Travel on GC

[mawilson 2,133]

Sounds like different CBP folk want different things. If it were me, like I said before and others have said, I wouldn't risk it.

I believe they *have to* let you in if you're a permanent U.S. resident, just like they can't

deny entry to a U.S. citizen, with or without a passport (which of course requires that you

convince them that you are indeed a citizen.)

[Alex+R 0]

Sounds like different CBP folk want different things. If it were me, like I said before and others have said, I wouldn't risk it.

I believe they *have to* let you in if you're a permanent U.S. resident, just like they can't

deny entry to a U.S. citizen, with or without a passport (which of course requires that you

convince them that you are indeed a citizen.)

But she's from the UK, not Canada, and she needs to get into Canada.

[mawilson 2,133]

Sounds like different CBP folk want different things. If it were me, like I said before and others have said, I wouldn't risk it.

I believe they *have to* let you in if you're a permanent U.S. resident, just like they can't

deny entry to a U.S. citizen, with or without a passport (which of course requires that you

convince them that you are indeed a citizen.)

But she's from the UK, not Canada, and she needs to get into Canada.

Right -- I said that because someone had mentioned earlier that Canada would happily

let you in with a GC, and the problem was getting back into the U.S.

I'm not sure what rules apply to *permanent residents* (as opposed to U.S. citizens)

returning to the U.S., but I imagine that CBP has no power to prevent you from returning,

unless you somehow lost your PR status while you were away.

[ChristinaM 0]

So the gist is that I should renew my passport, regardless of what the rules say, because I don't want to be caught with an expired one should I catch a border patrol agent on a bad day.

It appears that Canada requires me only to have my green card, but all things considered I suppose I shall shell out the two hundred bucks.

<sigh>

Gotta love bureaucracy.

Thanks everyone!

[MichelleandCraig 1]

Holy #######! 200??? Sorry if I missed the part if you already explained why so much....my original passport a couple of years ago was only about 50 bucks or so...wowzers! Have a fun trip when you go.... M.

ETA....well, DOH! The pounds to dollars conversion...still seems like a lot though...M.

Edited March 8, 2007 by MichelleandCraig

[Reba 2]

Whenever I've traveled out of the US, I need to show both my green card and passport to get back in.

Are you sure? I've always used my GC to get back in - no passport.

yes, I'm quite sure. When I've handed over just my green card, they always say "and your passport too please" with a rather disgusted look at the stupid Canadian who obviously has no clue what she's doing.

[mawilson 2,133]

yes, I'm quite sure. When I've handed over just my green card, they always say "and your passport too please" with a rather disgusted look at the stupid Canadian who obviously has no clue what she's doing.

Next time tell them that's all you have and see what happens.

They *have* to let you in, I bet.

[Reba 2]

no thanks. I don't like it when they take me back into that little room for secondary to be searched

Here's the CBP website that says what ID is required to get back into the US

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/alerts/w...manentResidents

[Lou Lou 1]

Next time tell them that's all you have and see what happens.

They *have* to let you in, I bet.

It would probably mean being pulled in for secondary and getting your car searched. Why go through that hassle? I've been pulled in several times even when I did have a GC & passport. It took hours of my time and was a complete pain in the azz. It's not exactly the end of the world having to carry a passport, is it? I'd rather do that than be trying to prove a point, but maybe you have hours of your time to spare! Don't ever count on a CBP officer knowing what they're doing. In my experience, they don't. And trying to prove them wrong will make them get very nasty indeed. Would you rather be right, or waved through freely?

[mawilson 2,133]

no thanks. I don't like it when they take me back into that little room for secondary to be searched

Here's the CBP website that says what ID is required to get back into the US

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/alerts/w...manentResidents

Well...according to the link, GC is all you need. I don't see why they would pull you in for

secondary inspection if you don't have a passport. With your accent, you could probably

show them your U.S. driving license and get away with it

[Reba 2]

like Lou Lou said, I'm not about to argue with a US CBP officer. They can be rather mean and nasty when you try to point out their jobs to them.

In the end, it doesn't matter what the letter of the law states. It is up to them whether or not they'll let you in, regardless of your status in the US. I'm not about to give them any reason to even think about giving me a hard time. I've been there done that, its not at all pleasant.

Any time I have travelled since receiving my green card, I have *always* been asked for both green card and passport. Whether I was coming back from a vacation in the UK with my husband standing right next to me, or coming back from Toronto alone. I was always asked for both. I don't question, I don't argue, I just hand 'em both.

[mawilson 2,133]

In the end, it doesn't matter what the letter of the law states. It is up to them whether or not they'll let you in, regardless of your status in the US.

No, that is completely false. The rules are different for permanent residents,

but if you are a U.S. citizen, the government has absolutely no power to

prevent you from returning to the U.S. You can act like an obnoxious jerk,

be drunk, drugged, naked, or have no passport -- none of that matters.

[~Jackie~ 30]

We just travelled with my husbands bright shiny GC. There was a little glitch upon returning to America and we were pulled into the interrogation room.

They asked him how many days he was out of the country. Well, we were jetlagged and just off a 13 hour flight, and he rounded up to 2 weeks. Wrong answer, it was 11 days (just seemed like 2 months). So they made us sit in a room and sweat for 20 minutes, asked him again and this time he said 11 days and they said 'Welcome back to America'.

They were very hard on a pregnant girl that had return tickets for in 3 months and she's 4 months pregnant. They told her 'NO BABY HERE!'...another was a man on a business visa, with no letter stating he had business here, he left it in Amman. They told him to sit. He stood up and said, 'but I have a meeting tonight.' They said, 'No you don't. Now sit down.'

Very relieved to be back and safe in Illinois. To quote Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, 'there's no place like home.'

Jackie

[Reba 2]

In the end, it doesn't matter what the letter of the law states. It is up to them whether or not they'll let you in, regardless of your status in the US.

No, that is completely false. The rules are different for permanent residents,

but if you are a U.S. citizen, the government has absolutely no power to

prevent you from returning to the U.S. You can act like an obnoxious jerk,

be drunk, drugged, naked, or have no passport -- none of that matters.

well how 'bout you try it and le us know how it goes eh?

[~Jackie~ 30]

I imagine the Patriot Act would have provisions in there that could prevent even a US citizen from entering. I don't plan on finding out tho my next vacation will be to Florida, not the MiddleEast.

Jackie