Don't ever forget your greencard!

[Mohgli 0]

the fundamental difference is Canadian Citizen doesn't require a visa to enter the US. you can enter as a visitor and don't need an I-94 anyways. so maybe less stress, i would be stressed if one has to travel without GC on a country's passport not in visa waiver program.

I recently took a trip back "home" to Canada for a friend's wedding. It was a last minute decision, and I was packing in a hurry. I didn't realize until after I got to Canada, that I had accidentally grabbed my work authorization card, instead of my greencard. Worried, I called USCIS and explained my situation. The woman I talked to on the phone said that I shouldn't have a problem getting back into the US, and that worst case scenario I would get a "slap on the wrist" so to speak. So when I hit customs in Vancouver on my way back to Chicago, and was asked the nature of my trip, I said that I live in Chicago with my husband. When asked for my greencard, i explained to the officer my situation. Of course, I got sent to the back room for inspection/questioning. I waited FOREVER, and had already missed my flight. When it was finally my "turn", the officer was EXTREMELY rude (what else is new). I gave him my greencard number, work authorization card, and pleaded with him that it was just an honest mistake. He told me that I would have to either pay a waiver fee to enter the US or wait in Vancouver and have my greencard sent to me. Then he told me that the fee was $550! At that point I was extremely upset that I had missed my flight and the idea of paying all that money over a simple mistake made me angry, and I just walked away. I figured it would be cheaper to get a hotel and have my husband fedex my greencard to me, than pay that stupid fee. So I went back to the airline counter to reschedule my flight, and the guy at the counter was extremely nice and realized that I was upset. He told me I could catch a redeye flight to Chicago that night, and would go through customs at O'hare instead of Vancouver, and just have my husband meet me there with my greencard. (Why couldn't the customs officer have told me that??! - hmm, maybe because they wanted that $550 out of me)

So after 13 hours in the Vancouver airport, I finally get back home, and when I got to customs in Chicago, I told the officer of my situation and that my husband should be in the airport and trying to pass on my card to someone that can bring it to the customs area. He just shook his head and stamped me through anyway. So, I went through all of that stress for nothing!

Just thought I would share the experience. I realize it was my fault for packing the wrong card, but I don't feel that the officer in Vancouver was fair at all. Just seems that all they care about is money. Next time I travel, I'll be sure to GLUE my greencard to my passport

I also am wondering if having an entry denial on my record will affect anything in the future - such as removing my two year conditions?