My UKC husband is travelling abroad for the first time since we came over here with his CR1 in August. He's got his shiny new green card, and we have no idea what to expect at POE, as every time we've come over here in the past he's gone through the non-citizen/PR line.

We know he now needs to go in the US line (he's still in disbelief about that!) with his British passport and green card, and that he doesn't need to fill in any I-94 of any variety, just the customs form. However, we don't know what happens when he gets to the officer -- do they take his fingerprints and photo, like they did when he travelled on the VWP? What kind of questions do they ask? Has anyone here been taken off for secondary inspection?

We're super-stressed anyway, as he's going back to the UK for 4 days to defend his doctoral thesis up in Scotland, so this is not the most calming of visits. And to make matters worse, Ms Bossyboots, who normally sorts out all things travelly (i.e. me), is staying in the States. Help us, VJ folk! If you can share experiences of your first time (or any time!) going through POE with your GC that would be great!

For me, they've only ever been interested in the greencard. They don't even ask for the passport. They ask where I live and what I'm bringing back. Once, I was asked how long I've been gone. Then I'm done. No secondary, no fingerprints, no pictures. I get treated like my husband with the American passport.

I have gone to Canada a handful times on my greencard and when returning to the USA I had the POE dude my passport and greencard. They never look at my passport, just take the greencard (swipe it into the computer) and thats it! Never had a problem!

Thanks guys! He's really nervous about it, but now it looks like for nothing.

Yeah, we're conditioned to expect the worst, so it's a real anti-climax.

hehehe so true! I've travelled a couple of times myself with the card and didn't have a spot of trouble.

I agree with everything above.. they actually asked way more questions of my hubby USC the last time then me.. they didn't even look at me!

Look at all these Canadians to the rescue!! U are a swell bunch, sniff sniff!!

My wife has been in the USA from China on a CR1 visa since Juily. She has her green card and wishes to travel back to China in May to visit her family.
Does anyone know how long she can stay in China per trip? Her plans are to stay for 3 months while the University is on the summer break.
I would appreciate all responses.

Thanks,
Tom and Xiaoqi

She can stay for under 6 months without having to worry about breaking "continuous residence" for naturalization purposes. If she does stay for more than 6 months, she should not stay longer than 1 year without first applying for a re-entry permit.

Big thanks to my friends from the North!

I read the boy all your replies and he's feeling way more confident.

Hubby has traveled back and forth to Canada since he got his GC. Like the other Canada posters, absolutely no problems ... they didn't even care about his passport, just the GC.

And welcome back to the Elm City ... land of yummy pizza and BIRCH BEER!!!

How did you know what I ate and drank last night for dinner?!?!?

Bruce hates, and I mean HATES birch beer. I said birch beer lovers are born, not made.

When I went to the UK and came back the US POE wanted to see both my passport and my green card, specifically asked for my passport when all I'd given him was my green card. Usually when I come back from Canada, they only look at my green card, but I always hand over now. Probably depends on the POE and arrival country.

Good point. I'll make sure he has both ready when he gets to the front of the line. He's just glad he doesn't have to do the fingerprints/photo thing anymore.

The wife and I went back home to Ireland last May and upon reentry into the US (at Shannon, Ireland) they only wanted to see my GC and Passport. They asked how long I was gone and that was it.. back on the plane home to Florida. Like everyone else said, no fingerprints and no more I-94, quick easy and painless through he Citizen/Resident Line!

Good Luck!

Ta! Now we can focus the worrying back on defending the thesis...

I've travelled quite a bit on my GC & aussie passport. POE's have always been hassle free - US citizen/permanent resident line - always handed over greencard & passport - a quick swip, occasionally a "how long have you been gone" , and then on to baggage pickup/customs.
I know once I was travelling Sydnye/Los Angeles on a one way ticket, and I was asked for my greencard at the checkin counter in Sydney - they just need to make sure since you are flying one-way without a visa - no hassles.

Tell your husband not to worry - except about the thesis LOL

Have to agree with everyone else....I have been back to the UK twice using my GC and it was totally painless, they checked my passport & GC and on my last visit the officer actually said 'welcome back!'....I was blown away after all the BS I endured when entering on the VWP.

BS is the right term. They dragged him over the coals the second time we visited my parents because I was holding on to both our return tickets accidentally. They asked him where his return ticket was, and when he said, "I think my girlfriend has it" the CBP person was all over him. Why does she have it? (Because she forgot to give it back to me.) Where is she? (She's in baggage claim probably.) Why is she there already? (Because she went through the US line.) Why did she do that? (She's a citizen.) And then:

Where is your ticket? (With my girlfriend.)
Where is your ticket, sir? (With my girlfriend.)
Where is your ticket? (Silence.)
Where is your ticket!?!?!?! (Why don't you page my girlfriend and have an officer escort her back here so I can show it to you? -- said very, very sweetly.)

And then...stamp, stamp, fingerprints, photo, you're done.

He called her bluff and out he came into baggage claim, where I was having kittens.

I Newark Airport!