Traveling abroad for the first time with GC

[teaorcoffee 0]

Hello.

I successfully adjusted my status from B-2 to a permanent resident last year.

It's been several months since I received my 2 year conditional Green Card and now I'm planning to visit my family back in my home country for about 2 weeks.

I'm quite nervous as this will be my first time to use my GC (when I return to U.S. from the trip).

What is it like? Anything that I need to be worried about when I come back to U.S.? Anything I should be prepared for?

Any advice would be appreciated

Thanks!

[aleful 1,905]

Hello.

I successfully adjusted my status from B-2 to a permanent resident last year.

It's been several months since I received my 2 year conditional Green Card and now I'm planning to visit my family back in my home country for about 2 weeks.

I'm quite nervous as this will be my first time to use my GC (when I return to U.S. from the trip).

What is it like? Anything that I need to be worried about when I come back to U.S.? Anything I should be prepared for?

Any advice would be appreciated

Thanks!

Just enjoy it, and when you come back you can go through the lines that are only for USC and LPR. It's an undescribable feeling when the officer says welcome home. they'll just ask you where you went and for how long, some ask you if you had a good trip. very quick because all your information is on your GC. The officer will stamp your passport and voila, off you go to pick up your luggage if you have to.

[raffy 7]

Hello.

I successfully adjusted my status from B-2 to a permanent resident last year.

It's been several months since I received my 2 year conditional Green Card and now I'm planning to visit my family back in my home country for about 2 weeks.

I'm quite nervous as this will be my first time to use my GC (when I return to U.S. from the trip).

What is it like? Anything that I need to be worried about when I come back to U.S.? Anything I should be prepared for?

Any advice would be appreciated

Thanks!

You should be ready for two/three things:

1st) they will get fingerprints from both hands and a picture (then, with time and depending on the officer, you may just need a picture and your right thumb) and they will ask you how long you were gone and what was the purpose of your travel (business or tourism?) sometimes just to mess with them I tell them that I traveled cause I felt like it, then when they give me the "what?!" look, I tell them "but mostly for tourism" with a smile on my face...

2) prepare to miss being back home, where the food is a lot better and healthier...

3) they may take you "to the back room" once in a while, mostly if you have 2 last names and the guy at the counter doesn't get that, so he will be trying to input your second last name as you first name and the computer will reject the passport... so they will make you go to the "back room" but don't worry, most of the time you will be there for not more than 4 to 5 minutes and then, they won't even take your picture or your thumb print... (out of about 20 trips, I've seen "the back room" about 8 to 10 times, half of those times they didn't even say anything else but a "sorry for the wait, welcome home"). Some other times, Custom's may ask you more questions than the actual immigration officer... if that's the case, just answer the right answers cause they may bust your b@lls for a few minutes if they feel like having fun...

Best advise: when booking an international flight, try to get your seats all the way towards the front of the plane, otherwise you will have to wait in line after all of the people in front of you and when walking towards admissions, walk fast....

Another thing: for those with the "2 year" greencard: once the card expires, you can travel with your expired card AND your NOA, the NOA states that your GC have been extended for one more year OR, have your passport stamped at your local USCIS office (make an infopass appointment for that)

I hope this little posting helps future readers!!