ADIT stamp is SOP.

[baunzerbrudi 0]

no stamp here. only letter

[cherr1980 1]

no stamp here. only letter

That's what I discussed. The letter should be sufficient, so then why they gave it to us and states that is good for employment and travel and even the airlines asked for it!

I re-filed my I-751 with a divorce waiver last week and I am waiting for my new NOA1, and I practically need to travel again at the end of next week (hopefully my new noa will be here before that). If that so, then I will be traveling only with it, I won't have time to get the stamp. I just see myself detain again and with a big smile...this will be so fun.

[baunzerbrudi 0]

well i got kept in minnesota while my gc was still valid for 2 weeks. I also had my extension letter. The following two trips I was shaking when I got to the immigration officer who just looked at the letter and let me go. There is no telling what happens each time I travel. Hopefully this time won´t be an issue. Good luck to you. Two filings? I am still waiting for my first I-751 to be finished. Only close to 14 months!

Edited July 7, 2008 by baunzerbrudi

[cherr1980 1]

well i got kept in minnesota while my gc was still valid for 2 weeks. I also had my extension letter. The following two trips I was shaking when I got to the immigration officer who just looked at the letter and let me go. There is no telling what happens each time I travel. Hopefully this time won´t be an issue. Good luck to you. Two filings? I am still waiting for my first I-751 to be finished. Only close to 14 months!

Well one is not longer valid since I got divorce, the previous one was the joint one...so I resubmitted with the divorce waiver plus my divorce decree. My issue is if my stamp is still valid even if I got divorce? It's kind of confusing ...because my A# won't change...it's the same thing. But I don't know...don't want to risk it...so I will be wait and see what happens...

[baunzerbrudi 0]

sorry to hear about that. Hopefully your new Noa will come. I don´t think it matters what petition the stamp was issued for. You are still processed and therefore should be able to travel until they re finished with your case!

[wifey246 0]

My husband and I traveled a few times when my GC was about to expire. A couple of times, the officers pointed out the expiration date and I just assured them that I was aware of it.

One time, we handed our passports and the officer was taking a long time checking stuff on his computer. My USC husband said he knew that my status would give us inconvenience at some point. Then the officer looked up and cleared ME and ordered my USC husband to go to a room where he was questioned for a good half hour. It turned out that he has a very common name and had to go through extra security clearance.

My point is we, immigrants, are not singled out. These things happen even to USCs! Some officers are just doing their job and some can be over zealous. Let's just keep believing that this country is a safer place because of them (Amen )