First time used green card - what I learned and you need to know.

[Robert&Karen 264]

My wife and I needed to rush to the UK for a funeral. She traveled on her UK passport under her maiden name with a ticket in the same name, and I used my US passport. We brought her green card and an original marriage license. here is what we learned:

1 - Frequent flyer account needs to be in ticketed name. We needed to make her a new account at the airline gate. not a big deal, but it's a ton of miles.

LESSON LEARNED: Make the frequent flyer account at home before you buy the tickets.

2 - When we got to the UK she was simply waved through. No passport stamp, inspection, or questions. UK folks get into the UK rather easily. I have more questions re-entering the US!

LESSON LEARNED: Everyone loves the Brits coming home.

3 - I was carrying all the carry-on luggage and grabbed all the checked bags since I was in the "Visitor" line while my wife was in the European Resident line. When I exited customs it turns out that she was stopped and I went through. Why? because it looks really funny when a person gets off the plane and has ZERO baggage. Nothing. Nada. And I did not see her get stopped.

LESSON LEARNED: Carry some bags and look like a traveler since, well, you ARE a traveler! Or at least go through customs together so they can see the luggage and people who own it. A single person traveling with no bags raises flags.

So, getting there was easy. On the way back we were going through US Customs and using her green card for the very first time. How did that go? Read on.

4 - At the airport the airlines scanned our passports on a mobile trolley and I saw the screen results. A green box pops up and it says OK TO PROCEED TO US.

LESSON LEARNED: This does NOT guarantee entry to the US. Keep reading.

5 - The airline gave us each an I-94 since we have different last names. Customs said no, they are wrong, only use one form.

LESSON LEARNED: The airlines know less about Customs than Customs knows about airplanes. one form suffices.

6 - At re-entry my passport was simply scanned and I was told I can proceed. My wife had to give fingerprints as well as her UK passport and green card. Immigration did not need to see the marriage certificate.

LESSON LEARNED: Leave the extra paperwork at home. Passport and GC suffice.

7 - The Customs agent asked my wife some questions, one being "have you ever been arrested" and my wife said no. As some of you know my wife had an arrest almost a year ago and it was dismissed, but she said she forgot. That showed up on the entry check. We were referred to secondary screening. On our way to screening I had reminded her of the arrest and she did not think it counted because it was dismissed before even going to court.

LESSON LEARNED: It counts!

8 - While awaiting our turn we saw some really interesting interviews going on. People entering the US were staying they had no green card and they are a tourist, but Customs shows them having been issued a GC. There were people lying right to the agents even when paperwork in hand proved them to be lying. I am sure more than one got sent back home on the next flight. I do not want to give too many details since Customs would not appreciate it, but let's just say when Customs gives you advice, take it! And when they ask you a question there is a good chance they already know the answer. Also did you know the I-94 is only good for one year? If you still have one after than, go to the airport and get a new one!

LESSON LEARNED: Do not lie!

9 - When our name was called we went to the window and stood there waiting. From what we had seen in other interviews, do not speak until asked a question. Anyway we stood there while the agent shuffled papers here and there, then opened the passport and "KTHUNK!" -- entry granted. "KTHUNK" again on the Declaration. We were then told to go through another door, and we found ourselves on the US side of the border. We suspect they pulled the arrest record to find there was indeed no conviction.

LESSON LEARNED: Never miss a good opportunity to shut up!

10 - We then caught our next flight and at that end passed more TSA until we were out of the airport and on the way home.

LESSON LEARNED: You are not "home" until you are out of the airport.

May your travels be better because of what we learned!

[Robert&Karen 264]

Oops we did not get the I94 we got Declarations! Sorry!

[TimeTravel 78]

Good advice! Thank you! :-)

[hmh33 117]

Next time you go to the UK you can both use the EU line, since you are travelling together. Saves some time.

[jojolicious 38]

Loved this post. Very thorough!

[Frances&Bryan 6]

Thank you for sharing your experience!! It helps alot when all of us are traveling back and forth to see our loved ones!!

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

Next time you go to the UK you can both use the EU line, since you are travelling together. Saves some time.

This. I take my USC daughter with me on the EU line when I travel on my UK passport.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Nice post! US Citizens and LPRs do not get I-94s, though. I think in the first you meant the Customs declaration, and in the second mention about it being good for a year, I am not sure what you mean Anyway, thanks for the post!

[Robert&Karen 264]

Nice post! US Citizens and LPRs do not get I-94s, though. I think in the first you meant the Customs declaration, and in the second mention about it being good for a year, I am not sure what you mean Anyway, thanks for the post!

Yes I meant the Customs Declaration, sorry. White at the secondary screening is when I saw another person with an expired I-94 and they told her just to go to the airport for a new one after a year. That may be helpful for some.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Good list but #6 - if her passport doesn't match her GC you're better to carry the marriage certificate just in case. Would be worse to be without it.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Here's the most important lesson to be learned: do not change your name just because you got married!

Back in Jane Austen's days, when the wife was more or less spoken for and became the property of the husband, when horse and carriage was the main means of transportation for the well-heeled, this was a no brainer. Today, we live in a different world. Women are not the property of their husbands anymore, we travel by flying ships, and it's okay to keep one's identity, even if one gets married.

[Robert&Karen 264]

Good list but #6 - if her passport doesn't match her GC you're better to carry the marriage certificate just in case. Would be worse to be without it.

True. It is only one sheet of paper. Better to be overprepared.

As for changing names, that is a matter if culture. In these "modern times" many couples do not even marry. How far do we want to take it?

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

Here's the most important lesson to be learned: do not change your name just because you got married!

Back in Jane Austen's days, when the wife was more or less spoken for and became the property of the husband, when horse and carriage was the main means of transportation for the well-heeled, this was a no brainer. Today, we live in a different world. Women are not the property of their husbands anymore, we travel by flying ships, and it's okay to keep one's identity, even if one gets married.

One's identity isn't one's last name, but one's personhood and personality.

Personally, I'll be glad when we can go back to America and change my last name to his. I think it builds a cohesive household unit when everyone can be identified as the "Jensens", for example.