Questioned at POE on my return to the USA

[QueenComley 295]

I am a resident of the United States and currently have a 10 year green card.. I am from the UK and recently travelled back to visit my parents 2 weeks ago. On my arrival back to the USA I was going through the POE for US Citizens and Residents and expected to just pass straight on through like my husband. But the officer was rather stern with me wanting to know why I had gone to the UK, the length of my stay (10 days) and what my occupation was in the USA. I found this rather odd..... is this standard protocol when returning back to the USA if your a green card holder?

[Crazy Cat 39,254]

Odd?  Why? Yes, it is standard procedure....and it their job to vet anyone entering the US.  After all, their concern is security. Even as a citizen, I was asked about the purpose of my trip, and the length of stay when I returned from Taiwan a few months ago.

[QueenComley 295]

Just now, missileman said:

Odd?  Why? Yes, it is standard procedure....and it their job to vet anyone entering the US.  After all, their concern is security. Even as a citizen, I was asked about the purpose of my trip, and the length of stay when I returned from Taiwan a few months ago.

I guess I just wondered as 1) it was my first time entering the USA on a green card so was unsure of what to expect and 2) that lucky husband of mine breezed through without a single word from the officer LOL

[JFH 12,189]

I haven't left the country since I arrived with my immigrant visa, however on the day I did arrive with it the family in front of me was a USC husband, a green card wife, a green card daughter and 2 other USC children. The wife was questioned in a similar way that you were (how long had she been out of the country, why and what does she do here). I guess it's just a brief check to make sure you are complying with the terms "permanent resident". You only need to browse the forums here to see that absences of 6 months and more seem to be commonplace. When I arrived in December, even USCs were being asked where they had been and why. I have also been asked this at the U.K. border. 

[QueenComley 295]

8 minutes ago, JFH said:

I haven't left the country since I arrived with my immigrant visa, however on the day I did arrive with it the family in front of me was a USC husband, a green card wife, a green card daughter and 2 other USC children. The wife was questioned in a similar way that you were (how long had she been out of the country, why and what does she do here). I guess it's just a brief check to make sure you are complying with the terms "permanent resident". You only need to browse the forums here to see that absences of 6 months and more seem to be commonplace. When I arrived in December, even USCs were being asked where they had been and why. I have also been asked this at the U.K. border. 

Thank you... At least I know what to expect should I leave the USA a second time.  

[TBoneTX 43,058]

When a then-very-pregnant Mrs. T-B. re-entered with me at Houston a few years ago (with her green card), she was essentially treated like a criminal, right before my eyes.  I very nearly demanded a CBP supervisor.

[geowrian 22,335]

I've been asked the same types of questions numerous times as well, and I'm a USC. Sometimes it's a ~7s encounter with CBP, and sometimes it's a minute or so of questioning for me. The questions you were asked aren't anything unusual.

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

I was pretty much grilled on my first entry back, but that seemed to be all to do with ensuring I understood the residency requirements. Since then I've travelled out the US a good number of times (I can't remember exactly...maybe 10 times in just under 3 years?) and never got more than a "welcome home".

I enrolled in global entry last year and it's worth every penny, especially if you travel a lot in the US as well and benefit from the included TSA precheck.

[debbiedoo 2,339]

i travel to canada all the time (regular passport). I am questioned WAY more coming home, then entering Canada lolol

 

and the opposite is true for my fiance (again, traveling on a regular passport). Hes back and forth every 2-3 weeks and gets questioned more on his way home (and consequently his truck being searched frequently) than when entering the US lolol

[Italian_in_NYC 259]

I travel often and internationally 10-12 times a year and it's a hit or miss. Sometimes no questions asked, sometimes they want to know where you've been and why (I'm a USC) and how much stuff you bought abroad (I guess for customs purposes and whether to refer you or not for secondary at customs).

The oddest was when the immigration agent asked me to show him my Italian passport (I'm a dual citizen and I mostly use my Italian passport to enter other countries). I did and chances were that it was a brand new one (just renewed) and with no stamps (EU passports don't get stamped while entering/leaving the EU) so he had no comment (the old one would have had countless stamps and visas, so I'm glad I skipped the possible questioning).

I had problems in Italy twice when I brought my newborn son, as the border police told me the infant had to enter with an Italian passport. I had to tell them I would have gladly complied with if only the Italian Consulate didn't take 9-10 months to process his papers and grant him a passport (same happened with my daughter 3 years ago).