Went to Ciudad Juarez for an hour. How my trip should have been registered?

[Eric & Idalia 56]

Hi,

I am a US resident. I traveled from Santa Fe, New Mexico to Ciudad Juarez today to leave my mom at Ciudad Juarez Airport.

When we crossed the border, my mom gave back her I-94 and the officers didn't tell me anything or gave me anything when I told them I was a US permanent resident. They just told me how to come back (entry port).

When I came back, the CBP officer asked me for my resident card and my car's registration permit as I still don't have the plates. I have a temporary permission. And that was it.

I came back to the border offices because I have the question of how the US government would know that I left the country just for an hour if they didn't register my departure, but they did registered my entry.

Nobody of the CPB officers could help me. Some said Mexico should have asked me something to let me in. I told them I am a Mexican citizen, but the Mexican officer didn't ask us any papers! Not even passport.

A CPB officer suggested that I could go back to Mexico to ask them. I didn't want to go because that would be another departure/entry that may be registered I don't know, but what about the one that I am worried about.

Maybe any of you could help me to know where to ask/check that my departure and entry don't cause me problems in the future.

Thanks in advance.

[Hypnos 6,576]

It's unclear from your post, but do you actually have a green card?

[Eric & Idalia 56]

Hi,

Yes. Resident card is the same than green card.

[Boiler 45,482]

What is your problem?

You do not say.

[Lynkali 163]

I think he is worried that when it comes time to file for citizenship, there will be a record of him RETURNING from Mexico, but no record of him leaving the USA an hour before that. So how will USCIS know that his trip outside the USA was only for an hour if they have no time stamp for when he left? They might think he left much longer before and was gone more than the allowed time.

I don't know the answer and am not nearly well-versed enough in what proof you need for citizenship and travel abroad, but I think that's what he's asking?

[Boiler 45,482]

US does not have exit controls, some countries do, Mexico may but I doubt it.

[Eric & Idalia 56]

Hi,

thanks for your replies.

I am sorry if I was not clear with my question. I am the wife of a USC. I have a green card. When I went to leave my mom to Ciudad Juarez airport, it was the first time I left USA and reenter after I got USA as a resident (CR1 visa) in August 2015.

You know that as residents we can't be outside of the country longer than 6 months? Well my question, as Lynkali said, was how USCIS would know the duration of my trip if they didn't register when I left? I mean they know when I came back, but no when I left. There is a website where you can check the I-94 history, but that's for tourists. So I was asking your help, maybe someone here knows where to check the departures/entries for residents.

I was worried about future problems when I remove the conditions on the green card and/or apply for citizenship, so I went back to the border offices before returning to New Mexico (the USA state). 3 CBP officers didn't have information related to my question. One even told me, "That is a very good question because we don't register when someone leaves. How would we know how much time she/he was abroad?"

After posting my question here, I went back to the Stanton Street port (where we crossed to Mexico) and a CBP officer told me that they take pictures of all the cars leaving the country. That I was worried for anything.

Anyway I am keeping the receipts of the money I paid to leave USA (3 USD) and to leave Mexico (26 MXN). I think that money is charged for the use of the bridge.

I'll update you if I find more information about this subject.

[Boiler 45,482]

Every time I have re entered they ask me how long I have been. Longest was 3 weeks so not an issue.

Abandoning residency is a much more complicated subject, and not something understood on VJ.

[NikLR 13,227]

It's a bit of an honor system. You're supposed to keep track of it yourself.

Edited January 3, 2016 by NLR

[TBoneTX 45,273]

It's a bit of an honor system. You're supposed to keep track of it yourself.

True.

In 2009 (?), Mrs. T-B. & I did a 4-day zigzag trip across several Texas/Mexico border cities, hitting two different ones per day, if I recall. The eventual requirement (N-400?) is to report "all trips outside the U.S. for more than 24 hours." We didn't have to report any of our Mexico zigzag visits.

OP, I wouldn't worry one bit.

[Eric & Idalia 56]

Thank you for your comments.