First time leaving country after AP/Greencard and was stopped.What was your first travel experience like after your AP/Greencard?

[jens_prodigy 13]

So, I applied for my AP but never got a chance to use it because my Greencard arrived before I had to leave the country.

It arrived in February exactly a month before my sister's wedding in March.Perfect! I was so excited because after all I'd been through with immigration over the past few years, I was thrilled about the possibility of slamming my Greencard down on the counter in front of the BP agent and saying something like, "How ya like me now?" LOL

Well, it didn't quite work out that way.

First of all, in Nassau which is my POE, they now have those scanners that you put your documents into?They didn't have them the last time I traveled. I guess they help with the congestion at immigration and that's great and all but I must admit, when the doors opened and I saw these machines for the first time and I was a bit disappointed because I thought I wouldn't get to show off my brand new shiny greencard. But my wife let me know that you still have to see a BP agent but the machine cuts down on some time.

So, my wife who, of course, is an American citizen, put her documents in first and a slip of paper came out with her information on it letting her know she was good to go. Next it was my turn and I happily put in my documents and sure enough, I got my sheet of paper alright but it came out with a HUGE 'X' across all my info. #######?????

I instantly got nervous. My knees immediately began to shake and almost began to tear up as we approached the BP agent. She checked my paperwork and took my fingerprints and I thought she would send us through but then she sent me back to SECONDARY. I wanted to pass out! All kinds of things were going through my mind like thinking that I missed a step in the process and now I was doomed or that maybe something was wrong with my greencard and that I wouldn't be allowed to travel. Memories of my last trip to secondary, almost 2 years ago where I was detained and denied entry to the US, all came flooding back and I thought I was going to throw up! My wife tried to comfort me but it was useless, I was scared shitless. We sat back there for approximately 5mins (felt like an hour to me) and then they called me up. An agent asked me how long I was in the Bahamas for: 7 days and what was the purpose of my trip: my sister's wedding and then he said, "okay have a nice day."

I was so relieved! But after my relief, I got a little upset and wondered why I had to be TRIPLE checked once by the machine, twice by the first BP officer and then a third time by Secondary. Really?

Will it be this way every time I travel I wonder? I could almost understand if this had happened if I travelled on advanced parole but I didn't expect it with the Greencard.

I'd love to know some other people's experiences with their first time traveling after receiving their AP/Greencard.

[Boiler 43,429]

Normal to go to Secondary when using AP.

[Pitaya 2,576]

~Moved from Fam.-based AOS to Working & Traveling During US Immigration Forum~

~Similar topics are often discussed at this forum~

Inquiry about new GC travel.

[Georgia16 2,858]

Normal to go to Secondary when using AP.

He had a GC he was using...

[MiNMiLove 33]

Yikes, how scary. We are just at the beginning of my husbands AOS process. Glad you made it through- eventually. Is this norm for GC traveling??? Hope not.

[templeton 120]

Haha I got the big 'X' the first time coming back to the US via air travel as a PR. I was traveling with my wife and in-laws. I remember holding it up for them to see and laughingly saying something like "Hmmm..do you think this is bad?"

Of course a little concerning for a second but turned out not to be a big deal. It hasn't happened since, but I'm sure it's pretty normal for APers and Green Carders to get extra scrutiny, especially when travelling for the first time after getting PR.

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

Wow. I've travelled now... 4 times on my green card and the only slight hassle I had was half expected (travelling back before I had made the final move & the CBP officer did the "do you know what the residency requirements are?" thing, even though I had been out less than 6 months) But...especially the 2 times out & back since I moved permanently, had no issues at all, no questions, no nothing! (In fact the most scrutiny my green card got was in Mexico as I come from a country that would need a visa otherwise.) Hopefully your next travels will be as easy as mine!