A random wee question

[Collie 122]

This is very random but its something that I've been wondering.

With a green card when you arrive at the airport in the U.S. what immigration line do you stand in? Do you go to the U.S. line or the long ### foreigner line? DFW is a nightmare to stand in after a 10 hour flight and I always try to run and dodge as many people as possible to get near to the top of the line without having to stand for over an hour .

Cheers

[SamRod 0]

green card or not. if your an U.S citizen = US Citizen line other wise

you must stand in the other line. Although Ive witness'd many jst getting in the

US line or just whatever line is the shortest. I think the Immigration ppl.

are gear'd to handle who ever from whereever. and the real luck lies in the

officer. could be nice, then again could make you goto the back of the line.

best of luck to you.

[meauxna 15]

It is different in every airport.

Follow the sign for "US residents" "Permanent Residents" etc.

Sometimes it's the same as the citizen line, sometimes it's the foreigner's line.

If you have your Green Card visible, you may be directed to the best line.

[Not Available 0]

Follow the sign for "US residents" "Permanent Residents" etc.

Sometimes it's the same as the citizen line, sometimes it's the foreigner's line.

Thats how the airports i've gone to did it

[gag54611 1]

Every airport I went through as a green card holder, I went through the US Citizen line. I was once told by a CBP agent that green card holders were permitted to use that line. I never had any problems.

G

[Inlove_tx 0]

Kat:

Good news: at DFW you go through the US Citizens' line, because it's actually US Citizens/Residents line!

I did it when I got back from a trip in Feb, and it felt soooooo good! There was nobody in line (plus, the new international terminal is huge!) and I just loved it!

[hcj 0]

I certainly haven't flown into every US airport, but of the ones I have used for international travel on both coasts, the lines are marked:

"US Citizens / Permanent Residents"

"Visitors"

So GC holders would go in the USC-slash-LPR line.

Before my husband got his GC, if we were traveling together I would bring him with me in the USC/LPR line. I figured, we only have one of those customs forms between the two of us, so we kind of have to go together. No one ever raised even an eyebrow so I guess it's OK to do that.

[Collie 122]

Oh yayyyy! That will give me something to look forward to when the time comes. There was one occasion though when I got shunted to the top of the line. I was sitting in coach beside a woman talking near the whole fricking 5000 miles and I felt sick as a dog and hot and light headed when I got off the plane. After standing over an hour in the immigration line, i fainted and got shunted up to the immigration room and got my passport stamped there

[thndrdancr 0]

This is probably very uncommon, but when my hubby returned home thru JFK from Guyana on AP, in process of AOS, one of the officers actually asked him "If you live in the States now, why did you get in the visitors line?"

Just our experience, I thot it odd, as I had advised him to go to visitors line, since he was not a gc holder yet.

Jill

Edited March 22, 2006 by thndrdancr

[Gman 0]

As a follow up question... am I right to assume I should carry my greencard with me to show on entry or will they be able to deduce I'm a greencard holder from my passport number or driving license? (Obviously my greencard is a precious little thing and I'd rather not travel with it unless I have too for fear of losing it...)

Thanks

[JayJay 4]

Meh eh....actually you need to carry your Green Card with you at ALL times.

Technically this even means while outside, mowing the lawn!

It's precious...yes....but you gotta keep in on ya!

[Cassie 8]

As a follow up question... am I right to assume I should carry my greencard with me to show on entry or will they be able to deduce I'm a greencard holder from my passport number or driving license? (Obviously my greencard is a precious little thing and I'd rather not travel with it unless I have too for fear of losing it...)

Thanks

erm, they won't let you through without your green card, it's your official indication of your US status. You HAVE to travel with it. They actually swipe it through a machine when you go through customs.

Like jay said, you have to carry it with you all the time.

[meauxna 15]

As a follow up question... am I right to assume I should carry my greencard with me to show on entry or will they be able to deduce I'm a greencard holder from my passport number or driving license? (Obviously my greencard is a precious little thing and I'd rather not travel with it unless I have too for fear of losing it...)

Thanks

This is a very useful page that I encourage you to read:

Now That You Are A Permanent Resident

http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/PermRes.htm

International Travel

A Permanent Resident of the United States can travel freely outside of the US. A passport from the country of citizenship is normally all that is needed. To reenter the US a Permanent Resident normally needs to present the green card (Permanent Resident Card, Form I-551) for readmission.

Permanent Resident Card

The Permanent Resident Card, Form I-551, is issued to all Permanent Residents as evidence of alien registration and their permanent status in the US. The card must be in your possession at all times. This requirement means that you are not only required to have a currently valid Form I-551 at all times, but also that you must carry your currently valid Form I-551 on your person at all times.

Check out this one, too:

Welcome to the United States:

A Guide for New Immigrants

http://uscis.gov/graphics/citizenship/imm_guide.htm

PS: cool cat! It looks like she's doing the same thing mine does, with the fangs hanging out!

Edited March 27, 2006 by meauxna

[Autumnal 25]

Interesting to know!

[Gman 0]

meauxna, Cassie:

Thanks to both of ya for your responses. I thought as much. Boy... I hope I don't lose my wallet... wouldn't like to have to go through the rigmarole of getting a new one!

"you must carry your currently valid Form I-551 on your person at all times" was quite a surprise though. Seems a little over the top to me but there you go.

More importantly... yeah! Ain't she a little cutey?! Well... not little... huge catasaurus actually. She's Italian -- flew here with me the poor thing. Actually, she broke one fang a few years ago so it was just half a tooth and then some time last year (I think maybe during the flight here) she lost it for good. The other is protuding quite a bit but it seems pretty solid and the asymmetry of it makes her appear intimidatingly cute I feel.

Edited March 27, 2006 by Gman