Green Card Travel

[time_follower 1]

Dear All,

 

First of all thanks in advance for reading and responding this long post. This is our story line I came to the US about 10 years ago. From F to H visa and finally to green card in December 2020 when I said well finally I can visit abroad freely during summers. Unfortunately, things mostly nothing in my hand turned out differently. I am working in a prestigious university since 2019 who actually applied and sponsored my green card. When the green card came in December 2020 we havent seen family for 7 years due to various reasons and we were not allowed to physically come to work and I was teaching my students online so we decided a three month trip between Feb 2021-May 2021 and i purchased tickets with this intention in my mind. We learned that my wife was pregnant during this process. Unfortunately, this second pregnancy was very challenging and difficult (though it ended well) where my wife had been hospitalized during it. during this time I tried to spend as much as i can with my wife but had to come back home for work after 160 or so days in July 2021. When I came back the agent asked how long I was away and what type of visa I had prior to my green card. They send me to secondary probably since I was never out of USA for 7 years prior to getting my green card and changed quite a lot of status from F->H->green card all in. I stayed there for 15 mins then was given my passport without any question comment or nothing. I checked my passport there is no warning stamp or so. Then stayed about 2 months in US in our home till my baby was born then went back to help my wife and take them back to US. We spent two more months together and in December my wife was finally recovered and we were able to travel back. At this point my wife was away for 10 months and I came back and stayed two months in US during this 10 months. I was very stressed to my suprised we were allowed without any hassle. They send us for secondary but to process the little ones green card and we were not asked any questions why we were away for so long (maybe it was obvious with the baby). Though I prepared for the worst and even took a report from the doctor that my wife has gone through a difficult pregnancy and she did not recommend travel during that time. Since then almost 6 months now we were in the US in our home, my big son just graduated from the kindergarten. However, we want to visit family abroad for 1.5months. Now though i am a little stressed whether we might have any issues while coming back given our travel history. We never have intended to stay long in our first trip but in life there are things that you can not control. Technically, we can delay our trip till next year but for our sanity and all we have been through, we think it is better for us to go and do some vacation with family. We consider US as our home and have all possible ties, we own a house for 3 years now, I have a pretty solid job, we just bought 2 new cars, DL, my big son (US citizen) is enrolled in a US public school but things did not go as planned with our travel plans. What are your thoughts ? Anyone in similar boat? Any advice? 

 

 

[African Zealot 1,455]

23 minutes ago, time_follower said:

Now though i am a little stressed whether we might have any issues while coming back given our travel history. We never have intended to stay long in our first trip but in life there are things that you can not control. Technically, we can delay our trip till next year but for our sanity and all we have been through, we think it is better for us to go and do some vacation with family. We consider US as our home and have all possible ties, we own a house for 3 years now, I have a pretty solid job, we just bought 2 new cars, DL, my big son (US citizen) is enrolled in a US public school but things did not go as planned with our travel plans. What are your thoughts ? Anyone in similar boat? Any advice? 

Stressing won’t solve anything. In any case nobody can tell what will happen on your return next time. Your wife has the higher risk of being pulled into secondary but even then she has more evidence in her favor proving she has no intention of abandoning residency.

 

As permanent residents border patrol cannot revoke your residency or deny your entry so in my opinion your stressing is unfounded. I don’t envisage even the most unfriendly officer putting you into proceedings over this.

Edited June 5, 2022 by African Zealot

[time_follower 1]

Thanks a lot your comment gave me some encouragement. Deep in my mind I think with a high probability we do not encounter much issues given my work etc. but we worked so hard to get this green card, love our lives in this country and all the oppurtunities it provided us we want to give back that I still have some doubts:) Any other comments are appreciated

[Family 4,113]

1 hour ago, time_follower said:

We consider US as our home and have all possible ties, we own a house for 3 years now, I have a pretty solid job, we just bought 2 new cars, DL, my big son (US citizen) is enrolled in a US public school but things did not go as planned with our travel plans. What are your thoughts ? Anyone in similar boat? Any advice? 

I hope you travel to your heart’s content. You’re strongly rooted in the US and even if you get stuck outside for longer than expected, YOU are green lighted  ( green card) to enter the US. 
Getting pulled into secondary ( if it happens), is okay and nothing to fear ( other than fear itself) and the  inconvenience .I would recommend taking a “ know your rights” kind of approach in dealing with it ,  and know you WILL be  coming “ home” . 
As @African Zealot wisely points out, your fear is unfounded. Happy Travels 
 

[time_follower 1]

Thanks a lot for your message Family. My heart really needs this travel after very stressful two years and come back home very energized and devote myself to work (needles to say i will still continue working while abroad:) And if we come back this trip without any issues the next semi planned international trip is next june again for 1-2 months as I will have to teach in person two semesters as well as my son is excited to be first grade!

[Chancy 6,243]

*** Moved from General Immigration-Related Discussion to Working & Traveling During US Immigration ***