First time using a GC to Travel

[catknit 144]

Is there some kind of "activation" that must occur when using the GC to travel abroad for the first time? My husband just went home [and abroad] for the first time, returning this morning, and at the POE [Chicago] had to go to secondary. Is that typical? Given his general treatment at the POE, my congressman is getting a letter anyway - but I'd like to know what other people's experiences are before I truly start ranting about it.

[JoannaV 174]

No, there should be no reason for them to be extra interrogatory just because it is the first time going through as a permanent resident. Being put into secondary itself might just be a "luck of the draw" thing, however if his treatment was rude, harassing etc. there is NO reason for that.

I travelled abroad and back this summer using my green card for the first time. The officer at POE was perfectly friendly, although he insulted British food which I felt was pretty rude but he probably thought he was being clever. I didn't argue with him about it because I didn't want to antagonise him. He also asked us multiple times how long we had been out of the country for. Pretty simple answer - 12 days - so he must have just been forgetful or something.

[Ellie-and-David 38]

I anticipated some kind of mild interrogation for the first time I used my GC, but none came. The officer was polite. Commented on how I had just missed out on receiving the new version of the greencard, waved us through and welcomed us back.

I think experiences can differ as greatly as the personalities of POE officers or the general ethic of the airport you are flying through. If you feel that your husband was subject to unusual or unfair treatment, you should of course make your opinion heard.

[Anh map 2,098]

Sometimes you get secondary, sometimes you don't is my experience entering the country. Don't take it personally.

FWIW I am not a green card holder.

Edited October 1, 2010 by Anh map

[VanessaTony 3,567]

No activation that I know of either. Think this was a "luck of the draw" thing. I would assume some high-fraud countries might get a second glance. Perhaps he got a "new" consular officer who didn't know what the new cards looked like?

[catknit 144]

Secondary isn't the issue actually. I actually go to secondary every time I cross the US border and at each POE I've used [i had a passport stolen in 1992 and I am therefore flagged - I need to "prove" my identity each time answering a series of questions about other crossings and family information].

What concerned me about this most was his treatment in secondary - harassment about his name. Repeatedly having his name mocked and called out...and no, he doesn't have a cute name or a hard to pronounce name, he has a name that identifies his religion.

[Krikit 1,164]

I've never had to go to secondary when re-entering the US using the GC. I can say, however, that they do have a random check process and "my number" has come up a few times over the years. It may be that this is what happened to him. If he/you feel that there was an abuse of the process then you can file a complaint: CBP Complaints Page

Edited October 1, 2010 by Krikit

[R.&S. 2]

What is secondary thing?

[HeatDeath 430]

To the OP: I traveled outside the US to Japan for a week in July, for work. It was the first time I had been outside the US since getting my GC. The immigration officer expressed some interest in my K-1 visa, but I was basically waved right through. He even said welcome back. Another guy in my office, who has a GC as well [Albanian, adjusted from a student visa, pretty much the same timeline as me] had to do the biometrics photo and fingerprints verification they have the equipment to do at the cubicle, but also got though very smoothly and quickly, with no diversion into secondary. Your being called into secondary was probably either a result of some tag on your file, either from a failed namecheck or previous secondary inspection, or just plain bad luck.

Good luck with the complaint letter. "Don't take any guff from these swine." Secondary inspection, even for a reasonable cause, is no excuse for rudeness and unprofessionalism.

Edited October 2, 2010 by HeatDeath

[R.&S. 2]

Thanks HD.