Going Through Internal Immigration Checkpoint With Passport Only

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

My Wife just arrived on a CR1 visa and we are thinking of going to attend an annual car show in San Diego this weekend. This will for sure have us go through an immigration checkpoint in both directions.

The research that I've done indicates that as long as we have the passport that she would be fine but I want to make doubly sure.

What says yee of immigration whizzadry?

PS: We've paid the GC fee but no GC or SSN yet.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

There is no internal immigration (except for some randoms in border states, I suppose). TSA is not immigration, they just check IDs. If your wife has CR1 then she should have a temporary GC in her passport anyway (visa + endorsement stamp), but it won't be checked on domestic flights. Happy travels!

Edited October 10, 2013 by Harpa Timsah

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

There is no internal immigration (except for some randoms in border states, I suppose). TSA is not immigration, they just check IDs. If your wife has CR1 then she should have a temporary GC in her passport anyway (visa + endorsement stamp), but it won't be checked on domestic flights. Happy travels!

There is internal immigration when driving on I-5 near San Diego and they do more than check IDs when they feel like.

I forgot about the endorsement, we do have that.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Ah, I thought you were flying

I have been though a checkpoint in a car near San Diego when I was a kid. It was very odd.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Wait a minute. This is the state that will give drivers licenses to illegals and won't follow US immigration laws but they are going to check green cards for someone legally in the US for being in a car in the US? Priceless.

[newacct 688]

Wait a minute. This is the state that will give drivers licenses to illegals and won't follow US immigration laws but they are going to check green cards for someone legally in the US for being in a car in the US? Priceless.

It's the federal government checking it. California couldn't care less.

My Wife just arrived on a CR1 visa and we are thinking of going to attend an annual car show in San Diego this weekend. This will for sure have us go through an immigration checkpoint in both directions.

The research that I've done indicates that as long as we have the passport that she would be fine but I want to make doubly sure.

What says yee of immigration whizzadry?

PS: We've paid the GC fee but no GC or SSN yet.

She is a permanent resident. Her immigrant visa, endorsed on entry, is equivalent to the physical green card. So it's no different than if she had a physical card.

[Darnell 8,478]

Gowon: echo: that endorsement stamp in her passport turns her visa into a temporary I-551 document, a 1 year temporary green card.

reread the visa, purty please?

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

Gowon: echo: that endorsement stamp in her passport turns her visa into a temporary I-551 document, a 1 year temporary green card.

reread the visa, purty please?

Oh trust me, I've read everything.

I think silently I was hoping for a "oh yeah my wife and I just passed through their a fortnight ago and we had no issues after showing our endorsed visa".

I'm a paranoid freak like that when it comes to the guvmint.

PS: I feel confident enough now that we'll be spending the weekend in San Diego. We'll drive down after I take her to Big Bear lake first to experience snow. The ultimate Snow and Surf weekend?

Edited October 10, 2013 by Gowon

[TBoneTX 45,288]

Brother G., also bring your marriage certificate. Kill them with overdocumentation. I can't speak for California, but in Texas, the CBP agents are bored, suspicious, usually looking to nail someone, and often mean.

Neither you nor anyone else wants to go voluntarily through the internal CBP checkpoint south of Alpine, Texas. Trust this.

Edited October 11, 2013 by TBoneTX