Entering country with USC wife...which line should I go to?

[KeratNY 76]

Hello, I have my EAD/AP and am waiting for my green card through my US citizen wife. We are taking a vacation and coming back through JFK airport together. Has anyone traveled in this circumstance (one spouse is USC and other spouse is pending)? If so, at the PoE/airport in the US on the way back, should:

 

1) we both go to the US Citizen line and approach immigration together (advantage: line is shorter/quicker and we are together)

2) she go to US Citizen line and I go to "other/visitor" line and we approach immigration separately (advantage: we are both in the "correct" line); or

3) we both go the "other/visitor" line and approach immigration together (advantage: I am not in the US Citizen line thereby avoiding the appearance of seeking to be treated as a US Citizen, and we are together)

 

This is for JFK if that makes a difference (it shouldn't). Any thoughts or has anyone done this?

 

Note: i will be bringing my NOAs and marriage certificate as well as the EAD/GC so not worried about the documents I need. 

Edited May 15, 2018 by KeratNY

[x_driven_x 1,778]

I think you both should go to the 'other/visitor' line and then walk up to the booth as a couple, based on previous threads I've read.

[RLA 323]

The 2 times my fiancée and I entered the US together, we went to different lines—she went to the citizens line while I went to the visa holders line.  The 1st time was in Newark, and the officer didn‘t say anything.  The 2nd time was in Baltimore, and that officer recommended that next time we both go to the visa line together.  That‘s what we‘ll do in the future. 

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

There are always officials around to guide people into the correct lines, just ask ...they may put you into a faster line than you expect.

 

[mindthegap 2,590]

You are required to have one customs form per family - therefore you should go to a desk together.

Accompany her to the US citizen line.

 

[KeratNY 76]

1 hour ago, mindthegap said:

You are required to have one customs form per family - therefore you should go to a desk together.

Accompany her to the US citizen line.

 

3 replies,  3 different answers! My lawyer told me I should not go to the US Citizen line "for obvious reasons" which I interpret as "not trying to pretend I'm a USC." Can't tell if he's just being overly conservative though. Do you have experience as a intending immigrant in the USC line?

[KeratNY 76]

4 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

There are always officials around to guide people into the correct lines, just ask ...they may put you into a faster line than you expect.

 

I don't trust them, I think they'll make it up on the spot 

5 hours ago, RLA said:

The 2nd time was in Baltimore, and that officer recommended that next time we both go to the visa line together.  That‘s what we‘ll do in the future. 

Which line though? USC or "other/visitor"?

[KeratNY 76]

5 hours ago, x_driven_x said:

I think you both should go to the 'other/visitor' line and then walk up to the booth as a couple, based on previous threads I've read.

Why not the USC line? Seems mean/weird to force her into a longer line than she would otherwise be in on her own. 

[RJandHamid 1,133]

My husband and I just returned last week from a trip abroad (he is the beneficiary, I am the USC). I went with him through the visitor/'other' visa line. I'm glad I did too, because we were pulled aside and had to wait about 30 additional minutes as they checked his passport and AP documents just to make sure everything was ok. If we had gone in separate lines, I would have lost him and had to wait for him not knowing where he was (no phones were allowed in the 2nd waiting area where they checked his documents).

 

Regardless of which line you choose, I think it's important to stay together in the event that you face any additional questioning, especially if it's your first time traveling with AP.

[KeratNY 76]

4 minutes ago, RJandHamid said:

My husband and I just returned last week from a trip abroad (he is the beneficiary, I am the USC). I went with him through the visitor/'other' visa line. I'm glad I did too, because we were pulled aside and had to wait about 30 additional minutes as they checked his passport and AP documents just to make sure everything was ok. If we had gone in separate lines, I would have lost him and had to wait for him not knowing where he was (no phones were allowed in the 2nd waiting area where they checked his documents).

 

Regardless of which line you choose, I think it's important to stay together in the event that you face any additional questioning, especially if it's your first time traveling with AP.

Thanks that's helpful. I agree, our priority is to stay together, especially since we are a married couple and it defies common sense that we should be in different lines. We don't want the stress of her waiting for me and not knowing what is happening. 2nd, I assume I will face less pressure/questioning when I an with my USC wife. 

 

Why did you not both go through the USC line though?

[RJandHamid 1,133]

3 minutes ago, KeratNY said:

Thanks that's helpful. I agree, our priority is to stay together, especially since we are a married couple and it defies common sense that we should be in different lines. We don't want the stress of her waiting for me and not knowing what is happening. 2nd, I assume I will face less pressure/questioning when I an with my USC wife. 

 

Why did you not both go through the USC line though?

We were directed to go through the 'other' line because the USC line at our airport (ORD) is only for USC, green card holders, or those with ESTA. The USC line at this airport (not sure if all airports are like this) also has the automated passport kiosks where you scan your passport and it takes your photo, and I don't think he would have been able to use that machine. Honestly, the line that we waited in wasn't really that long. There were maybe 15 people ahead of us on a Sunday afternoon. The longest part was waiting in the 2nd waiting room after, and even that wasn't too bad as we weren't really questioned, just made to wait as they reviewed the documents. 

[RLA 323]

21 minutes ago, KeratNY said:

Which line though? USC or "other/visitor"?

The line for visa holders, which has always been very short at BWI.  If I remember correctly, BWI has one line for USC, LPR, and ESTA holders (left) and one for visa holders (right). 

[KeratNY 76]

4 minutes ago, RJandHamid said:

We were directed to go through the 'other' line because the USC line at our airport (ORD) is only for USC, green card holders, or those with ESTA. The USC line at this airport (not sure if all airports are like this) also has the automated passport kiosks where you scan your passport and it takes your photo, and I don't think he would have been able to use that machine. Honestly, the line that we waited in wasn't really that long. There were maybe 15 people ahead of us on a Sunday afternoon. The longest part was waiting in the 2nd waiting room after, and even that wasn't too bad as we weren't really questioned, just made to wait as they reviewed the documents. 

Makes sense. Sometimes the "other" line can be 3 hours long while the USC line is 15 minutes long. That's what I dread honestly. In that case it's gonna be so hard to not just go to the USC line with my USC wife. 

[RLA 323]

11 minutes ago, KeratNY said:

Why did you not both go through the USC line though?

I think CBP might not allow that.  The officers at the USC/LPR/ESTA line might not have the training to handle more complex subjects such as visas, AP, or re-entry permits. 

[mindthegap 2,590]

39 minutes ago, KeratNY said:

Do you have experience as a intending immigrant in the USC line?

Yes, with the CR-1, and also as a non-immigrant when travelling with my USC spouse for the reason that as you are married it is one customs form per family (https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/441/~/travelers-eligible-to-file-a-joint-or-family-declaration-on-a-cbp-form-6059b) you can't share the customs form (which gets stamped by the immigration officer) if in different lines.   

If the customs form isn't stamped by the immigration officer, you will have major issues at the customs exit check. Ask me how I know this!

 

Your spouse can use the USC line, therefore you accompany her. You are way over thinking this.

 

Edited May 15, 2018 by mindthegap