Travel with I551 Stamp in DFW (Dallas Fort Worth)

[silverfai 0]

So, we are coming back to the US from our trip with my wife. We had our interview late December, and we left before we got my GC. Anyway, we had the I551 stamp in our passport which is a proof for the permanent residency. No big deal.

So we got to the immigration in DFW airport (Dallas). We are in the counter and the officer ask where my green card is. I said the stamp is my temp GC. Then, he asked where my old card was. #######? I told him i just became a LPR. Then, he didn't pay much attention what we said and gives back the passport to my wife and took us to a room to wait with other ppl. Of course, not cool.

Apparently, it was a room for ppl that are not worth trusting or something else?! or something? Anyway, after 30 minutes later, the officer in that little room called out my name. Then she asked where's my GC. I was trying to tell her my story and she said she doesn't care. Okay. Long story short, I told her my GC is in the mail and we haven't got to that yet. She then asked what's first name of my parents and my SSN. Then she let me go. Pretty lame...

I think I551 stamp works, but not as good as a real GC. Good luck traveling.

I got my GC after I got home, so it's all good.

Edited January 7, 2009 by silverfai

[Kez/JWolf 6]

So, we are coming back to the US from our trip with my wife. We had our interview late December, and we left before we got my GC. Anyway, we had the I551 stamp in our passport which is a proof for the permanent residency. No big deal.

So we got to the immigration in DFW airport (Dallas). We are in the counter and the officer ask where my green card is. I said the stamp is my temp GC. Then, he asked where my old card was. #######? I told him i just became a LPR. Then, he didn't pay much attention what we said and gives back the passport to my wife and took us to a room to wait with other ppl. Of course, not cool.

Apparently, it was a room for ppl that are not worth trusting or something else?! or something? Anyway, after 30 minutes later, the officer in that little room called out my name. Then she asked where's my GC. I was trying to tell her my story and she said she doesn't care. Okay. Long story short, I told her my GC is in the mail and we haven't got to that yet. She then asked what's first name of my parents and my SSN. Then she let me go. Pretty lame...

I think I551 stamp works, but not as good as a real GC. Good luck traveling.

I got my GC after I got home, so it's all good.

Sorry to hear you has such trouble with your I-551 stamp, My late wife used her I-551 stamp a few times before she got her Greencard (original one lost in the mail) we never had any issues when re-entering the US, all she was asked was how long she had been out of the country.

I think your CBP officer does not know the rules about temp I-551 stamps. Never heard of anyone being sent to secondary inspection who is a LPR.

[Mrs.J06 4]

I have heard from an immigration officer at St. Paul/Minneapolis airport that they had trouble with forged I-551 stamps and therefore were required to check each incoming LPR with only the stamp.

However, what asking for the SSN and the first names of parents are supposed to prove is beyond me? You'd think they'd look up the A-number or something....