Experienced Problem Traveling while I-751 Pending

[anjinsan 4]

Hello all,

Just wanted to share my experience a few days ago when I returned from a short trip to Europe. When it was our turn to see an Immigration Officer (IO), we went to the counter together. I showed him my passport and my expired green card. He immediately asked if I had "the paper". I gave him the original NOA letter, and started processing my GC, taking my fingerprints, and finally my photo. He gave me all my documents back (passport, GC, NOA letter) and I thought we were done but he says: "Wait a minute, can I see that GC again?" I said sure, and I gave it back to him. Once he looked at it and looked at his monitor, he asked me:

IO: "Is this your first GC?"

Me: "Yes."

IO: "So, you never lost it or got a replacement or anything."

Me: "Nope."

After this quick exchange, he told us that they would have to "finish me up" in the dreaded back room. He took only my green card, and said I could hold on to my passport and NOA letter. Once we got into the back room, there was no other passengers there, so the whole thing took maybe 5 mins. The officer in the back room asked for my passport (not the NOA letter), and asked us for how long we were in Europe. He looked at his screen, entered a couple of things from my GC, and sent us on our way. I was never given an explanation of why they took us to the back room.

For a reference, I am an April CSC filer, and my application is still pending initial review (although 50% of CSC filers have been approved as of today).

Does anybody have an idea of what these actions by USCIS mean? Should I be worried?

[bigdog 376]

You got back in, personally we avoided traveling when stuff was not perfect,

[epsonderby 85]

Anyone can get stopped and randomly taken into secondary. I wouldn't necessarily read too much into it.

As you described, you were done in 5 minutes and were never 'questioned' or made to feel uncomfortable, right?

[anjinsan 4]

Anyone can get stopped and randomly taken into secondary. I wouldn't necessarily read too much into it.

As you described, you were done in 5 minutes and were never 'questioned' or made to feel uncomfortable, right?

That is right, but I wonder why the officer asked me if this was my first GC, or if I ever lost it or got a replacement? That is why they took me to 'secondary'.

[Stephen + Elisha 92]

If it continues to bother you, you could FOIA your A-file after your ROC is complete and see if anything in there suggests a reason for the questions they were asking...

[ToLa 0]

May we know which POE?

TIA

Hello all,

Just wanted to share my experience a few days ago when I returned from a short trip to Europe. When it was our turn to see an Immigration Officer (IO), we went to the counter together. I showed him my passport and my expired green card. He immediately asked if I had "the paper". I gave him the original NOA letter, and started processing my GC, taking my fingerprints, and finally my photo. He gave me all my documents back (passport, GC, NOA letter) and I thought we were done but he says: "Wait a minute, can I see that GC again?" I said sure, and I gave it back to him. Once he looked at it and looked at his monitor, he asked me:

IO: "Is this your first GC?"

Me: "Yes."

IO: "So, you never lost it or got a replacement or anything."

Me: "Nope."

After this quick exchange, he told us that they would have to "finish me up" in the dreaded back room. He took only my green card, and said I could hold on to my passport and NOA letter. Once we got into the back room, there was no other passengers there, so the whole thing took maybe 5 mins. The officer in the back room asked for my passport (not the NOA letter), and asked us for how long we were in Europe. He looked at his screen, entered a couple of things from my GC, and sent us on our way. I was never given an explanation of why they took us to the back room.

For a reference, I am an April CSC filer, and my application is still pending initial review (although 50% of CSC filers have been approved as of today).

Does anybody have an idea of what these actions by USCIS mean? Should I be worried?